White Elephant Gift Exchange Game
If you’ve ever sat in a living room full of giggling grown-ups, kids bouncing on couches, and one very confused uncle holding a rubber chicken wrapped in sparkly paper… then you already know the magic of a White Elephant Christmas Gift Exchange.
It’s loud, it’s silly, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite Christmas traditions.
So here is why this game is such a holiday superstar, and how you can host your own White Elephant party without any stress at all.
What Is the White Elephant Christmas Gift Exchange?
If you’re new to this game, don’t worry. It’s super simple. A White Elephant Gift Exchange is a fun party game where everyone brings a wrapped gift to swap, steal, and laugh about. The twist? The gifts are usually funny, silly, weird, or totally unexpected. You might unwrap something amazing like a cozy blanket… or something absolutely ridiculous like a llama-shaped cookie jar. You never know!
The whole point is to have fun, not to bring the fanciest or most expensive gift. That’s why families, friends, co-workers, and church groups all love it. It keeps things lighthearted, full of surprises, and a little mischievous in the best way.
Why Everyone Loves This Game
I swear, every year I think, “Okay, maybe we’ll skip the game this Christmas.” And then someone in the family shouts, “But what about White Elephant?!” and suddenly I’m digging through drawers looking for wrapping paper again.
Here’s why people keep coming back to it:
1. The suspense is real
You pick a gift. You unwrap it. Everyone screams. Someone else wants it. Do they steal it? Do they take the mystery present instead? It’s a rollercoaster, and it all happens in like 10 minutes.
2. It’s hilarious
There’s always at least one gift that becomes the story of the year. In our family, it was a giant fake pickle. I don’t know how, but it still makes people laugh every Christmas.
3. It works for all ages
Kids adore the unwrapping part. Teens love the stealing part. Adults love acting like kids again. Grandparents secretly love the chaos. It’s a win for everyone.
4. It keeps the holiday fun
Sometimes Christmas can get a little serious, shopping lists, cooking, cleaning, organizing. White Elephant is like a big reminder that this season is supposed to be joyful and silly.
How to Play the White Elephant Game
You can make the game fancy if you want, but honestly, simple is perfect. Here’s how we do it:
Step 1: Everyone brings a wrapped gift
You can set a price limit. Most people choose $10–$20, but you pick whatever works for your group.
You can go two ways:
- Funny gifts
- Nice gifts
- Or a mix (this is the most chaotic option but also the most fun!)
Step 2: Put all gifts in the middle
Make it pretty or pile them in the middle like a mountain of festive mystery. Either way, everyone gets excited.
Step 3: Everyone draws a number
I just write numbers on little pieces of paper and toss them in a bowl. If we have little kids, they usually want to pull the numbers because it feels like a prize already.
Step 4: Number 1 goes first
They pick a gift, unwrap it, and proudly show it off.
Step 5: Number 2 can steal or choose a new gift
Let the chaos begin.
Step 6: Rules for stealing
These rules are totally up to you, but here are the common ones:
- You can only steal the same gift three times. After that, it’s “frozen.”
- You can’t immediately steal back what someone stole from you.
- If someone steals your gift, you choose a new one or steal from someone else.
Simple, right? And very fun.
Step 7: The game keeps going until everyone has a gift
And yes, people will shout, complain, laugh, bargain, beg, and shake boxes to try and guess what’s inside. It’s all part of the fun!
Gift Ideas That Always Get Big Laughs
If you ever feel stuck on what to bring, don’t worry, these ideas are always crowd-pleasers.
Funny Gifts
- Giant novelty socks
- A cup that says “World’s Okayest Person”
- A bobblehead of a random celebrity
- A prank box (looks silly on the outside, real gift inside!)
- A screaming goat toy
- A calendar of awkward family photos
- A mini waffle maker shaped like something ridiculous
Useful-but-funny Gifts
- A warm blanket shaped like a burrito
- A mug warmer for cozy drink lovers
- A mini desk vacuum (everyone ends up wanting this!)
- Funny oven mitts
- Cute kitchen towels
- A “snack hoodie” with a front pocket for popcorn
Nice Gifts
Sometimes people love to bring “real” gifts too!
- Plush throws
- Cute candles
- Hot chocolate sets
- A sweet Christmas mug
- Cozy slippers
- A small tabletop game
- Fuzzy socks (people fight over these!)
