The White Elephant Gift Game

When I married into my wife's family, I discovered that they had a slightly different slant on Christmas gift giving - one that placed less emphasis on the cost of the gift and more emphasis on the fun and joy found in the spirit of giving. It's a tradition that leaves everyone laughing. It's never really had a name, so let's call it the White Elephant Gift Game.

The rules of this game are simple. Before Christmas Day, each member of the family and their spouse buys an inexpensive "gift." The gift can be as ridiculous and off-the-wall as the buyer chooses - the crazier, the better. Everyone brings their unsigned and wrapped gift on Christmas Day and places it in a pile. In my wife's family, the pile has had as few as nine and as many as 16 gifts in it - one for each spouse and adult child.

After dinner, the fun begins. Each person draws a number that tells them the order in which they will select a gift. The game starts when first person selects a gift and opens it. The next person has the option of picking a gift or taking the first person's gift, in which case, the first person gets to pick another gift. From that point on, each player has the option of selecting an unknown gift or taking a preceding player's gift. As the pile gets smaller, each player inspects the remaining packages carefully before making a decision - unless he or she already has their eye on a gift that's already been opened. The last player has the best choice of all - the remaining unopened gift or one of the gifts which has already been opened the other family members.

Over the years, the gifts have ranged from ridiculous and useless to just plain different and actually practical, and the competition for taking and managing to keep some of the gifts has been the most outrageous fun of all. Gifts have ranged from totally tacky key chains to travel manicure kits, to impractical pillows and kitchen items. Unusual food items always turn up in the pile of presents. While these are not the gifts most people would expect to want to give or receive, it is surprising to see who wants and goes after a particular ridiculous gift. This game lends credence to the old adage that one person's trash is another person's treasure, and it goes without saying that no one gets too attached to their gift until the game is over.

The White Elephant Gift Game also makes an important point about Christmas gifts. Buying expensive gifts for loved ones at Christmas is a nice thought - it also misses the point of gift giving. The true measure of a gift's worth is in the love with which it is given. The gifts found in the this family's White Elephant Gift Game pile each year are a tradition full of love and caring that has endured and endeared for years.