We have a tradition in our family that our kids have to find there gifts on Christmas day. This is something that we started when they were very young. Each year they have a treasure hunt for their gifts. They have to work through clues in order to find their gifts. This year the theme was The Christmas Audition. Rather than simply working through clues to find their gifts, they also had to perform certain things. Here is a summary.
They began by having to work together to come up with a team name, logo and chant. They chose The Hunters. They had to pose for pictures in front of five of the Christmas displays at the church then find gifts hidden in the church. One of was on the roof. They had to compose an original Christmas poem with at least 20 lines and containing at least ten quotes from Christmas movies. This one was really funny.
They had to work two jigsaw puzzles, one with the pieces upside down. Following this they had to go to a hospital and hand out 100 candy canes. They had to collect four ingredients for a homemade pizza from four different homes, then go to a fifth home to make, bake and eat the pizza. They then had to go to another home and play a game of charades with the host family. This was quite entertaining.
They made a "Merry Christmas" sign and had to go to five ATM machines and hold up the sign in front of the security camera. They went to another home and had to list 20 Christmas movies and 25 Christmas songs. At another home they had to give a sales pitch for selling used wrapping paper or Christmas trees. At one home they had to share about their own "favorites" related to Christmas. Additional gifts were hidden outside the mall and in a Jewish cemetery.
All and all it was a great afternoon. It took them six and a half hours to complete the hunt. And even then, Jan and I deleted three additional things that we had planned. They will probably be included in next year's hunt. It's a great tradition for our family. I'm already thinking about next year!
