Every year, people are putting a fun spin on the conventional holiday gift exchange with a white elephant party. The rules lend themselves to a playful environment and even some light-hearted shenanigans.
So, what is a white elephant gift exchange? Also called a Yankee Swap, there are a few basic rules. Essentially, each person in the swap contributes a wrapped present to a gift pool. Usually, the event organizer has stipulations on price and type of gift. Some white elephant exchanges, for instance, encourage people to re-gift something they never wanted in the first place.
Once the items are in, players draw numbers to determine the order they’ll select a gift. Then, everyone sits in a circle so they can all see the presents. The first player picks their gift and opens it. Here’s what makes the white elephant exchange different from something like a Secret Santa: the following players can take an item from the pool or steal a previous player’s gift. If someone has their present stolen, then they can either choose a new gift or steal it from someone else. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
This year may be a bit different as many people will be holding their white elephant parties virtually. But the responsibility of purchasing a gift should remain the same. If you’ve been invited to participate in one of these exchanges, it can be tricky to pick a gift. You’re not buying for a specific person; instead, you’re purchasing something that would appeal to at least several people. To help you in this endeavor, we’ve selected a variety of quirky and creative gifts that are all $25 and under. We’re sure that there’s an art lover, tea enthusiast, and cat lover in your group! See our entire selection, below.
Need something for a white elephant gift exchange? Here are quirky and creative gifts all for $25 or less!
Rainbow Yoga Joes
‘The Great Wave’ Tote Bag
Bob Ross Mug
Avocado Food Huggers
Storm Cloud
Chill Beer Flannel
Animal Society Temporary Tattoo Set
Salvador Keychain
Cookie House Mug Buddies
“642 Things to Draw” Book
Vincat van Gogh Enamel Pin
Cherry Measuring Spoons
Animal Multi Tool
Bartender Glasses
Agate Coaster
Moon Chalk
Pop Art Crew Socks
1,000-Piece Moon Puzzle
MagnaShapes Spinning Circles
Tokens of My Love: 24 Redeemable Coupons
Cat Butt Magnets
Birds on a Wire Mug
Nail Polish Holder
Build-On Brick Mug
Silicone Wine Glass Holder for the Shower
Basquiat Skull Tote Bag
Baby Nessie Tea Infuser
Lollipopter Kinetic Toy
Cactus Cool Mist Humidifier
Small Wooden Cat Pile
Pasta Monster Serving Spoons
Puffer Fish Dryer Buddies
Louis C. Tiffany Favrile Domed Magnets
Death Star Ice Cube Mold
Cacti and Succulent Tealight Candles
This article has been edited and updated.
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