I hate them. I’ve survived at a couple of them buy giving a copy of the How theGrinch Stole Christmas book and and** A Christmas Story** DVD. The next one I’m forced to go is for work and it must be a gag gift and can’t be over $5.
So now I guess I need to look around for something cheap that is ‘funny.’
If we’re going to do one at my work team’s Christmas party, I’d at least prefer to swap things that we might actually use.
Any one else dislike these types of gift exchanges or do I just have no sense of fun?
I like them better than “regular” gift-giving. My family transitioned over to the White Elephant when our numbers swelled to such a degree that buying gifts for everyone became impractical. It not only provides relief for the wallet, but all that stress is taken out of the equation.
My co-workers do a White Elephant exchange, too, complete with “stealing”. Some gifts are crappy, but there are often just as many cool gifts. I’m usually the only one who gives something homemade, but there’s one guy who gives away pork products (his father is a pig farmer). Everyone tries to steal his bacon.
I love White Elephant exchanges! I’ll pick up items all year for them. Last year, I snagged an Elvis Pez dispenser on sale. At one of my prior office WE exchanges, I contributed a 40 pound cement Elvis bust. My co-worker got him and to this day decorates him with seasonal outfits (e.g. a Bengals knit cap, a Santa hat). I crack up everytime I see it.
I’ve found that “found on TV only” items make good WE prizes. Who doesn’t love a Sham-Wow or Snuggy? When I ended up with a Chia Pet one year at another office exchange, I (of course) attempted to grow it at the office. It didn’t sprout. That didn’t stop us from having an awesome Irish wake (the obituary read "Acute Foliage Failure), complete with food and whiskey shots. The police officers refused to do a 6-gun salute, saying they didn’t want to lose their jobs, blah blah blah. Killjoys.
Strangely, the gift I’ve contributed that caused the most ruckus (men fighting over it) was a $10 collection of various sized cable ties that I found at Costco.
If you’re really stumped about what to get, and you can’t find any Elvis works of art,* I’d recommend just getting scratch off lottery tickets. People love them, and they aren’t as lame as gift cards, which the PeoplePleasers always bring. Nothing ruins a good WE exchange like a really good gift. (Harkens back The Office episode when Michael gave an iPod.)
*Elvis is the muse for so many tacky creations that one year I’m tempted to do an “Elvis only” WE exchange.
I don’t like them in general, but the “no more than $5” rule would make it pretty harmless, in my book. A mug or some faudy knick-knack from Chinatown – boom, I’m done.
I don’t like them. I don’t like having junk around the house. Even if I end up with a consumable (cookies, candy) it seems like there’s a lot of extra packaging to throw away or a mug or something.
I don’t like the idea that you “need” to open gifts on Christmas because “that’s what Christmas is all about.” Not for me - I’d rather not open anything.
FWIW I don’t like regular non-white-elephant gift exchanging either. I just like hanging out.
They usually do one on my Dad’s side of the family’s yearly reunion. Their rule is that you can’t buy it; it has to come from your house. That way no one’s accumulation of crap increases, and you can exchange something you have but don’t need for something potentially better (and it ends up with some nice and potentially useful items).
I just hate being asked to particpate in such exchanges–I have no need for new junk (already have way too much junk as it is) and would not wish my own junk on my worst enemy.
Secret Santa works a little better for me becuase you draw a name so you can make or buy something thoughtful for that specific person rather than a random exchange of cheap “junk.”
i actually prefer white elephant gifting when it actually involves swapping around junk. At a few holiday occasions, I felt embarrassed when I gift wrapped something cheap from around the house, and others brought gifts that were nice and definitely cost more than $5.
