Holidays are especially merry when you have a group who will join together to play one of the many variations on the Christmas game called Secret Santa. If you’re new to this type of fun, here are some guidelines on how to play:

* Begin early in October making a list of folks that want to participate in the exchange (your gardening friends, for instance).

* Establish a cash value for how much players will spend on a gift (this is typically under $20 and even as low as $1-2 dollars).

* Decide how and when the gifts will be exchanged, and to whom. Often this game is played by randomly matching up givers and receivers: for instance, you will give a gift to one person, then receive from another—all identities kept anonymous until after the gift is opened.

* If you are an Internet group, you will want a private way to exchange addresses either by email or a closed forum, so that gifts can be sent by mail.

Flea Market friends have a wide variety of treasures that are exciting to exchange! Whether it is a gift of metal, wood, or sparkling blue glass, Flea Market Gardening exchanges are sure to be remembered for years to come.

October is a good time for Secret Santa organizer to match up giving/receiving partners (possibly doing so by drawing names out of a hat), and then provide information to everyone … the plotting and planning can begin!

Shopping and preparing of gifts goes on until the agreed upon exchange and opening dates. Secret Santa is played in all sorts of groups with lots of variations, but one thing all these exchanges have in common is good cheer and heart-felt moments that will be remembered for a long time.

It feels as good to give as it does to receive, and sometimes even better!