Some cultures uphold that children who misbehave will receive only a lump of coal from Santa Claus for Christmas in their stockings instead of presents. In the Middle-Earth i suppose it maybe also are good idea. But only for children, because in some other cultures (i’m talking about Scotland which is quite similar to the Shire) it is also customary and lucky to give coal as a gift on New Year's Day. It happens as part of First-Footing and represents warmth for the year to come.
There also are options of this Coal Gift: visitors also can carry some bread, some money and some greenery. These were all good luck - the coal to make sure that house would always be warm, the bread to make sure everyone in the house would have enough food to eat, money so that they would live in prosperity, and the greenery to make sure they a long life.

So how we can adopt this to LOTRO without ruining Tolkien’s Middle-Earth? You will find the answer it this thread.

P.S. More about New Year in Middle-Earth you can find in My LOTRO Blog or Thread about New Year in Middle-Earth.

P.S.S. Short calendar of Middle-Earth holidays:
21 December, 2010 – 1Yule (Hobbits and Bree people) and Mettarë (Man)
22 December, 2010 – 2 Yule (Hobbits and Bree people) and Yestarë (Man)

Here are some tips for your winter holiday RP:

1) Tomorrow (22 December) is the best and appropriate day for making gifts in Middle-Earth, because tomorrow are 2 Yule and Yestarë (the New Year for hobbits and man).
But of course there want be any problems if you make/send a gift in other day, like in our Christmas on 25th December (of course if you are not big LOTR lore fan =)

2) You could make coal gift as positive or negative gift. For example, in your kinship you can send coal for every kin mate who were lazy and naughty this year.
Best way to send it - by mail. Just attach coal and write some Yuletide and Yestarë wishes =)

3) You also could sent coal, bread, money and greenery. Just write in the letter appropriate text (see examples below) for each gift:

Coal ->''Wish you that your house would always be warm, like a very diligent dwarves smith!''
Bread ->''Wish you that everyone in your house was fed like a hobbit!''
Money ->''Wish you to live in prosperity, but not like a dragon on his gold!''
Greenery ->''Wish you a life: long, like a Gandalf’s beard and healthy like Athelas leaves.''

4) The items that you would need:

Coal: the best suited would be Lump of Coal
Bread: the best suited would be Hard Biscuits or other bread made by cook;
Money: only one coin (but not a gold);
Greenery: the best suited would be Bundle of Lesser Athelas Leaves.

5) The most appropriate way would be if you could give coal (or bread, or some money, or some greenery) when your are in your friends, kin mates or even neighbours house, and say what every of this gifts mean.

That is only few of tips how you can make this Christmas Yuledays better.
Happy Yuleday and Yestarë everyone!