How to Do a White Elephant Gift Exchange

You may not have known what it was called, but chances are you have participated in a white elephant gift exchange. Though often held around the holidays, white elephant exchanges can be held at any time. They are common among business parties or with extended families. You may want to do a white elephant exchange at your next party.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Numbers on Small Sheets of Paper
• Extra Gifts

1. Choose the kind of gifts people will bring to the white elephant exchange. Everyone can bring gifts they were given but would never use (that bad gift from your aunt, the so-called elephant in the room), gag gifts or non-gender specific gifts under a certain cash amount. Explain that these gifts should be wrapped or placed in a bag so that it is not known what the gift is until it is opened.

2. Set rules before the white elephant exchange game starts such as how many times a gift can be traded before it stays with one person. This will cause an eventual end to the game and will give everyone a chance to trade for a gift if they would like.

3. Let everyone choose a number out of a hat or box as he or she enters the party. This will help set the order that gifts will be opened. It would be easiest if everyone sat in numerical order based on the number they choose but it is not a requirement.

4. Inform the participant who has chosen the number one that they can choose a gift from the gift table. The participant must un-wrap the gift and let everyone see it when playing the white elephant exchange.

5. Give the number two participant the option of taking the gift from number one or taking a new gift. If number two would like to take number one's gift then number one will have to take a new gift.

6. Repeat this process until all the gifts have been opened and traded around their allotted times. Some gifts may not be traded for at all when you do a white elephant gift exchange.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not bring a gift over the allotted price point.
• Make sure that all of the gifts can be for men or women.
• Have a few gifts on hand in case someone shows up without a gift.
• While it may be appropriate with family or friends, it is best not to use gifts that are religious or political in nature in a business situation.