What is a White Elephant Gift? – Overview
The white elephant gift is almost similar to the Secret Santa gift exchanging tradition but with a twist. White elephant gift exchange is generally organized during the holiday season. It happens among a large group, like a big family or group of friends.
What is a White Elephant Gift?
White elephant gifts are usually impractical, funny, and silly gifts that people exchange at a white elephant party during the holidays. In most cases, the entire group agrees upon a price limit, and everyone buys their gifts within that price range.
What is the Origin of the White Elephant Gift Exchange?
Most people think that the custom of exchanging white elephant gifts originated in the Siamese kingdom, now known as Thailand. The king of the Siamese used to gift a real Albano elephant to the people he was dissatisfied with.
Even though it might not seem like a big deal, caring for an albino elephant is expensive and challenging. Anybody could struggle financially to maintain a 6-12 ton albino elephant.
This particular species of the elephant was a symbol of their Buddhist and Thai culture. If someone gave an Albno elephant to an individual, they could not just let it go or regift it to someone else. However, these are only beliefs. There is no solid proof of this origin theory.
Rules of White Elephant Gift Exchange
There are some guidelines for the white elephant gift exchange process.
- All members of the group will agree upon a fixed price range. Everyone has to buy their gift within that price range only.
- Everyone must wrap their gift carefully. These gifts should not have any names engraved on them.
- Everyone must follow an order to choose their gifts.
- You can choose a lottery method like drawing the names or spinning the bottle to decide who can choose the gift first.
- The first individual can take any random gift from the pile of gifts and then unwrap it.
- The second person in line can decide if he/ she wants to steal the unwrapped gift or unwrap a new gift randomly.
- If the person next in line steals your unwrapped gift, you can choose another one from the pile.
- A gift can be stolen only two times.
- This game will continue until every last one of you has a gift.
How to Host a White Elephant Gift Party?
The white elephant gift exchange party generally occurs during the holiday season. You can organize this party with your office colleagues, friends, and family. You just have to be familiar with all the guidelines for the white elephant gift exchange.
However, you can modify the rules a bit according to your party. A few changes can spice it up and make it more fun.
You can choose a theme for your party, like homemade gifts, food-related gifts, books, etc. You can give your group members instructions to remember the party’s theme when buying gifts.
10 Different White Elephant Gift Ideas
Here are some gift ideas to help you figure out a perfect gift for your white elephant gift exchange party.
However, you can modify the rules a bit according to your party. A few changes can spice it up and make it more fun.
You can choose a theme for your party, like homemade gifts, food-related gifts, books, etc. You can give your group members instructions to remember the party’s theme when buying gifts.
10 Different White Elephant Gift Ideas
Here are some gift ideas to help you figure out a perfect gift for your white elephant gift exchange party.
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