White Elephant Gift Exchange Ideas & Game Rules
The White Elephant is a festive gift exchange game you can play with friends, coworkers, and extended family. To help you organize a perfect gift exchange this year, we have prepared a list of White Elephant gift exchange ideas plus game rules for 2024.
As Christmas holidays approach, many people consider gift exchanges to add the element of fun to the gift-giving and give presents to everyone without spending a fortune. If you are looking for an interactive gift exchange with lots of fun and laughter, White Elephant is your ideal choice. In this game, you swap and steal gifts to end up with the perfect present! Keep reading for the game rules and gift exchange ideas.
What is the White Elephant gift exchange?
Also known as the Dirty Santa or the Yankee Swap, White Elephant is a competitive Christmas gift exchange game. Its main feature is “stealing” gifts you like from other players. Moreover, players bring amusing, unusual, or downright ridiculous gifts to make the gift exchange process full of fun and laughter.
The term “white elephant” means an impractical, undesirable gift. As the legend says, the King of Siam (now Thailand) gave white elephants to those he disliked, as these animals were considered sacred, but very expensive to maintain. The first “swap parties” started gaining popularity in the early 1900s, and the term “white elephant party” was used as a joke as people brought absurd, impractical gifts.
Along with Secret Santa, the White Elephant is considered a classical Christmas activity. Yet, unlike Secret Santa, you don’t buy a gift for one specific person. Everyone brings a generic present and players unwrap and swap gifts, giving the exchange an element of competition and surprise.
White Elephant game rules
There are many variations to the White Elephant gift exchange. Here are the basic rules:
1. Everyone brings a present
Each guest brings one wrapped present. The game host gives information on the type of gift to bring and gift value (say, $30).
2. Draw numbers
Write numbers on pieces of paper and have each player draw the number randomly from the box. If there are 12 players, then numbers should go from 1 to 12.
3. The game begins!
Place all gifts in a pile, ideally under the Christmas tree. Players sit around the pile of gifts and take turns to play.
- Player with #1 chooses a gift and unwraps it in front of everyone.
- Player with #2 now has a choice: to open a new present or steal one from the first player. If they choose to steal a gift, the first player picks another gift from the pile.
- The game continues, and each player gets the chance to open or steal a gift.
4. The last player has a chance to swap
When all presents are opened, the first player can swap their gift for any open gift. The person whose gift is stolen can swap gifts with anyone, and the swap continues until someone refuses to steal a gift.
White Elephant game limitations
As you see, the White Elephant game has the element of surprise and competition, as you never know what gift you’ll end up with. Typically, there are a few desired presents that all players want, and with no limitations, the game can last for hours. To avoid this, it makes sense to enforce these standard limitations:
- All gifts must be wrapped. Creative packaging is encouraged – make everyone guess what is in that giant red box!
- One gift can be stolen only three times. After that, it is out of the game and stays with a new owner. You can set the other limit if everyone is in the mood to play longer.
- No immediate stealing. When someone steals a gift, the same person cannot steal it back immediately. Otherwise, the stealing between two players can never end.
White Elephant game variations: Adding a twist to the gift exchange
In addition to the basic White Elephant rules above, there are many variations and themes of this gift exchange. Try these ideas for the White Elephant gift exchange to make it even more exciting:
Set the gift theme
Instead of letting everyone bring items they want, set a theme for gifts. It could be anything, from books, re-gifts, travel souvenirs, and alcohol to self-care items or homemade gifts - encourage everyone to get creative!
Keep all gifts wrapped until the end
Add the element of mystery to the exchange and don’t unwrap the gifts until the end of the game. After the last player picks a present, everyone can unwrap their gifts and see if they got what they expected!
Flip a coin
In this White Elephant gift exchange, each player picks a gift and then flips a coin. Heads mean that the player must steal the current gift, and tails mean they must pick a new one. The game continues until all gifts are unwrapped.
No extra swapping
According to traditional White Elephant game rules, the first player can swap gifts in the end. To streamline the game, you can prohibit the first player from swapping, or only allow them to swap once.
Hot potato
Players sit in a circle and pass the gift around like a hot potato. When the music stops, the person holding the present opens and keeps it. The game then continues with each gift in the pile.
