Christmas scrooge

Gift-giving is a Christmas tradition. In the Philippines, employers raffle off gifts or prizes to employees during company Christmas parties.

One national trading association raffled off unusual prizes during its recent holiday celebration.

Aside from cash and appliances, six caskets were raffled off during the party, with the most expensive, valued at P200,000, as the grand prize.

Coffins as Christmas gifts seem awkward, but participants at the Yuletide party of the Philippine Mortuary Association were not surprised. After all, they were funeral parlor owners and their suppliers from all over the country.

Also raffled off by the PMA were a funeral stand and viewing light sets.

PMA spokesperson Jordan Miranda said the winners of the caskets could use, donate, or sell them, according to the TV program "Dapat Alam Mo!"

A Christmas gift-giving practice of office workers is the "monito-monita" or "Kris Kringle," where themed presents are exchanged, sometimes over several days, with the givers not revealing themselves to the receivers until the last day.

A Kris Kringle version in the United States is called Secret Santa. A man went all out playing Secret Santa, buying a gift worth between the stipulated $25 to $50 and elaborately decorating the box with lights and bells to impress the lady recipient.

However, on exchange gifts day, the person who was the guy's Secret Santa was absent. He was told his gift would be given on another day. When that day came, he received a fancy box and videotaped its unboxing out of excitement.

The contents of the box annoyed the man, though. Inside were a handful of assorted mini chocolates, including Reese's, Hershey's, and Mr. GoodBar. The man doubted the gift was worth between $25 and $50.

The dissatisfied Secret Santa vented his frustration over the cheap candy gift on TikTok.

"I will not be participating in Secret Santa anymore at any job, any workplace ever again," he said, according to the New York Post.