Save the Children

I have an upcoming Christmas dinner at work. Every Christmas the boss make sure someone at the lab organizes a dinner/party/event for us all, by delegating the work and money for it. This year we will have a nice dinner with entertainment, games, dancing and drinking. The game we are going to play together is called Dirty Santa. Have any of you ever heard of it? I hadn't until a few days back. It seems really fun. Everybody brings an unmarked wrapped gift to the party, and puts it in a Santa-bag. When the game is to be played, everybody takes a number. Say we might be 20 people there, and everyone then gets a number from 1 to 20. The 1 starts by taking a gift from the bag, unwrapping it and showing it to everyone else. The 2 then continues by then either choosing to take a new gift from the bag, or stealing the gift number 1 just unwrapped. Then it continues like that. Number 3 chooses to steal either number 1's or 2's gift, or taking a new one from the bag. So lucky number 20 can choose whichever gift he/she likes, and steal it.

Normally when I go to a party with a 'Secret Santa'-gift, I am used to bringing something in the price range 3-5 euro. For this game it is necessary to bring something for 10-15 euro. I am in no way cheap, but =), I kind of oppose to general waste of money. For the game to be funny there should be some things most people really like (so there is a lot of stealing going on), and some things most people don't like (so there are some gifts you really don't want to end up with). I like the idea of doing something fun together, playing a game, and I think it sounds excellent. But the idea of spending 10 euro, not knowing what you'll get for that money, feels like a waste. I am not much of a gambler. I feel if everyone sticks to even a lower price range, it should still be possible to have nicer and "worser" gifts, so there will still be some gambling going on. Even if the stakes won't be as high (maybe you are more ok with losing 3 euro than 10 euro). I feel that if you get in to a game, no matter the stakes, it is still possible to engage and have an equally good time.

There is so much unnecessary spending, capitalism, and materialism already. Especially around Christmas. The thought of our little 'get-toghether', at least 20 people, spending at least 10 euro each, will sum this activity up to costing easily 200-300 euro. And for what? Of course you might get something you actually wanted, and you might have a good time. But could that not also be possible without spending so much money? Is it worth it? People are starving, dying, being tortured, raped and murdered. But if you don't belong to those unfortunate ones, of course you should have as much fun as possible. I am just sensitive, and the thought is for me sickening at the moment. What is Chrismas really about?

But I guess, it is just a Christmas party. And obviously I will participate. I have come up with the (for me) perfect solution/gift. I have donated my 15 euro to helping less fortunate through buying a 'Saving the Children'-christmas card. I truely hope my gift won't get totally riddiculed. To be honest, I can't imagine what gift could be better than the one I am putting in the Santa-bag on wednesday. But that's just me (and maybe some others out there too hopefully?).