Take that, Betsy from Marketing!

Not being from the Northeast, this Bostonist was intrigued and a bit appalled to learn of the little tradition New Englanders enact at holiday parties called a "Yankee Swap". Basically, all guests bring a unique, comic, embarrassing, or low-brow present (usually $20 or under) and then proceed to pick a gift from the pile based on a pre-determined order. The person then opens the gift and chooses whether to keep it or to take one of the presents opened before his/her turn.

In past Yankee swaps, Bostonist has seen everything from potato guns, to five-pound bags of Boston baked beans, to illicit keychains become the "prize" of the swap. One thing we hardly see at Yankee Swaps, however, are gifts that people actually want to keep past January 1. A person only needs so many Chinese finger-traps and talking bottle openers for those boring days at the office.

This year, we're upping the stakes and bringing a gift to our swap that is desirable AND evokes goodwill to the community – a piece of artwork made by students involved in the Artists for Humanity's studio programs. This foundation's mission is to "bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing at-risk youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts." Their Epicenter in the Fort Point Channel area offers teens the opportunity to take classes in painting, photography, screenprinting, and sculpture. The works are then sold through AFH's online store.

Bostonist is definitely picking up at least one Urban Weeds handbag ($20) and maybe a CityLines t-shirt (prices range from $5-$25,) too, for the office party this year…and, oh, we can't wait to see the co-workers fight over those choice options after a few glasses of eggnog!