WRUP: 'Twas the night before the night before Winter Veil

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Those of us here at WoW Insider are busy decking the halls, trimming the trees, and in the case of Mat McCurley, making last-minute reservations at a New York City Chinese restaurant. Dec. 25 means something different to all of us, but to me, it will always mean one thing: presents. Getting presents. Lots and lots of presents.

And since the true meaning of Christmas, contrary to all those television specials, is getting gifts, I organized the first ever WoW Insider Winter Veil Secret Santa. After the break, all our columnists are giving each other gifts such that they may receive gifts in the true spirit of the holiday -- with a little bit of traditional WRUPing mixed in, too.

In that same spirit, I'm offering you, the reader, some of the absolute worst Christmas movies and TV specials. It's all condensed into bite-sized videos for your holiday enjoyment.

Alex Ziebart (@alexziebart) More WoW and more Skyrim for me. Playing a sneaky assassin thief turned out to be way more fun than a destruction mage, so Skyrim has renewed its grip on me. For Secret Greatfather Winter, I'm gifting the whole staff their continued employment.

Except Mat. He's fired. Merry Christmas, Mat.

WAIT WHOA WHAT'S THIS SQUIGGLY LINE BUTTON

Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey) Any gaming this weekend will be at an absolute minimum, since I've got relatives coming in from all over for the holiday! I might find time to sneak in a little Skyrim, though. Shh, don't tell. For Winter Veil, I'm getting @gomatgo a tiny plate thong for his warrior so he can continue to terrify my guild with his horrible fashion decisions.

Chase Christian (@madsushi) I'll be playing SW:TOR with my wife, since our WoW raids are on hold for the holidays. I still need to beat Skyward Sword, too. My gift will be for Rossi: I won't make fun of the Alliance at all until next year.

Chase Hasbrouck (@alarondruid) Reunited with internet and electronics! Deploying for nine months does not help the game queue. My wife bought me Portal 2 as a coming home gift, I have a friend waiting to loan me Arkham City, and I'm pretty sure I'm getting the newest Assassin's Creed for Christmas ... oh, yeah, and there's some new Dragon Soul thing? I don't even want to consider Skyrim.

For Winter Veil: An FBI agent to speak with Matt about his explosive pigs.

Dan Desmond (@hazmacewillraid) I'll be putting some quality work down on SWTOR while avoiding as many family gatherings as I can. Sorry family, but none of you can satisfy my urge to Force Choke a Twi'lek.

For my Secret Greatfather Whatshisname, I'm getting Matt Walsh some parental controls for his own SWTOR account. Seriously, it's like peeling a kid away from a Disney movie.

Daniel Whitcomb (@DanielWhitcomb) My mage is now in her 80s, so I think I'll make a push to get her another level or two this weekend. I also need to finish up Raid Finder on my hunter, see if I can get her two-piece tier at least.

For my Secret Santa, I will be giving the WoW Insider editorial staff some extra articles to post! Or at least one. I think.

Dawn Moore (@dawnwow) For Winter Veil, I'm hoping my PC will arrive before Winter Veil, so I can spend the holiday playing games. It's currently in transit somewhere in the continental United States.

For my secret Grandfather Winter, I'm getting Frostheim a new Red Ryder Rifle and a tiny Sporebat.

Elizabeth Wachowski (@leeatwaterlives) Skyrim, if I have the time, and maybe some Lego Harry Potter 2. Like Rossi, I'm still on the fence about picking up TOR.

I will buy Alex a case of Milwaukee's Best, a punishment no man should be forced to endure.

Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen) (gplus.to/foxvanallen) I'm going to be in New Jersey for the holidays, so I'll be console-free. My Secret Santa was Tyler, and I gave him the greatest gift of all: the gift of Fox Van Allen.

Joe Perez (@Lodurzj) SWTOR! My guild, "The Knights who say OOTEEDEE!" Will be leveling up together on The Ebon Hawk and having a blast being Star Wars nerds. Also, if I have time, I'm taking my hunter through the Raid Finder because I want that bow off Deathwing.

For my Secret Santa would probably be Matt Low, who I will be gifting a weekend in the torture chair -- I mean fun, happy-time chair -- forcing him to watch many movies he should have already seen!

Josh Myers (@elamqt) I'm playing World of Warcraft and hoping dearly for SWTOR for Christmas. As for Secret Santa, I just gave Alex, Mat, Fox, and Tyler spots in the pilot episode of my fake teenage drama show. What more could they ask for?

Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra) Finally, a blessed break ... I'll be spending the weekend out of town with my Dad, Stepmum and older brother (and his new girlfriend, for which I will tease him mercilessly). There will likely not be any time for gaming ... well ... mostly because I'll be away from my PC.

For Winter Veil, I'm giving you all the opportunity to take care of my idiot cat. You're welcome.

Lisa Poisso (@lisapoisso) No games this weekend -- we'll all be curled up on the couch enjoying all the other toys planned for this very merry techmas. For Secret Greatfather Winter, I'm giving coupons for one free pass on an editorial deadline. Except for Alex, 'cause the editor-in-chief needs to set the tone and never be late. Sorry, Alex; have a ... productive holiday weekend.

Mathew McCurley (@gomatgo) WoW and SW:TOR. Also, helping my brother build his new PC. It wouldn't POST yesterday because he didn't connect the power supply correctly to the motherboard because his power supply is old and busted, so we have to get him some new hotness and things will be all right. Other than that, just relaxing with some video games. My secret gift recipients would probably be Sacco and Rossi, and I got them 30 seconds of peace and quiet.

Matthew Rossi (@matthewrossi) Some Skyrim, maybe a little WoW. Still on the fence about picking up SWTOR. Otherwise, spending time with my wife.

I'm going to get Fox a tame Russian fox.

Matthew Walsh (@Rhidach) I'll be going to the great white north (aka Buffalo, New York) to spend Christmas with the future in-laws. So no gaming for me this weekend. In my dreams I'll be playing TOR, though.

For the Secret Santa, I choose Dan Desmond. I will get him a real-life Sulfuras.

Michael Gray (@writegray) This weekend, I'm going to attempt to keep Sylvanas's elf hat on her. If I succeed, expect a Breakfast Topic about it. (Don't worry, Alex: that's not very likely.) Aside from that, I'll be finishing my novel this weekend and next week as a special gift from my wife, and I'll be looking for beta readers shortly thereafter. That makes me crazy busy ... but I'll sneak in time to rocking the Arena. We're really having fun this season, even if we're back to the days of "Hey, look, they have a warrior; let's go get a beer while we wait for the next match."

My gift to the team: A labrador to curl up with at night. It really makes the season a little warmer. (No, really, want a labrador?)

Olivia Grace (@oliviadgrace) I'll be playing WoW, but just a little -- we take Christmas pretty seriously in my family -- so it'll mostly be just for chat and sentimental thoughts! Maybe some Arena ... For secret Greatfather Winter, I'll knit everyone at WoW Insider a lovely hat to keep their ears warm.

Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel) There is no Robin. Only Zuul.

The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!