Unfortunately, not all of my friends could make it this year, so there were only four of us at my flat. It did not deter us from having fun, though!
I prepared the table for four in my living room, complete with Christmas-themed table cloth and decorations (some of them edible):
Toast Hawaii is a "must" for our Schrottwichteln, as is sparkling wine:
Then the game begins - everybody has their gift in front of them, and the dice are thrown:
After ten minutes (which can be a long time when you are rushing along with this game!) everyone ends up with a different parcel in front of them, and we take turns in opening our gifts:
One of my friends got a projector that throws moving patterns of light on the ceiling or a wall. She said it might help her daughter (3 1/2 years old) to sleep; I have not asked her yet whether the lights do the trick.
Another one of our group ended up with this... erm... interesting candle holder: (remember - the thing about Schrottwichteln is to get rid of something you definitely do NOT want!)
And here is what I got, a small felt bag in the shape of an owl:
It now sits on my kitchen window sill and will be packed away with the other Christmas things on January 6.
We had a fun evening together, and although I missed those friends who were not there with us, I was happy to be with those who were there. We'll all meet again in 2020.
I've always thought that was a good tradition you have of getting together each year. As for the pass the parcel game I could certainly donate a few items if I were playing.
ReplyDeleteGraham, over the years I have run out of things for the game, and one of our rules is that we do not recycle gifts that we originally got through the Schrottwichteln. But my Mum has a large fundus of appropriate items - some of her friends never give up in giving her THINGS for her birthday and around Christmas!
DeleteThe owl bag is so cool! You should put your woman stuff in it next time you meet up with OK. He will be impressed by this owlish accessory and other women in his village will be seething with envy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the advice. It comes right on time for my next trip to O.K.'s tomorrow, and the annual village band concert at the village hall, where everyone will see me and admire my owl bag.
DeleteI always enjoy reading about your Schrottwichteln. (Hmmmm. my spell checker suggested I might have wanted to write Lichtenstein!) Even if only four of you could get together, I think it is wonderful to meet up with old friends. I also think you had the best gift at the end. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteLichtenstein? It's funny what the spill chucker comes up with at times :-D
DeleteYes, we keep this up even if only four of us can make it. The moment you stop with something like that, you'll start finding excuses every year, and the tradition is lost.
I love owls - that one is so cute. Glad you all had a fun time. . . . . . . Christmas is almost here!
ReplyDeleteWe're still in the mountains but drive home tomorrow. Have had lovely times with friends here - and what a great feeling that is!
You sound very happy and refreshed from your mini-break in the mountains. Yes, Christmas is almost here, and I only have two more gifts to wrap, which I will probably do today.
DeleteIt is the last working day of this year for me - and what a great feeling THAT is!
You were lucky to get the little owl, I think it is cute! THat looks like such fun!
ReplyDeleteI think it's cute, too, almost as cute as if it were a little fox!
DeleteIt was a lot of fun and I hope there'll be more of us next year to join in the fun.
That sounds like fun! I like the owl bag.
ReplyDeleteWhat is "toast Hawaii"?
I serve it every year for this event, and I think the first time I wrote about toast Hawaii was here.
DeleteThe owl bag looks cute and Christmassy on my kitchen windowsill!
You and the owl are so cute!!! Both of you adorable! A great idea for a bag. That panettone I made Naike was pure luck. I have tried tens of times and it's the first time it came out pretty perfect. Just like the Panettone Motta, but without artificial ingredients.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Francesca!
DeleteEnjoy that perfect panettone of yours - I know I would :-)
What a fun idea. I have participated occasionally in Secret Santas in the office, but this is a really lovely way to make an evening of it. It must be hard to find things you really don't want but which are also nice, I seem to remember I ended up buying boxes of chocolates which was a bit boring, really. I think I might find it easier today, or at least my charity shop box with unwanted gifts is bigger these days!!
ReplyDeleteWe have been playing this for about 15 years or more, I think, and there seems to be no shortage of strange and/or unnecessary things given to us by other people. And if I don't find something among my own things, I can rely on my Mum's fundus :-)
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