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Whether or not you’ve heard of a white elephant gift exchange before, there’s a good chance you have the wrong idea of what it is, how it works and where the idea came from. According to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to the courts that angered them. This is a more insidious punishment than simply killing them. The recipient had no choice but to thank the king for such a generous gift, knowing that they probably could not afford to care for such an animal. This will inevitably lead them to financial ruin.
This story is hardly true, but it led to a modern holiday staple: the white elephant gift exchange. Choosing the right white elephant gift means walking a fine line: the goal isn’t just to buy something hideous and force someone to bring it into their home. Instead, it should be useful or entertaining enough that it won’t be immediately thrown in the trash. The recipient also doesn’t have to just throw it in a junk drawer and forget about it. So here are some suggestions that will not only give you a few chuckles, but also make the recipient feel (a little) overwhelmed.
KFC / Enviro-Log
The best white elephant gifts are the ones that create a little intrigue when they enter the gift basket. And a full-sized, 4.3-pound firelog wrapped in holiday paper is impossible not to notice. It almost certainly dwarfs every other gift up for grabs, and will prompt endless questions and speculation about what the strange, strangely heavy box might do.
The fact that the comically-large box holds a KFC fried chicken-scented firelog makes the whole gag more fun. I have a gas fireplace at home, so I, unfortunately, have no idea what the KFC 11 Herbs and Spices firelog actually smells like. Many online reviews say it smells “exactly” like the inside of a KFC. Whether or not that appeals to you probably depends on how much you like the Colonel. But I can’t think of a better gift to give someone who just wants to see what’s inside a big, heavy box. – Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter
ChopSabers
What’s the point of sushi or noodle night if you don’t eat your food with utensils protected by The Force? No. The answer is no. it lightsaber chopsticks lights up in different colors at the push of a button and comes with included batteries so your giftee can get the right to protect their plates from evil forces. Sure, they’ll be a hit among Star Wars fanatics, but anyone can find joy in a pair of extra-strong chopsticks with nasty “food fights” between bites of sashimi. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
Aimeezi
Who doesn’t want their living room to look like a galaxy far, far away? Your gift recipient may have to fight their young children (or others in your gift exchange) for it. galaxy projectorwhich illuminates various light effects on the ceiling with adjustable brightness and speed. They can use it to achieve the perfect vibe for their next Star Wars binge watch party, or to soothe themselves to sleep every night. In addition to an included remote and a companion app, the projector also has a timer so they can set it to turn off as they fall asleep. The mobile app will allow them to customize every aspect of their personal space field, from its nebula and sparkle effects, to the swirling colors, to the music they pair with it (yes, there’s a speaker which was also built). Forget the boring old ones smart light bulbs — this galaxy projector is the smart device that will level-up anyone’s home environment. — VP
Clocky
If the goal of a White Elephant gift is some kind of low-key torture, then the Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels perhaps the greatest White Elephant gift of all time. (Well, except for the weirdos who wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.) This is an alarm clock that, when your gift tries to hit the snooze button , runs from them that keeps beeping, telling them in no uncertain terms it’s time to get up. And every morning, they stumble out of bed sleepily cursing your name. – Terrence O’Brien, Former Managing Editor
Engadget
the Banana Phone it’s exactly what you’d expect — a banana that’s also a phone. It might not have a SIM card or a service plan attached to it, but your gift can pair with their smartphone via Bluetooth so they can ditch the tired, $1,000+ handset and start making calls the right way — with one pieces of fruit. In addition to making calls, they can also use the Banana Phone with Google Assistant and Siri, to ask about the weather or say “Play Cruel Summer by Bananarama.” Yes, the Banana Phone also works as a Bluetooth speaker and has a 30-foot range, so it can play tunes whenever they’re not using it to conduct official business. — VP
Apple
So maybe your recipient will just as easily throw it in a junk drawer, but we don’t think they’ll want to. Crazy Apple, ridiculously priced polishing cloth be a white elephant gift that people want to receive. Is it more than it is? Maybe. Is it useful for anyone since we all have so many screens, big and small, in our lives today? Sure. Apparently a lot of people see a use for this item because there is a weeks wait to get it back when it is. first came out in 2021. Now, thankfully, it’s more readily available — which may be the most important thing to you when you find yourself wandering the mall or scouring Amazon trying to find the perfect white gift. which is an elephant. — VP
MMX
IRL weapons are lame – unless the bullets are sugar based. the MMX Marshmallow Crossbow fires “little dry” marshmallows up to 60 feet, so think of it as a tastier version of a Nerf gun. Just think: someone with this crossbow and a bag of Jet Puffed could deliver sugar bombs to everyone in the room without ever getting out of bed. If that’s not a storybook holiday scenario, I don’t know what is. The launcher itself is precious artisanal: made from copper, aluminum, natural rubber and North American hardwood, and each one is manufactured and assembled by hand. In Canada, no less. – Amy Skorheim, Reporter
White elephant FAQs
What is a white elephant?
The white elephant gift exchange is a party game usually played during the holidays where people exchange funny, impractical gifts.
How does the white elephant work?
A group of people each bring a wrapped gift in a white elephant gift exchange, and each gift is usually of the same value. All the gifts are then put together and the group decides the order in which each of them will receive a gift. The first person chooses a white elephant gift from the pile, opens it and their turn ends. The following players may decide to open another gift and claim it as their own, or steal a gift from someone who has already taken over. The rules can vary from there, including guidelines on how often something can be stolen – some say twice, max. The game ends when each person has a gift of a white elephant.
Why is it called a white elephant?
The term “white elephant” is said to come from the legend of the King of Siam who gave white elephants to courtiers who angered him. While this may seem like a lavish gift on its face, the belief is that courtiers will be spoiled by the cost of caring for the animal.
Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.
