# Need a family Christmas tradition **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614 "2012-12-10T16:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/41 "2012-12-12T17:28:52Z")
Several years ago, our family acquired a large number of fake fruitcakes made out of foam. We have created a holiday tradiation of playing dodgeball with them. They are light weight enough, so that they don’t hurt when they hit. It’s juvenile, but it’s a blast. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/42 "2012-12-12T18:16:23Z")
> [@inedible\_knapsack](#): > > **Sicks Ate** and **Dendarii Dame** , a jigsaw puzzle is a great idea. We used to do them as kids and loved it, and it would be something people could do passively throughout the day. Our family puzzle is like this one, [Christmas cookies](http://www.springbok-puzzles.com/product/Cookie-Cutouts-2000-piece-jigsaw-puzzle). The 1980s version of that very puzzle. Although with 2000 pieces we started it Dec 1 🙂 I should get it out this year. It’s been a while! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/43 "2012-12-12T18:25:47Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Several years ago, our family acquired a large number of fake fruitcakes made out of foam. We have created a holiday tradiation of playing dodgeball with them. They are light weight enough, so that they don’t hurt when they hit. It’s juvenile, but it’s a blast. Sound like fun. Maybe more fun with real fruitcakes. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/44 "2012-12-12T20:03:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sound like fun. Maybe more fun with real fruitcakes. Real fruitcakes can pack I punch when they hit. Plus the foam fruitcakes aren’t messy. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/45 "2012-12-12T23:26:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Since my parents died, our family tradition is to ignore Christmas altogether. And that is a much happier tradition than before. Man, I would really like to hear your story. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/46 "2012-12-13T02:38:48Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Man, I would really like to hear your story. Really, you wouldn’t. It’s a tale of alienation and depression where nothing really happens. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/47 "2012-12-13T03:25:02Z")
One night a year we drive around looking at Christmas lights. Every year we buy a new ornament. Not a glass ball or something from Walmart, a distinctive looking one from Hallmark, preferrably one that has the year on it. Eventually we had to get a whole seperate tree for the yearly ornaments. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/48 "2012-12-13T20:29:57Z")
If you’re looking for a social game, (as opposed to a board or card game, think Pictionary, etc.) a great one for mixed groups is [Catchphrase](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_Phrase_(game)). Very simple premise, can play with any number of players in two arbitrary teams, can go as long or short as you’d need, and very little pressure on the players, unless you have some very competitive arseholes in your family. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614/49 "2012-12-15T00:26:07Z")
Tape ball looks like fun. Wear gloves to make it harder. The basics are you wrap small stuff up in a ball with tape and people take turns trying to unwrap the ball before it is the next person’s turn. See link:[tape ball](http://imacubmasterwhatnow.blogspot.com/2012/03/tape-ball.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-family-christmas-tradition/643614.md?page=2)