White elephant gift exchange game

United States
December 17, 2008 8:34am CST
Hi everyone. Years ago i played the white elephant game at a christmas party. I know that there are different ways to play so can you tell me the way you play? Details please. Thanks
2 people like this
3 responses
• United States
17 Dec 08
We just played this at my husbands company christmas party. The basic idea is this. Everyone brings a gift. Each person draws a number. The person who draws the #1 picks a gift first. The person who drew the #2 can either take the gift that #1 has, or pick from the pile of gifts. If they take the gift that #1 took then the person that drew #1 has to go to the table to get a new gift. Then it is #3's turn. they can either choose from the gifts picked by 1&2 or grab a new gift from the table. After the last person has drawn the #1 person has the opportunity to pick a gift that ANYONE else has. If you have a lively group this game can be pretty fun.
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
that sounds fun :D. I will introduce this game on our family christmas party:)
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Hi bubbles, long time since you been here..Loved the e-mail you sent me this morning, my 6 y/o liked it too.. As for white elephant gift exchange, I think I know what that is, but I need a reminder so I can reply with a decent answer..
• United States
17 Dec 08
Okay, if what the poster said above me is correct in this gift exchange, yes I have been to those before. I played one time at this church I used to go to and it was a small gathering so I don't believe we drew numbers, but just picked someone to go next..I remember one friend getting a book she wanted to read, so in case she lost it, she started reading it right there and then and if someone went near her, she would turn away from them, it was very funny.. This was also the first year I have seen the gift in a jar, I didn't get that, but I started getting interested in making them..
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
It has been a long time and it was only once. We drew names out of a hat. I cannot give more details then that, except the whole idea was that one of us got some gift that they never used and it was something like a white elephant, so one of us, luckily it never was me, had to buy someone something utterly ridiculous.