Vintage navidad Carolers (Christmas 2008)

Last edited on 20 December 2007.

While not necessarily limited to the navidad holiday, White elefante Gift Exchanges are popular at this time of año for clubs, associations, small groups, churches and offices around the United States. It is often a más affordable (and, possibly, fun) alternative to buying presents for everyone in the group. But what is a White elefante Gift Exchange?

The history
The story - almost certainly apocryphal - goes like this: in pre-colonial India, the rajahs would give gifts to their vassals as tokens of their esteem. Chief among these was the elephant. The elephant...

So Christmas, to me, is a very strange thing. In past years, the excitement has dimmed, the spirit-- though still present-- has become repetitive, and the gifts-- both giving and receiving-- receive más and más disappointed reactions. Basically, it has been slowly, but steadily losing its flavor. And while, a few years ago, I watched Taylor Momsen sing away in the new Grinch movie and wondered the same thing she did, my ending wasn't as cathartic as hers.

Eventually, though, I came to accept that navidad just wasn't like it was for me ten years ago. When my brother would sneak into my room...