Gift ideas for White Elephant exchange
So, how do you choose gifts for White Elephant game? The first rule of thumb is following any instructions for gifts, such as the price range and the gift theme. Next, you’ll want to bring something funny and even weird, as such gifts bring a lot of fun and laughter to your get-together. However, if you want to bring a really nice, useful gift that people are likely to compete for, go for it.
Here are some gift suggestions for the White Elephant gift exchange:
| White Elephant gifts under $20 | Funny White Elephant gifts |
|---|---|
| 1. Personalized coffee mug | 1. Anti-stress ball |
| 2. Novelty T-shirt with a meme | 2. Fart pillow |
| 3. Bath bombs | 3. Tortilla blanket |
| 4. Fuzzy slippers | 4. Head-scratcher |
| 5. Miniature hot sauce set | 5. “World’s Best” trophy |
| 6. Reusable water bottle with fun design | 6. Ugly tie |
| 7. Small houseplant | 7. Penis-shaped cookie cutter |
| 8. Funny phone case | 8. Fake teeth |
| 9. Hot chocolate gift set | 9. Dinosaur chip and dip set |
| 10. Desktop organizer | 10. Fake moustache or beard kit |
How to host an unforgettable White Elephant gift game
Choose the party theme
Your White Elephant gift exchange will be more fun if you organize a themed party. Create a festive atmosphere with decoration, music, costumes, and activities.
Popular White Elephant party themes
- Ugly sweater party. This theme is a holiday classic! Encourage guests to wear their ugliest, the most hilarious Christmas sweaters, and take plenty of pictures.
- Holiday pajama party. Comfy and cozy! Guests can wear their favorite holiday pajamas or sleepwear.
- Christmas movie marathon. Set up a cozy viewing area with blankets and pillows, and choose a lineup of classic Christmas movies.
- Cocktail party. Create signature cocktails, experiment with recipes, or even organize a mixology class.
- Holiday potluck. Have guests bring their favorite holiday dishes and desserts.
Enforce the gift limit
Before the party, choose the gift limit and encourage everyone to spend somewhere around that amount. Otherwise, it would be disappointing if someone gets $50 earbuds and someone receives a $5 body wash.
Plan other party activities
The gift exchange will surely be a highlight of your Christmas celebration. However, you need to plan more activities to keep the guests entertained for the whole evening. Think board games, snow activities outdoors, holiday trivia, or karaoke.
Provide snacks and drinks
Keep the party going with a variety of snacks and drinks. Learn the guest preferences before the party and try to cater to different needs (such as non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, vegan and gluten-free options). It will help keep everyone energized and happy throughout the evening.
Embrace the fun!
The White Elephant gift exchange is never equal and encourages bad jokes and making fun of each other. All in all, remember that it’s just a game and encourage others to be silly and playful – it will help create enjoyable memories that last!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the game have any limits?
To keep the White Elephant exchange fun and enjoyable for everyone, it is best to set limits. For example, each present can be stolen no more than three times. Otherwise, players will keep stealing one or two particularly desirable gifts and the exchange will never end.
Tip: Set the spending limit to keep the exchange equal. For example, everyone should bring a gift worth $20.
How many players can participate?
White Elephant is best played in a large group. Ideally, you need at least six people to make the gift exchange fun and competitive. The more players you have the longer the gift exchange will last, so keep it in mind when planning your Christmas party.
Can I do White Elephant with kids?
It is not the best idea to play gift exchange games with kids, as most gifts your guests bring are for grown-ups. Plus, who will want steal a present from a seven-year-old girl? Yet, your kids can still participate – help unwrap presents or recommend the adults which one to choose.
If you have enough kids, run a gift exchange for them separately. Organize a Secret Santa or left-right game to make it more fun for them.
Is it possible to do a virtual White Elephant exchange?
For remote gift exchanges, it is best to do Secret Santa than White Elephant as players cannot steal gifts from each other. In Secret Santa, participants draw names and buy one present for the assigned person. With our MySanta online generator, you can draw names remotely, create wishlists, and track gift delivery to make sure everyone gets a present.