A mix of silly and useful makes the game perfect.
White Elephant Themes to Make Your Party Extra Fun
If you want to take things up a notch, theme your gifts! Trust me, it makes everything even funnier.
1. Ugly Gift Theme
Everyone brings the weirdest, dumbest thing they can find. Expect a lot of giggles.
2. Cozy Christmas
Blankets, slippers, hot chocolate, fluffy socks, basically a giant snuggle fest.
3. Candy & Treats
Perfect for families with kids. Nothing gets stolen faster than chocolate.
4. Kitchen Chaos
Funny aprons, oven mitts, cheesy utensils, silly gadgets.
5. $5 Challenge
You’d be amazed what people find for five bucks.
6. Re-Gift Only
Everyone brings something from their home. It’s budget-friendly and usually ridiculous.
7. Something Red, Green, or Sparkly
This makes the wrapping so fun too.
Tips to Make Your Gift Exchange Extra Awesome
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make this game run smoothly and keep everyone smiling.
1. Wrap gifts in a way that hides the shape
A weird-shaped present always gets picked first because people assume it’s exciting. Throw yours in a cereal box if you want to get sneaky.
2. Music makes it better
Christmas songs playing in the background = instant cozy vibes.
3. Snacks… always snacks
Kids especially need snacks. Grown-ups too. A table of Christmas cupcakes, cookies, crackers, fruit, and hot chocolate keeps everyone happy.
4. Keep the rules short
Everyone starts arguing if the rules get too complicated. Keep it quick and simple.
5. Have someone “host” the game
One person calling out numbers keeps things moving.
6. Add a twist: The Golden Gift
Make one mystery gift extra special, something great like a movie gift card. Wrap it normally so no one knows which it is!
7. Take photos
The moment someone unwraps the weird gift? You’ll want that picture forever.
Fun Variations of the Game
If your group plays every year and wants something a little different, try one of these fun variations.
1. Dice Steal Game
Everyone rolls a dice:
- 1 = Steal from anyone
- 2 = Swap gifts
- 3 = Skip your turn
- 4 = Pick a new gift
- 5 = Everyone passes their gift to the left
- 6 = Everyone passes to the right
Kids LOVE this one.
2. The Story Game
Instead of picking numbers, you read a silly story with the words LEFT and RIGHT sprinkled in. Every time you hear the word left, everyone passes the gifts left. Same for right. At the end, whatever you’re holding is yours!
3. Hot Potato Gift
Play music while passing one wrapped gift around. When the music stops, whoever’s holding it keeps it and leaves the game. Keep going with new gifts.
4. Secret White Elephant
Instead of playing in one room, everyone hides their gift around the house. Then you send everyone on a Christmas scavenger hunt.
Hosting a White Elephant Party at Home
If you’re hosting this year, here’s a simple setup that keeps things stress-free:
Create a cozy space
Move some chairs into a circle. Floor cushions for kids. Blankets everywhere. Christmas lights make everything magical.
Put the gifts in the middle
Make a cute pile. Even better if they’re wrapped in all kinds of wild colors and ribbons.
Have a “gift guard”
Usually a younger kid who makes sure nobody sneaks a peek at the gifts. They take this job VERY seriously.
Add some treats
Even something simple like:
- cookies
- chocolate bark
- candy canes
- popcorn bowls
- apple cider
You don’t need a full dinner. Just happy little snacks.
Make sure everyone knows the rules
Quick and simple, go over the rules so that everyone is clear on what to do BEFORE the game starts.
How to Keep It Kid-Friendly
If you have little ones in the group, a few tweaks help:
- Limit stealing so no one cries
- Include at least a few gifts kids will enjoy
- Let kids go earlier in the order
- Keep gifts wrapped extra tight (kids love that dramatic rip!)
- Give little ones a “helper” if needed
My kids used to think this game was just the greatest thing in the world because they loved the excitement of not knowing what was coming next.
If you’re looking for a way to bring smiles to your holiday party this year, this game is one of the easiest things you can add. It’s budget-friendly, simple, and gets people talking, laughing, and having fun.
Whether you’re hosting a big family celebration, a cozy night at home, a work party, a church group get-together, or a Friendsmas gathering, the White Elephant Christmas Gift Exchange always delivers a good time.
So wrap up something silly, gather your people, and get ready for tons of laughter. Trust me, this might just become everyone’s favorite part of Christmas.
