Day 6: How the White Elephant Party Came to Be

White Elephant, Yankee Swap, Dirty Santa — depending on whom you ask, this holiday gift exchange game, by any name, is either a beloved and quirky custom that celebrates creativity and friendly competition or a depraved, cutthroat, miserly activity that brings out the worst in people. The reporter Jennifer Ashley Wright traces its history back…

Hanukkah Sweets and Dips

Yes, there are likely to be latkes, but what else can you offer for a gathering on one of the eight nights that Hanukkah is celebrated? Daniel Soskolne and Loren Abramovitch, Brooklyn-based caterers, have assembled the Friday box, a gift box of Israeli and Palestinian dips, spreads and pickles, ready to serve with a generous…

It’s Cookie Box Season

I’ve loaded my pantry with flour and sugar, and my fridge is bursting with 10 pounds of butter. Let the holiday baking begin! I always put together cookie boxes, swapping in different kinds year after year. For this holiday season, Yewande Komolafe made things easier for us by creating a stunning cookie box with six…