Holidays are about gathering with loved ones, exchanging gifts, and then stealing those gifts from one another. We’re talking of course about White Elephant! It’s the reason you have a pair of candlestick holders in your closet that you don’t know what to do with. And it’s the reason your uncle and your other uncle aren’t talking to one another. But where did it come from? And where did it go? Wait, those are the Cotton-Eye Joe lyrics. Anyway, let’s dive in.
White elephant? Like an albino elephant? That’s a game?
First of all, white elephants aren’t technically albino, but that’s a whole nother blog post. In this case, we’re referring to a holiday gift exchange tradition (also known as Dirty Santa or Yankee Swap) that sees families, friends, and/or coworkers drawing numbers from one to however many people are involved. When it’s your turn, you can either grab something from the pile of wrapped gifts — not knowing what it may or may not be — or steal from one of the people who went before you, forcing them to return to the pile. It goes without saying that some of these items are more sought-after than others, often leading to heated competition over select gifts. After all, what’s a holiday celebration without a bit (or a lot) of arguing?
White elephants aren’t albino? Then why are they white?
You’re getting distracted. This is about the gift exchange.
Okay, fine. So how did this tradition come about?
If you stop interrupting with all these questions, we’ll tell you! Believe it or not, the White Elephant tradition dates back to the 1800s, when the King of Siam (modern day Thailand) would gift actual white elephants to people he didn’t like. The white elephant was considered sacred, so how was this a burn? Maybe because they weren’t allowed to be used for work, rendering them useless when it came to financial gain. And speaking of finances, caring for these large beasts were expensive as hell, so there wasn’t exactly a market for reselling them. Recipients had no choice but to politely thank the king before bringing their 6,000-pound pet back to their forever home.
The White Elephant tradition evolved over the years, or rather, centuries. In the early 1900s, parties began popping up where guests would bring concealed gifts without revealing the contents. Attendees were encouraged to find the most absurd items possible for maximum entertainment. Many took advantage of this occasion to offload possessions they didn’t want anymore. This included gloves that didn’t fit, dusty china, or spare ribbons. In some instances, woman would jokingly offer up their husbands as “white elephants.” Oh snap!
Today, the White Elephant gift exchange remains alive and well. Buying just one gift to add to the pile is an affordable alternative to buying individual gifts for everyone in your family, and it cuts down on the stress of figuring out just what to get your impossible-to-read nephew.
Looking to add some laughs to your next White Elephant party? Consider stashing your present in a prank gift box. Everyone will be clamoring for the Bicycle Seat Belt or Cat Hat Bed, only to crack up even more when they find your real gift tucked away inside.