Why do they call it a white elephant gift?

The story goes that the king would give a rare albino elephant to other rulers that he did not like. The guiding principle is that in a white elephant exchange you give a gift that is impractical or extravagant.

Where did the expression white elephant come from?

A white elephant is a burdensome asset, property, or investment whose cost of upkeep is not in line with its usefulness or value. The term derives from the old Thai custom of gifting rare, expensive-to-keep white elephants to the reigning monarch. Nowadays it is often associated with unprofitable real estate.

What does a white elephant mean literally?

1 : a property requiring much care and expense and yielding little profit. 2 : an object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others. 3 : something of little or no value.

What is an example of a white elephant gift?

“There [are] some things that you can't go wrong with in general: beeswax candle sticks, pretty stationery, a box of chocolates, lottery tickets, a small bottle of rum if it's the right crowd to give alcohol to,” says Smith. “There are certain general things that can make for really fun gifts.”

What are the rules of a white elephant gift giving party?

How to Play White Elephant at Christmas

What's the difference between Secret Santa and white elephant?

Secret Santa involves the same kind of mystery as a white elephant exchange, but each person in the group is assigned and aware of a designated person they'll be gifting to. However, you're not allowed to reveal whose Secret Santa you are until it's time to open the gifts.

Are you supposed to buy white elephant gifts?

White Elephant Rules

White elephant is a gift exchange, so each person must bring one wrapped present to the Christmas party.

How do you play white elephant at Christmas?

The White Elephant Game Rules

Bring a wrapped, anonymous gift to the shindig. Draw numbers to determine who gets to unwrap a present when. Sit in a circle and place the gifts in the center, preferably under a festive tree. The person who drew #1 selects a gift from the pile, opens it, and holds it up for all to see.

Is white elephant a Christmas tradition?

Today, White Elephant parties — also known as Dirty Santa or Yankee Swap parties — are a staple of the holiday season. The exact rules vary from party to party but, typically, people bring wrapped gifts that are placed under a tree.

How do you make a white elephant interesting?

How much should you spend on white elephant gift?

Not all gifts are considered equal, and some may be more desirable than others. However, most have a price target or limit on what can be spent. While the standard is $20, according to White Elephant Rules, every group is different.

How much do you give for white elephant gift?

ICYDK, White Elephant is a holiday game in which everyone brings a gift—usually with a designated price limit under $20 or $25. One person starts the game by picking a present at random.

Can you give alcohol as a white elephant gift?

Booze. If you're looking for a last-minute gift, a bottle or two of good alcohol is usually one of the most-coveted white elephant items. Think barrel-aged tequilas, a nitro milk stout or a rugged shiraz to complete the holidays.

Why is Secret Santa called white elephant?

White Elephant is a bit different, because you don't know who will end up with the gift you buy. The name comes from tales of the King of Siam, who supposedly gave white elephants to his enemies.

What is another name for white elephant gift?

A White Elephant gift exchange is also known as a Yankee swap or a Dirty Santa gift exchange. It's a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged. The goal of a White Elephant gift exchange is to entertain participants rather than to gain something valuable or highly sought-after.

Are gift cards OK for white elephant?

Sometimes a gift card to use on anything is the perfect gift to give someone, even for a white elephant party!

How many times can you steal a gift in white elephant?

Three steals and you're out – If you get stolen from three times, you're out of the game and you get to keep the present you're holding. No unwrapping gifts until the end of the game – This will add some mystery and a whole lot of laughter to the game. Add a theme – Add a theme to the White Elephant.

Can you steal a gift that was stolen from you in white elephant?

A gift cannot be immediately stolen back from the player who just stole it. Once a gift has 3 “owners,” the 3rd owner of a gift gets to keep it – it is retired and can't be stolen again. The gift exchange ends when the last wrapped gift is chosen and opened.

What do you wear to a white elephant Christmas party?

If you're calling it a White Elephant party, it might be fun to ask everyone to dress in white. If you're encouraging guests to bring whacky and tacky gifts, you might tell guests that there will be an Ugly Sweater contest on the agenda. If it's a Dirty Santa party, ask guests to wear their pajamas and robes.

What is the opposite of a white elephant gift?

The point of White Elephant is to buy something ridiculous, whereas Yankee Swap is essentially the same gift-exchange process but with more useful gifts. Everyone brings in something and each person draws a number.

What is a pink elephant gift?

Some people use “pink elephant” to refer to a variant game where the gifts are more desirable and/or useful than typical “white elephant” gifts.

Is white elephant gift funny?

A white elephant gift is a gag gig, something that's designed to be funny and not taken seriously. They're called funny gifts for a reason! If you're going to a white elephant gift exchange, the goal is to bring something that will make people laugh or will be something unique and funny.

Is a white elephant gift new or used?

You can re-gift items that you have never used from around your house or you can have people bring homemade items instead of store-bought gifts. White elephant rules aren't set in stone, just make sure to inform the group of the theme and price target.

What do you get for a white elephant gift under 10?

How do you make a white elephant more fun?