Tomorrow, the entire family will be here for my grandaughters 4th birthday. This wont happen again for a while, so we are going to take advantage of us all being together and DRAW NAMES for Christmas Stockings.
This is a 40 year old tradition. It started one year when I realized my mom filled everyone elses stocking, and hers was empty Christmas morning... I suggested that the next year, we draw names so that everyones stocking got filled. Oh what a fun tradition that started.
My grandma, uncle, aunt, cousin..all got involved...and each year we did our best to come up with the most unique, funny gifts in the stockings. It was by far the favorite tradition...and it forced each person to focus on their recipient for a short time. The budget was left totally up to the giver and that rule has held all these years later.
My kids joined the tradition when they became teens...and it continues to be the favorite part of gift giving. We draw names early each year so that everyone has a chance to really look for fun stuff, and to also bargain shop.
The kids only have to do that one gift each year...they cant afford to buy for everyone, so the only gift they need to buy is their stocking.
My parents absolutely loved the stockings..they were pros at filling stockings with great gifts. (one of my dads last years...he drew me..and I still have those gifts. He died Dec 29th, the year I had his name...and I remember shopping for him knowing he wouldnt ever use the gifts...but he loved them nonetheless.)
This year, we will be incorporating a little kids stocking exchange. All the little guys will also pick a name..and they will get to fill a stocking. We are adding a couple of extended family members this year...our houseguest...and the kids uncle who recently relocated here to be near family....
I love that this tradition has lasted the test of time...and is still as beloved as it was back when my mom was the reason it started...
I wonder whose name I will draw....
Christmas Stockings....
September 4th, 2011 at 03:30 am
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