honorable mentions
Nowadays cannabis infused beverages start at $40: Bringing a bottle of wine is a white elephant classic; My husband’s work team almost exclusively exchanges bottles of wine as a safe bet for excitement. However, I think you could do better and bring THC spirits instead. This spirit is light and slightly fruity, sitting somewhere between the flavor profile of floral gin and sweet sake. My friends and I tried it mixed into a pomegranate cocktail instead of tequila, which was fantastic, and we also loved it with seltzer as a THC twist on the gin and tonic. It’s delicious even alone. However, I would leave this for a work party or any group that might not be as green-friendly.
Drinking alcohol in general: It’s always a safe choice! You can also bring a bottle of non-alcoholic wine if you want an option that everyone can have.
What not to bring to White Elephant?
Here’s what caused the least amount of fighting at the white elephant parties I attended last year, or the most inappropriate ideas our team heard:
- A basic, single candle. No one needs a candle they can pick up at the store. Unless there’s a fun theme that will appeal to the group present, such as the D&D candles above for my fellow nerd friends or book-themed candles for book lovers, skip bringing a single candle for the white elephant exchange. Or make the candle part of a gift basket; Our favorite tomato-scented candle goes great with some kitchen or garden accessories.
- Puzzles. I think puzzles are hard to give as gifts – true puzzle lovers will want lots of pieces, while beginners will want an easy puzzle. If you choose a puzzle with a very specific theme, the recipient may not like it as much as a true puzzler or fan of that theme would. Instead, I’m gifting a fun paint-by-number kit.
- Live animals. Look, you shouldn’t give chicks at Easter, and you shouldn’t give anything even remotely close to that – including a mouse, fish or any living thing.
- Sex toys and lingerie. I’ve actually gone into a sex toy-themed gift exchange, and I would recommend it to the right groups of friends. But otherwise, unless you’re good friends with the whole group and are absolutely confident it wouldn’t be inappropriate (and no kids would be involved), it’s safe to buy these for your significant other instead. This is definitely inappropriate for a work gift exchange.
- Actual garbage. I didn’t think I’d have to write this, but at a gift exchange I went to, someone literally wrapped a piece of trash as a joke. As someone who opens the gift of garbage, I beg you: don’t do it.
white elephant rules
If you’re headed to your first white elephant gift exchange, here’s a quick explanation of what’s going to happen.
Everyone will bring a wrapped gift (often under a certain price, such as $25) and place it in a pile or central location. Then, each person will draw a number that will indicate their place in the gift-selection order. When your turn comes, you can either choose a gift from the pile and open it, or steal one that someone has already opened. Most exchanges will have a limit on how many times a gift can be stolen – usually around three times – so even if you have the best gift in your hands when it comes time for someone else to choose, there’s no guarantee you’ll keep it. If your gift is stolen, you can either open a new gift or have a different gift stolen (no refunds, sorry).
These rules may vary depending on the host and their house rules, so be sure to ask at the beginning of the game what the rules are. Happy exchanging!
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