Vintage 圣诞节 Carolers (Christmas 2008)

Last edited on 20 December 2007.

While not necessarily limited to the 圣诞节 holiday, White 象, 大象 Gift Exchanges are 流行的 at this time of 年 for clubs, associations, small groups, churches and offices around the United States. It is often a 更多 affordable (and, possibly, fun) alternative to buying presents for everyone in the group. But what is a White 象, 大象 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 更多 and 更多 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 圣诞节 just wasn't like it was for me ten years ago. When my brother would sneak into my room...