Whether you’ve heard of a white elephant gift exchange before, chances are you have the wrong idea of what it is, how it actually works and where the idea comes from. According to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to those who had offended him. It was a more subtle punishment than simply being killed. The recipient had no choice but to thank the king for such a wonderful gift, knowing that they probably couldn’t afford such an animal. It would definitely lead them to financial loss.
This story is probably not true, but it led to a modern holiday tradition: the white elephant gift exchange. Choosing the right white elephant gift means walking a fine line: the goal is not to just buy something bad and force someone to take it home. Instead, it should be useful or entertaining enough that it won’t be thrown in the trash immediately. The recipient also shouldn’t be able to just throw it in the trash and forget about it. So here are a few suggestions that will not only get you a few laughs, but also make the recipient feel (a little) overwhelmed.
KFC / Enviro-Log
The best white elephant gifts are the ones that are a little trickier when they make their way into the gift pile. And a full-size, 4.3-pound firelog wrapped in holiday paper is impossible not to be aware. It’s almost like a gift to be picked up, and it will spark endless questions and speculations about what might be in the strange, surprisingly heavy box.
The fact that the funny big box is holding a KFC fried firelog that smells good makes the whole gag even funnier. I have a gas fireplace at home, so, sadly, I don’t know what KFC 11 Herbs and Spices firelog actually smells like. Many online reviews say it smells “exactly” like the inside of a KFC. Whether that appeals to you or not depends on your relationship with the Colonel. But I can’t think of a better gift to give someone who just wanted to see what’s inside a big, heavy box. – Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter
$40 at Amazon
ChopSabers
Is there really a point to a sushi or noodle night if you don’t eat your food with dishes protected by The Force? No. The answer is no. These lightsaber sticks light up in different colors at the push of a button and come with built-in batteries so your gift can protect their plates from evil forces. Of course, they will be the best among Star Wars fans, but anyone who can find pleasure in a very powerful chopstick can have “food wars” between bites of sashimi. – Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
$13 at Amazon
Aimeezi
Who doesn’t want their living room to look like a galaxy far, far away? Your giftee may have to fight their little ones (or others in your gift exchange) to get this galaxy projector, which shines a different light up the ceiling with adjustable brightness and speed. They can use it to achieve the perfect vibe for their next Star Wars binge party, or to get a good night’s sleep. In addition to the included remote control and compatible app, the projector also has a timer so they can set it to turn off as soon as they fall asleep. The mobile app will allow them to customize every aspect of their personal space platform, from its nebula and glitter effects, to swirling colors, to accompanying music (yes, there’s even a built-in speaker). Forget those old smart light bulbs — this galaxy projector is a smart accessory that will elevate anyone’s home space. – VP
$23 at Amazon
A clock
If the goal of a White Elephant gift is a low-key indulgence, the Alarm Clock on Wheels may be the greatest White Elephant gift of all time. (Well, except for those weirdos who wake up at 4:30 AM every day with bright eyes and a green tail.) An alarm clock that, if your gift tries to hit the snooze button, runs away and continues to cry, telling them in no uncertain terms that it’s time to wake up. And every morning, they will stumble out of bed cursing your name. – Terrence O’Brien, Former Managing Editor
$36 at Amazon
Engadget
The Banana Phone is what you’d expect – a banana that’s also a phone. It may not have a SIM card or service plan attached to it, but your gift can pair it with their smartphone via Bluetooth so they can ditch that tired, $1,000+ device and start taking calls the right way — with a piece of fruit. In addition to taking and making calls, they can also use the Banana Phone with Google Assistant and Siri, to ask about the weather or tell it to “Play Cruel Summer with Bananarama.” Of course, the Banana Phone also works as a Bluetooth speaker and has a range of 30 meters, so it can play songs whenever it’s not being used for official business. – VP
$40 at Amazon
an apple
So maybe your recipient can easily toss this in the trash, but we don’t think they’ll want to. A no-nonsense, inexpensive apple polishing cloth may be the white elephant gift people want to receive. Is it past what it is? Maybe. Is it useful to anyone since we all have a lot of screens, big and small, in our lives now? Definitely. Apparently a lot of people saw the benefit in this thing as it was expected for weeks to bring it back when it first came out in 2021. Now, thankfully, it’s readily available – which can be very important to you if you find it. yourself wandering the mall or browsing Amazon trying to find the perfect white elephant gift. – VP
$19 at Amazon
MMX
IRL weapons are disabled – unless the bullets are sugar based. The MMX Marshmallow Crossbow fires “slightly dry” marshmallows up to 60 feet, so think of this as a more fun version of a Nerf gun. Just think: one person with this crossbow and a Jet Puffed bag can deliver sugar bombs to everyone in the room without ever getting off the couch. If that’s not a storybook holiday scene, I don’t know what is. The launcher itself is a precious piece of art: it’s made of copper, aluminum, natural rubber and North American hardwood, and each one is machined and assembled by hand. In Canada, no less. – Amy Skorheim, Reporter
$99 for MMX
Frequently Asked Questions about the White Elephant
What is a white elephant?
A white elephant gift exchange is a party game often played during the holidays where people exchange funny, unlikely gifts.
How does the white elephant work?
A group of people brings one wrapped gift to a white elephant gift exchange, and each gift is usually of the same value. All the gifts are placed together and the group decides the order in which each one will claim the gift. The first person chooses a white elephant gift from the pile, unwraps it and their turn ends. Subsequent players can decide to unwrap another gift and claim it as their own, or steal a gift from someone who has already taken a turn. The rules can vary from there, including guidelines about how often one item can be stolen – some say twice, the maximum. The game ends when everyone has a gift of a white elephant.
Why is it called a white elephant?
The word “white elephant” is said to come from the legend of the King of Siam who gave white elephants to elephants who had offended him. Although it seems like a lavish gift on the face of it, the belief is that the poachers will be spoiled by the cost of caring for the animal.
Check out our rest gift ideas here.
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