What are considered white elephant gifts?

The term white elephant refers to an extravagant, impractical gift that cannot be easily disposed of. The phrase is said to come from the historic practice of the King of Siam (now Thailand) giving rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the animals’ upkeep costs.

Are you supposed to buy a white elephant gift?

White elephant is a gift exchange, so each person must bring one wrapped present to the Christmas party. Once everyone is assembled, have each person draw a number. The person with number “one” chooses a present to unwrap.

How Much Should white elephant gift exchange?

What should you buy for a White Elephant gift exchange? “Because a White Elephant gift exchange can include gag gifts, don’t spend more than $10 on a gift,” says Porter.

What is the difference between white elephant and gift exchange?

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.

How do you make white elephant more 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.

What does a white elephant symbolize?

The white elephant—which was more often than not stricken with albinism, and thus more a ruddy-pink color—was, and remains to this day, a symbol of success. To possess a white elephant connoted political power, wealth and prosperity, great wisdom, and the love of one’s people.

Is Secret Santa or White Elephant better?

Secret Santa brings people closer together. The gifts you receive from White Elephant are of a lower quality compared to Secret Santa. Instead of getting a gift tailored to what you like, people usually just pick up gift cards or dollar store presents.

What is Dirty Santa vs White Elephant?

Whether you call it White Elephant or Dirty Santa, the game sticks to the same format. We’re not sure where the name “Dirty Santa” originated, but it’s meant to refer to game participants, the “Santas,” stealing desirable gifts from each other.

Is Secret Santa White Elephant?

Secret Santa — sometimes known as Kris Kringle — 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.

When did white elephant gift start?

4) The party aspect of White Elephant giving first began in the early 1900s with “swap parties.” Players would bring the strangest gifts possible. Awards would then be given to best and worse bargains. 5) Although white elephant gift exchanges have remained essentially unchanged since then.

How does a Chinese gift exchange work?

The person who drew number 1 takes a gift from the pile, opens the gift and sits down with the gift in plain sight, generally on her lap. Then “2” then takes a gift, either from the pile or from 1. Then 2 sits down with the gift displayed. If 1’s gift was taken, then 1 gets to take another from the pile.

Where does white elephant come from?

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.

How do you play dirty Santa gift exchange?

With Dirty Santa gift exchange, each person has to buy only one gift, for not particular person unlike in Secret Santa and at the end of the exchange everyone ends up with a random gift they “won” during the exchange. Now, I said “won” but in reality the process involves a fierce swapping ans stealing from eachother.

How do you do a Yankee Swap?

In Yankee Swap, each participant brings a wrapped, unmarked gift and places it in a designated area. Guests are given numbers as they arrive, or their names are randomly drawn, and they select and unwrap gifts from the pile in that order — with a twist.

Is Dirty Santa the same as White Elephant?

Whether you call it White Elephant or Dirty Santa, the game sticks to the same format. We’re not sure where the name “Dirty Santa” originated, but it’s meant to refer to game participants, the “Santas,” stealing desirable gifts from each other.

What is a Pollyanna gift exchange?

In a Pollyanna Gift Exchange, participants anonymously purchase a gift for a randomly-selected person in the group. The best gifts are inexpensive, personalized, and, of course, funny! From Grumpy Cat merchandise to eccentric tape dispensers, your perfect Pollyanna gift is sure to be found from this list.

What is a Kris Kringle gift exchange?

A group of people choose each others names randomly without telling who they got. Each person buys the person they picked a gift, and likewise the person who picked their name buys them a gift. The gifts are exchanged on an agreed upon date for the whole group, and everyone’s Secret Santa / Kris Kringle is revealed.