Whether you've heard of white elephant gift exchanges before or not, there's a good chance you have the wrong idea about what it is, how it actually works, and where the idea came from. According to legend, the king of Siam gave a white elephant to courtiers who angered them. This was a much more insidious punishment than just execution. The recipient had no choice but to simply thank the king for such a luxurious gift, knowing that he most likely would not be able to afford the care of such an animal. This would inevitably lead them to financial ruin.
This story is almost certainly not true, but it led to the modern holiday: exchanging gifts with a white elephant. Choosing the right white elephant gift involves walking a fine line: the goal isn't to just buy something terrible and have someone take it home with them. Rather, it should simply be useful or funny enough that it won't be immediately thrown into the trash. The recipient should also not be able to simply throw it in a trash drawer and forget about it. So here are a few sentences that will not only make you chuckle, but will also make the recipient feel (slightly) burdened.
KFC / Enviro-Log
The best white elephant gifts are the ones that create intrigue as soon as they hit the gift pile. And a full-size 4.3-pound log wrapped in holiday paper is not possible. No notice. It will almost certainly dwarf any other gift one might receive, and will prompt endless questions and speculation about what might be in the strange, surprisingly heavy box.
The fact that the comically large box contains Fire log with KFC fried chicken flavor makes this whole joke even funnier. I have a gas fireplace at home, so I unfortunately have no idea what a KFC 11 Herbs and Spices log actually smells like. Many online reviews claim that it smells “exactly” like the inside of KFC. Whether this attracts you or not probably depends on your liking for the Colonel. But I can't think of a more amazing gift for someone who just really wanted to see what was inside a big, heavy box. — Carissa Bell, senior reporter
ChopSabers
Is there any point in dining on sushi or noodles if you don't eat with Force-protected utensils? No. The answer is no. These lightsaber chopsticks Light up in different colors at the touch of a button and come with batteries so your gift can protect its plates from the forces of evil. Sure, they'll be a hit with Star Wars fanatics, but anyone can find joy in a pair of heavy-duty chopsticks that can be used to stage impromptu “food fights” between pieces of sashimi. — Valentina Palladino, deputy editor
Imazy
Who doesn't want their living room to look like a galaxy far, far away? Your recipient may have to fight with their young children (or other participants in your gift exchange) for this. galaxy projectorwhich illuminates the ceiling with different lighting effects with adjustable brightness and speed. They can use it to create the perfect atmosphere for their next Star Wars viewing party or to soothingly drift off to sleep every night. In addition to the included remote control and companion app, the projector also has a timer that allows you to set it to turn off immediately after you fall asleep. The mobile app will allow them to customize every aspect of their personal space, from hazy and shimmering effects to the swirling colors and music they pair with it (yes, there's a built-in speaker, too). Forget these boring old ones smart light bulbs – This Galaxy projector is a smart device that will improve anyone's home environment. — Vice President
Clocks
If the purpose of the White Elephant's gift is to be a kind of low-key torture, then Alarm clock Clocky on wheels may be the greatest White Elephant gift of all time. (Well, except for those weirdos who wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.) It's an alarm clock that, if your giftee tries to hit the snooze button, runs away from it while still beeping. telling them in no uncertain terms that it is time to get up. And every morning they will get out of bed, sleepily cursing your name. – Terrence O'Brien, former editor-in-chief
Engadget
banana phone it's exactly what you'd expect – a banana that's also a phone. It may not have a SIM card or data plan associated with it, but your giftee can pair it with their smartphone via Bluetooth so they can ditch that tired $1,000-plus phone and start taking calls the right way—with a piece of fruit. In addition to receiving and making calls, they can also use Banana Phone with Google Assistant and Siri to ask about the weather or tell it, “Play Cruel Summer by Bananarama.” Yes, Banana Phone also works as a Bluetooth speaker and has a range of 30 feet, so it can play tunes when they are not using it for work. — Vice President
Apple
So it might be easy for your recipient to toss this in the trash drawer, but we don't think they'll want to do that. Stupid Apple polishing cloth at a ridiculous price in fact, it may be a white elephant gift that people will want to receive. Is this overkill for what it is? Likely. Is this useful for anyone since we all have dozens of screens in our lives now, big and small? Definitely. Apparently a lot of people saw the usefulness of this thing since they had to wait weeks to get it back when it came out. first released in 2021. Now, thankfully, it's more accessible—and that might be the most important thing for you if you're wandering around the mall or scouring Amazon trying to find the perfect white elephant gift. — Vice President
MMH
IRL weapons are lame – unless the ammunition is sugar-based. Crossbow MMX Zephyr shoots “slightly dry” marshmallows up to 60 feet, so think of it as a much tastier version of a Nerf gun. Just imagine: one person with this crossbow and a bag of Jet Puffed can deliver sugar bombs to everyone in the room without even leaving the couch. If this isn't a storybook holiday scenario, I don't know what is. The launcher itself is handcrafted: made from copper, aluminum, natural rubber and North American hardwood, each of which is machined and assembled by hand. In Canada no less. — Amy Skorheim, reporter
White Elephant: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a white elephant?
White Elephant Gift Exchange is a party game typically played during the holidays during which people exchange funny and impractical gifts.
How does a white elephant work?
Each group of people brings one wrapped gift to the white elephant gift exchange, and each gift is usually of equal value. All the gifts are then added together and the group decides in what order each of them will claim the gift. The first participant selects a gift in the form of a white elephant from the pile, unwraps it, and his turn ends. The next players can either decide to unwrap another gift and make their mark, or steal a gift from someone who has already made a move. Rules may vary, including guidelines for how often one item can be stolen—some say twice at most. The game ends when everyone receives a white elephant as a gift.
Why is it called a white elephant?
The term “white elephant” is said to come from a legend about the King of Siam giving white elephants to courtiers who upset him. Although at first glance this seems like a generous gift, it is believed that the courtiers will go bankrupt due to the cost of maintaining the animal.
Check out the rest of our gift ideas Here.