A white elephant gift exchange is a popular holiday party game found primarily in North America. Generally, white elephant parties need a minimum of six participants. With a larger group, game play may be more protracted. White elephant parties have been known to result in playful rivalries between players trying to get sought after gifts. The goal of a white elephant party is usually to entertain rather than to gain.
While the term "white elephant" originally referred to a less-than-serious gift, its association with this particular game has become synonymous in some circles, such that the game itself is commonly called a White Elephant Gift Exchange. This game has also been called a Gift Swap, Yankee Swap, Black Santa, Chinese Gift Exchange, Dirty Santa, Greedy Punter, Thieves' Christmas, Machiavellian Christmas, or Naughty Santa.
Read more about White Elephant Gift Exchange: Gameplay, Variants
Famous quotes containing the words white, elephant and/or exchange:
“On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
“Love will draw an elephant through a key-hole.”
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)
“So long as the system of competition in the production and exchange of the means of life goes on, the degradation of the arts will go on; and if that system is to last for ever, then art is doomed, and will surely die; that is to say, civilization will die.”
—William Morris (1834–1896)