The 10 Best White Elephant Gifts
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in December of 2017. White elephant gift exchanges are a popular staple of holiday parties everywhere. This transfer of goodies can be a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful trying to decide what to take. That's why we've compiled this list of low-priced presents, with whimsical novelties that will amuse your friends along with more tasteful options for office parties or family gatherings. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Casofu Giant Burrito Blanket
2. Tequila Mockingbird
3. Nerf N-Strike
Editor's Notes
May 18, 2020:
I've been playing a white elephant at every Christmas gathering on my father's side of the family since I was about five, and the only thing more certain than the rules changing every year is that there are bound to be some hilarious gifts. It's important to know your audience here, however, as something like the Wine Condoms wouldn't be as well received in your church group as it would with your close friends.
To that end, this is a deeply personal decision you're going to have to make based on the group with whom you will be playing, but I tried to curate a list of ideas that could offer immediate satisfaction on the night of the party, as well as some use afterward. That's why I got rid of the Thug Kitchen cookbook, as it doesn't offer much in the way of immediate use. I replaced it with Tequila Mockingbird, a book of movie-inspired cocktails that you can make right then and there. It's also why I got rid of the Cards Against Humanity holiday expansion, as there's no guarantee that there will be a base pack there to play with, or that whoever goes home with it even has one.
And while you might argue that the Movie Prop Money Full Print has little use after the gag, it's a fake gift that you can re-gift to your heart's content, so long as everyone who gets it realizes it isn't actual money and doesn't try to go out and spend it.
Special Honors
Catholic Company Wise Men According to the Christian Bible, Jesus was presented with gold, frankincense, and muhr by the three wise men, and this set aims to commemorate that moment. It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but its contents are actually worth something, and it would make an equally nice grab bag item for a church group as it would a crowd of devoted atheists. catholiccompany.com
Cleveland Browns Tickets If you have a little bit of money to sink into your present, there are few events more sure to be a disappointment than a Browns game. They're one of the losingest teams in sports history, with only three seasons above .500 in the last 30 years, and just a single playoff win. This gift is even funnier if the recipient lives nowhere near the state of Ohio. clevelandbrowns.com
4. Wine Condoms
5. Abbott Collection Ceramic Figurine
6. How to Traumatize Your Children
7. Unemployed Philosophers Guild Mug
8. Movie Prop Money Full Print
9. Hasbro Star Wars Bop It
10. Maple Landmark Wooden Train Whistle
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).