How do you play white elephant?

The first person opens a wrapped gift, and the turn ends. On subsequent turns, each person has the choice to either unwrap a new present or to steal another's. When a person's gift is stolen, that person can either choose another wrapped gift to open or can steal from another player.
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What are the rules for white elephant party?

How Do You Play White Elephant? The Elves' Suggested Guidelines
  • Gifts must be wrapped and anonymous.
  • Gifts must meet the predetermined criteria (ie. price and theme).
  • Each gift can only be stolen three times in the game.
  • Each gift can only be stolen once per turn.
  • Everyone who has had a turn must have a gift.
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How do you make white elephant fun?

5 Ways to Add Sparkle to Your White Elephant Party
  1. Pick a gift theme. One excellent way to spice things up is to have people bring gifts that fit a particular theme. ...
  2. Employ different game rules. ...
  3. Hold an ugly sweater contest. ...
  4. Rent a karaoke machine. ...
  5. Break out the Christmas games.
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How does a white elephant game end?

After three swaps in a turn, the turn comes to end (otherwise the game could last forever). When everybody has had their turn, the first player can decide if they want to keep or swap the gift they are holding. If they decide to keep the gift they have, your White Elephant has finished.
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Do you write your name on a white elephant gift?

Part of the fun is watching players try to conceal their “good” gifts or encourage players to take their “bad” gifts. Each gift should be attractively wrapped with no nametag.
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White Elephant Gift Exchange - a how to guide



Do you open white elephant gifts?

The first person opens a wrapped gift, and the turn ends. On subsequent turns, each person has the choice to either unwrap a new present or to steal another's. When a person's gift is stolen, that person can either choose another wrapped gift to open or can steal from another player.
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What is the difference between white elephant and Dirty Santa?

Whether you call it White Elephant or Dirty Santa, the game sticks to the same format. We're not sure where the word choice "Dirty Santa" originated but, it's meant to refer to game participants, the "Santas," stealing desirable gifts from each other.
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How many times can you steal in white elephant?

Does the game have any limits? White elephant can go on and on, so it's best to have some sort of limits—a present can only be "stolen" three times, for example, or a person can only have something stolen from them a maximum of three times.
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Why is it called white elephant?

The origins of the phrase come from Siam (modern-day Thailand). White or very pale elephants were so highly prized that when one was discovered, it immediately became the possession of the King. Such was the reverence held for the animal in Siam that it appeared on the nation's flag until 1917.
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How many times can a white elephant gift be stolen?

A gift can only be stolen three times throughout the entire game. Additionally, a single gift can only be stolen once during each round. Should the person choose to steal another, then this process will be repeated until everyone has opened or stolen have a gift. A person is only able to steal a gift once per round!
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How do you distribute white elephant gifts?

The basic rules for white elephant gift exchanges are simple.
  1. Each guest brings a wrapped gift. ...
  2. Have guests place their gifts in a central location, and arrange the seating around the presents so that each player has a good view.
  3. To start, determine the playing order. ...
  4. Player #2 has two options.
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How do you play white elephant with dice?

  1. Bring a wrapped white elephant gift that costs $5 or less.
  2. Sit in a circle with the bowls filled with the dice in the middle.
  3. Roll the dice when they come to you.
  4. If you get doubles, select a white elephant gift. ...
  5. Everyone gets a turn hyping their gift like a professional infomercial pitchman.
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How much should a white elephant gift cost?

The rules of the white elephant party are simple. Everybody who attends is required to bring a wrapped gift worth no more than a specified amount — generally between $10 and $20. At the height of the party, the guests will convene to unwrap presents in an order, most likely decided by numbers drawn from a hat.
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What are elephant gifts?

24 Best White Elephant Gifts and Ideas Everyone Will Happily Reach for in 2021
  • Mini Desk Vacuum Cleaner. ...
  • Indoor Electric Stainless Steel S'mores Maker. ...
  • Avocado Toast Glass Ornament. ...
  • Mini Bowling Set Table Top Bowling Game. ...
  • Carole Towne Animatronic Lighted. ...
  • Collapsible Silicone Travel Mug.
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What is pink elephant?

Definition of pink elephants

: hallucinations arising especially from heavy drinking or use of narcotics began to see pink elephants.
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What is an example of a white elephant?

The definition of a white elephant is a possession that is very expensive to maintain, or an article that is no longer wanted by the owner. A family home that you feel you have to keep but that is very expensive to maintain is an example of a white elephant.
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How do you play the Christmas gift exchange game?

Everyone brings a wrapped gift and gets a number. The first person chooses a gift and unwraps it, the second person can steal that gift or choose another, and so on. I don't even have to write out exact details because you all know. It's the same game everyone plays at their holiday party every year.
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Why is it called Yankee Swap?

A more heart-warming origin claim is that Americans – once called “Yankees” by immigrants in New York City – would give each other trivial gifts in marketplaces. It was, quite literally, “Yankees Swapping gifts.” Today, Yankee Swap is practiced across the globe – reaching far beyond the Big Apple.
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What is Chinese Christmas game?

Rules For A Chinese Christmas Exchange

Choose a number – place a number for each person in a basket and allow everyone to choose. Whomever chooses #1, goes first. Selecting gifts – #1 may select any of the unwrapped gifts. Whomever selected #2 can either take the opened gift or unwrap another gift.
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What is Kris Kringle game?

Classic Kris Kringle game

This is the mostly widely played version of the Kris Kringle gift exchange. A group comes together, everyone writes down their name on a piece of paper, and each participant draws a random name out of a hat. You are the Kris Kringle for the person you draw.
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What is a good gift for Dirty Santa?

35 Dirty Santa Gift Ideas That Literally Everyone Will Wanna Steal
  • This Karaoke Mic. Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone. ...
  • This Water Bottle. 18-Ounce Reusable Water Bottle. ...
  • This Wine Aerator. ...
  • This Grow-Your-Own-Herbs Kit. ...
  • These Face-and-Body Scrubbers. ...
  • This Art Print. ...
  • This Mini Speaker. ...
  • These Wine-Lover Coffee Beans.
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How does Dirty Santa work?

Whoever drew #1 selects a gift from the mysterious pile of gifts, opens it, and reveals what it is to everyone. Whoever drew #2 can either select a gift from the pile or choose to steal #1's gift (this is where the dirty in "Dirty Santa" comes in). If #1's gift is stolen, they must choose a new gift.
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How do you play stealing Santa?

How to play 'Stealing Santa'
  1. Step 1: Each person buys a gift for no one in particular, of an agreed value. ...
  2. Step 2: Wrap the present in a way that makes you, and it, unidentifiable. ...
  3. Step 3: Put all the presents under the tree, or wherever you're going to 'play' on Christmas Day.
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What is a black elephant party?

The Mission of the Blaq Elephant is to teach youth of Afrikan descent their cultural, economic, and political history.
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Can number 1 steal in white elephant?

#1 goes first (surprise, surprise). Since no one has any gifts to steal yet, the first player unwraps any gift they want from the table. Each person then takes a turn (continuing in numerical order), choosing either to open a new gift, or steal a gift from someone who already opened theirs.
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