Tropical-Themed White Elephant Gift Exchange Ideas

In keeping with the spirit of giving that permeates the holiday season, try a white elephant gift exchange this year in your office. A white elephant gift exchange involves the giving of gifts that most people would find inconvenient to own. These are the true, "Oh! You shouldn't have" gifts. Outside of another white elephant gift exchange, you really can't regift the items, as the recipient might think you were losing your sanity! The next time your office is up for a gift exchange party, try a tropical themed white elephant gift exchange. Here are a few suggestions that will liven up your party.

Tiki head tissue dispenser. Marshall Field's has an Easter Island Head Tissue Dispenser. And just because this isn't bizzare enough, the tissues are dispensed through the nose for good measure. This gift draws lots of comments and amused looks when sitting on your desk, even in the most conservative of workplaces. People will fight over it at a white elephant gift party, because with or without a kleenex in its nose, it screams individuality.

Pink yard flamingos. These lawn ornaments are considered so tacky that they were immortalized in a film made by John Waters. Pink flamingos will reach their fiftieth birthday next year. They were originally created as a break from the lawn ornaments that were made from metal. The person who came up with the idea wanted to make a lawn ornament using plastic, and thought that a flamingo would be the ideal shape. They caught on, and through time went from being cool to kitsch, and then trashy with the John Waters film.

Grass skirt. When Hawaii became a state, America adopted all things that traditionally came from there. Luaus, pig roasts, and lays became well accepted, and mainlanders mimicked their Hawaiian neighbors. A grass skirt is the kind of gift that makes anyone laugh, and even most guys will get up, put it on over their clothes, and dance the hula at a white elephant gift party. While a coconut bra is probably too risque for an office white elephant gift party, the grass skirt is the perfect gift to inspire tales about that party for many years to come.

Ukulele. Who doesn't like this tiny little guitar-like instrument? Of course, it's not the type of instrument that the average person can, or really wants to learn to play. But any recipient would more than likely provide some 'plinkety-plink' musical accompaniment to the hula dancing guy in the grass skirt.

Stuffed parrot doll. While this wouldn't be out of place in a kid's room perhaps, not many adults have a stuffed parrot doll in their office cubical. Bright and colorful, it will contrast rather well with the beige cubical wall it's leaned against. Now, if the recipient is a Parrothead, aka Jimmy Buffet fan, it's not really a white elephant gift, but it will still draw some amused looks and conversation.

This winter, when it's freezing outside, your office can stay warm inside by holding a tropical themed white elephant gift exchange. In keeping with the white elephant gift exchange idea of gifts that are inconvenient, useless, and often silly, the tropics hold a fortune of items for your average office. By having a tropical themed white elephant gift exchange, you can insure that your office has a great time, and lots of stories for the next several years.