Are you looking for a fun and unique way to exchange gifts with your friends or co-workers this holiday season? Look no further than the White Elephant Gift Exchange! This game, also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa, is easy to play and guaranteed to bring plenty of laughs and enjoyment.
How to Play
The White Elephant Gift Exchange is a game where each player brings one wrapped gift. The gifts are placed in a central location and each player draws a number to determine the order in which they will choose a gift. Player one chooses a gift and opens it, then player two can either choose a different, unopened gift or steal player one’s gift. If player two steals player one’s gift, player one gets to choose a new, unopened gift to open. The game continues until all players have had a turn to choose a gift.
Rules
Here are some basic rules to keep in mind when playing the White Elephant Gift Exchange:
- Each player brings one wrapped gift
- Gifts should be appropriate for all players (no offensive or inappropriate gifts)
- Players draw numbers to determine the order in which they will choose a gift
- Players can steal gifts from other players, but a gift can only be stolen three times before it becomes “locked” with the third owner and cannot be stolen again
- Players cannot immediately steal a gift that was just stolen from them
- Once all gifts have been opened, the game is over
Game Ideas
Looking to mix things up and add some extra excitement to your White Elephant Gift Exchange? Try one of these game variations:
- Set a spending limit for gifts
- Specify a theme for gifts, such as “homemade” or “under $10”
- Play with gag gifts or “re-gifts” (items that have already been given as gifts)
- Play with “steal limits” - limit the number of times a gift can be stolen
Free Printables
Want to make your White Elephant Gift Exchange even more organized and professional? Check out these free printables:
- Gift tags - print out these festive gift tags to label your wrapped gifts
- Number cards - print out these cards with numbers on them to determine the order in which players will choose gifts
- Rules - print out a copy of the game rules to distribute to all players before the game begins
Overall, the White Elephant Gift Exchange is a great way to exchange gifts and have some fun with your friends or co-workers during the holiday season. Follow these simple rules and try out some of the suggested game variations for an even more enjoyable experience!
