How to Organize a White Elephant Gift Exchange 12 Steps, White Elephant Gift Exchange - how to

How to Organize a White Elephant Gift Exchange

Updated: March 29, 2019

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A white elephant gift exchange is a lighthearted way to have fun with your work colleagues, or at family gatherings. "White elephants" [1] are traditionally presents that are undesirable but one cannot turn down: extremely tacky, nearly useless, silly or weird. In white elephant gift exchanges the goal is really to have fun. Most is to give everyone a chance to rid themselves of these tacky gifts—and invariably gain a new one!

White elephant gift exchanges can be run different ways. Some set rules that the item Must be previously owned, which means that you are re-gifting an unwanted item or trinket. Others purchase a new, (generally inexpensive), item just for the party. The goal is to choose wacky, funny or entertaining gifts. Some encourage a mix of wacky gifts, and sensible if generic ones--after all, one person's trash is another person's treasure!

There are a few variations and different names for this game. Not all require gifts to be regifted. This basic game is also called "Yankee Swap" in some regions, and are often played at workplaces and with families. [2]