I am so happy to share one of our family Christmas traditions with you.  We call it The Christmas Basket Game.

We started doing the Christmas Basket Game around 35 years ago.  Each family unit, or a group of people, choose a theme to create a basket around.  We don’t really put a price on it, but usually  around $50 is what people spend.  They have the whole year to create their Christmas Basket.

As guests arrive, they have their baskets covered in a large trash bag, and they are set in a designated room.

After we have our Christmas dinner, open gifts, and play the White Elephant game…it is time for the baskets.

When the time comes,  family members carry all of the baskets into the party room, and remove the trash bags. Each basket is given a number.  The groups of people, then try to guess who made each basket.

Whoever gets the most right, gets to pick their choice of the baskets to take home.  It continues by 2nd place etc.  Everyone that brings a basket, goes home with a basket.

We have had so many wonderful themes over the years.  Some of the baskets have been “A Day at the Beach”   “Movie Night”  “The 99 cent Store Basket” “The As Seen on TV Basket”   “Western Theme”   “The Cat in the Hat”   “Baking Basket”  “Italian Basket”  “Things That Keep you Warm” “Charcuterie Basket”  “Breakfast in Bed”

We fill the baskets with nice items, funny items, and everything in between. It is always a challenge to try to fool everyone. The baskets do not even have to be in a basket. Creative containers are fun!

This was my NORTH POLE BASKET  that I did one year.  It started when I saw this large gift box at Walmart. Then, I picked up items that said “north pole”, or things I thought someone would need at the north pole.

I loved doing this one.

This  theme was “The Night Before Christmas” basket.
It started with the storybook, and items to go with that.
“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”

“The children were nestled, all snug in their beds” 
We all laughed so hard on this item! The bed came from
Dollar Tree and the babies at Party City in the
baby shower department.  Some small gift boxes were in there with
a $10 Wal-Mart gift card in each and a $50 Texas Road House gift card in the larger box as gifts Santa left.

Here are just a few more baskets we have had over the years.

“Celebration of the Holidays” Loaded with everything you need to celebrate each holiday.

“The Camping  Basket”

“The Berry Basket”

“Game Day Snacks”

“The Get Fit Basket”

“The Pizza Basket” This one had pizza gift cards taped in the box)

“The Sloppy HO”

“The Piggy Bank” (this little guy was loaded with $50 worth of quarters)

“The Hospital Basket”

The Car Care Basket.    A favorite of the men.

The Art Basket.  (I missed a picture of this one!) A canvas basket packet with art supplies.

The Christmas Movie Night Basket.  Movie, snacks, a bottle of wine, and wine glasses and other goodies.

The Sweet Frog Basket. Kids loved this one with items
from Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt, t-shirt & gift card.

The Hangover Basket (or The Liquor Basket)  This one
brought many laughs. Small beverage bottles & meds needed for a hangover.

 

The “Laundry Basket”
This one was presented in a laundry basket, and filled with a variety of laundry items. There was even a portable clothesline and clothespins. There was a single new sock, a towel,  and a pair of Santa men’s underwear.

Try the Christmas Basket Game with your family one year and see what fun and creativity everyone has.