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Whether or not you’ve heard of white elephant gift exchanges before, there’s a chance you have the wrong idea of what it is, how it works and where the idea came from. According to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to the guards who had offended them. It was a more treacherous punishment than simply killing them. The host could not help but thank the king for such a precious gift, knowing that he could not afford to take care of such an animal. It would inevitably lead to financial ruin.
This story is almost entirely false, but it has given rise to a modern holiday: exchanging gifts for white elephants. Picking up a white elephant gift means walking a fine line: the goal isn’t to buy something bad and force someone to take it home. Instead, they should be useful or funny enough that they don’t get thrown in the trash right away. The host also doesn’t have to just throw it in the pantry and forget about it. So here are a few ideas that will not only make you laugh a little, but will also make the recipient feel (a little) overwhelmed.
KFC / Enviro-Log
The best white elephant gifts are the ones that create a little intrigue as soon as they enter the gift pile. And a full-sized, 4.3-pound log wrapped in holiday paper is impossible no awareness. It will dwarf any other gift that may be received, and it will trigger endless questions and speculations about what might be in that mysterious, incredibly rich box.
The fact that the largest box contains a KFC’s fire-smoked fried chicken it makes the whole gag even more interesting. I have a gas fireplace at home, so I, sadly, have no idea what KFC 11 Herbs and Spices firelog smells like. Many reviews online say it smells “exactly” like the inside of a KFC. Whether this appeals to you or not depends on your interaction with the Colonel. But I can’t think of a better gift to give to someone who just wants to see what’s inside a big, heavy box. – Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter
ChopSabers
Is there any reason to make sushi or noodles at night if you don’t eat your food with utensils protected by The Force? No. The answer is no. This bright lights light in different colors at the push of a button and come with batteries included so that your gift is suitable to protect their dishes from negative energy. Of course, they will be a hit among Star Wars fans, but everyone can find joy in the most powerful costumes that have “food fights” between bites of sashimi. – Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
I’m sorry
Who doesn’t want their living room to look like a galaxy far, far away? Your gift giver may struggle with their young children (or others in your gift exchange) over this galaxy projectorwhich shines different light on the ceiling with adjustable brightness and speed. They can use it to get the most out of their next Star Wars party, or to get a good night’s sleep. In addition to the included remote control, the projector also has a timer to turn it off while sleeping. The mobile app allows them to change all aspects of their environment, from the nebula and its twinkling, to the surrounding colors, the music that accompanies it (yes, there is also a speaker). Forget boring old people smart bulbs – This galaxy projector is a smart device that can control anyone’s home. — VP
Clock
If the purpose of the White Elephant’s gift is to be a form of low-level torture, then so be it Clock Alarm Clock on Wheels may be the greatest White Elephant gift of all time. (Well, except for the weirdos who wake up at 4:30 AM every day with bright and bushy eyes.) It’s an alarm clock that, if your gift tries to hit the snooze button, runs away while they continue to ring, and tells them straight away. side that it is time for him to wake up. And every morning, they stumble out of bed and curse your name. – Terrence O’Brien, Former Managing Editor
Engadget
The Banana Phone it’s exactly 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 giftee can pair it with a smartphone via Bluetooth so they can ditch the tired, $1,000+ phone and start making calls properly – and a piece of fruit. In addition to making and receiving calls, they can also use the Banana phone with Google Assistant and Siri, ask about the weather or say “Play Cruel Summer with Bananarama.” Yes, the Banana Phone also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and has a 30-foot range, so it can play music whenever it’s not being used for business. — VP
apple
So maybe your host could easily throw this in the pantry drawer, but we don’t think they’d want to. Apple’s silly, pricey screen protector it can be a white elephant gift that people will want to receive. Why is it excessive? Maybe. Is it useful for everyone since we all have multiple screens, big and small, in our lives now? Of course. Apparently a lot of people found this useful because there were weeks waiting for it to come back. it first came out in 2021. Now, luckily, it’s readily available — which may be a big plus for you if you find yourself traipsing through the mall or scouring Amazon trying to find the perfect white elephant gift. — VP
MMX
IRL tools are lame – unless the tools have sugar. The MMX Marshmallow Crossbow fire “slightly dry” marshmallows up to 60 feet, so think of it as a sweeter version of a Nerf gun. Just imagine: one person with a rainbow and a Jet Puffed bag can deliver sugar bombs to everyone in the room without ever getting out of bed. If that’s not a storybook holiday experience, I don’t know what is. The trigger itself is a masterpiece: made from copper, aluminum, natural rubber and North American hardwood, and everything is crafted and assembled by hand. In Canada, at least. – Amy Skorheim, reporter
White Elephant Questions
What is a white elephant?
White elephant gift giving is a party game often played during the holidays where people exchange funny, impossible gifts.
How does the white elephant work?
Each group brings a wrapped gift to the white elephant exchange, and each gift is of equal value. All the gifts are put together and the group chooses the order in which everyone will receive the gift. The first person takes the white elephant gift from the pile, uncovers it and their turn ends. The next player can choose to unlock another gift and claim it as their own, or steal a gift from someone who has already taken it. The rules can vary from there, including guidelines about how many times one item can be stolen – some say twice, max. The game ends when each person has a gift of a white elephant.
Why is it called a white elephant?
The term “white elephant” is said to come from the legend of the King of Siam giving white elephants to officials who offended him. Although it seems like an expensive gift on the face of it, the belief is that the yard workers will go broke with the cost of caring for the animals.
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