In case you have a white elephant present trade at work this yr or with family and friends, there’s a great probability you’re scrambling proper now to discover a good present — or decipher what even makes a great white elephant present. The attainable origins of the time period “white elephant” present a method of it: In response to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to courtiers who had upset them. It was a much more devious punishment than merely having them executed. The recipient had no alternative however to easily thank the king for such an opulent present, figuring out that they possible couldn’t afford the maintenance for such an animal. It will inevitably cause them to monetary smash.
Whether or not or not that story is true, it provides us a method of a white elephant present: one thing simply helpful or amusing sufficient that it received’t instantly get tossed into the trash, however can also be considerably of a burden. Nonetheless, there are many different methods of deciphering this unusual but pleasant custom. Some compete to get a present that others will certainly need to steal, whereas others scavenge for probably the most area of interest and focused gag presents. Nearly all of them, although, sometimes have a worth restrict that retains the burden of present giving to a minimal — normally $50 or much less. So with all of that in thoughts, listed here are some white elephant present concepts that can get you a couple of chuckles with out requiring you to spend an excessive amount of (or assume too arduous about it).
Finest white elephant present concepts
KFC / Enviro-Log
The most effective white elephant presents are those that create a little bit of intrigue as quickly as they enter the present pile. And a full-size, 4.3-pound firelog wrapped in vacation paper is unattainable not to note. It is going to nearly definitely dwarf each different present that’s up for grabs, and can immediate countless questions and hypothesis about what might be within the bizarre, surprisingly heavy field.
The truth that the comically-large field holds a KFC fried chicken-scented firelog makes the entire gag much more amusing. I’ve a gasoline hearth at residence, so I, sadly, don’t know what the KFC 11 Herbs and Spices firelog truly smells like. Many on-line evaluations declare it smells “precisely” like the within of a KFC. Whether or not that’s interesting to you or not most likely relies on your affinity for the Colonel. However I can not consider a extra pleasant present to bestow on somebody who simply actually wished to see what was inside the large, heavy field. — Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter
OCOOPA
A present anybody can respect is the present of heat, and a pair of those magnetic hand heaters is among the cutest (and most handy) methods to provide that. They’re rechargeable little pucks that can be utilized caught collectively or individually to heat up frozen palms in the course of the winter — or actually, any time of the yr. They warmth up tremendous quick (really, inside seconds) and can last as long as eight hours every on a single cost. They’ll even be nice for individuals who insist they by no means get chilly as a result of they’re so small and compact that they’ll use them stealthily of their coat pockets, with nobody the wiser. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
WANIDEA
Our desks are cluttered and boring, however this lovable little rechargeable mild can brighten issues up. The chibi flame contained in the old-school kerosene lamp determine is made from silicone, so it’s simply as squishy as it’s cute, and it has two lighting modes: candlelight and night time mild. The mushy, heat hue it emits will probably be nice for setting the temper in your area, and its dimmable so you will get simply the correct quantity of sunshine on your style. — V.P.
Etsfmoa
What’s higher than a heat and comfortable beanie? A heat and comfortable beanie that additionally helps you see higher whenever you’re strolling the canine on a chilly, darkish, winter morning, going for a night jog or rummaging for a particular software in your storage. This unisex beanie has a detachable mild on its entrance edge that has 4 LEDs inside and may run for as much as eight hours on a single cost. And when it wants extra juice, you possibly can merely take the sunshine fixture off, recharge it and pop it again into the hat. — V.P.
Magic Puzzle Firm
I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of jigsaw puzzles, however the items of artwork the Magic Puzzle Firm makes so that you can assemble are a delight. For starters, every has beautiful and distinctive paintings — whereas there are a selection of artists who’ve contributed to the corporate’s puzzle lineup, all of them really feel associated, full of colour, whimsy and a bunch of secrets and techniques you’ll discover as you construct. The puzzle items themselves are high-quality and stable, one thing that goes a good distance in the direction of making a puzzle enjoyable to place collectively.
However my favourite half is the truth that when you end the primary puzzle, you’re not accomplished. Every has sections that may slide round after you are accomplished, which opens up a brand new center space to be stuffed in with a bonus part of items. This new addition seamlessly matches into the puzzle and expands on its story. It’s arduous to explain, but it surely’s not like something I’ve seen in different puzzles. I’m fairly agnostic about my puzzle-makers, however I’m itching to get my palms on extra from the Magic Puzzle Firm and discover their secrets and techniques. — Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor
ChopSabers
Is there actually any level to sushi or noodle night time when you’re not consuming your meals with utensils protected by The Drive? No. The reply is not any. These lightsaber chopsticks glow in numerous colours with simply the press of a button and include included batteries so your giftee can get proper to defending their plates from the forces of evil. Certain, they are going to be successful amongst Star Wars fanatics, however anybody can discover pleasure in a pair of extra-powerful chopsticks with which to have impromptu “meals fights” in between bites of sashimi. — V.P.
Native Union
Native Union is a French equipment firm that made its title greater than a decade in the past with the Pop Cellphone. It was an outsized, old-school phone handset designed to plug into iPhones again when the world nonetheless felt a shiver of hope. It helped embody that temporary interval after we have been utilizing outdated pictures filters on our social media photos, mixing the previous and the brand new. Now, the corporate has re-released the Pop cellphone with USB-C, letting you hook it as much as any cellphone or gadget you’d care to take calls on. The audio high quality is greater than nice, and it’s most likely extra of an attention-grabbing assertion piece in 2025 than it was in 2015. — Daniel Cooper, Senior Reporter
Aimeizi
Who doesn’t need their front room to seem like a galaxy far, far-off? Your giftee may need to battle their younger youngsters (or others in your present trade) for this galaxy projector, which shines completely different mild results up onto the ceiling with adjustable brightness and pace. They will use it to attain the proper vibe for his or her subsequent Star Wars binge watch get together, or to soothingly usher themselves to sleep on a nightly foundation. Along with an included distant and a companion app, the projector has a timer too to allow them to set it to show off simply as they go to sleep. The cell app will allow them to customise all facets of their private area discipline, from its nebula and twinkling results, to the swirling colours, to the music that they pair with it (sure, there’s a speaker in-built as properly). Overlook these boring previous good mild bulbs — this galaxy projector is the good gadget that can level-up anybody’s residence surroundings. — V.P.
Engadget
The Banana Cellphone is precisely what you’d count on it to be — a banana that’s additionally a cellphone. It may not have a SIM card or a service plan connected to it, however your giftee can pair it with their smartphone by way of Bluetooth to allow them to ditch that drained, $1,000+ handset and begin taking calls the appropriate manner — with a bit of fruit. Along with taking and making calls, they’ll additionally use the Banana Cellphone with the Google Assistant and Siri, to ask concerning the climate or inform it to “Play Merciless Summer season by Bananarama.” Sure, the Banana Cellphone additionally works as a Bluetooth speaker and has a 30-foot vary, so it could actually play tunes at any time when they’re not utilizing it to conduct official enterprise. — V.P.
Clocky
If the aim of a White Elephant present is to be a type of low-key torture, then the Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels is likely to be the best White Elephant present of all time. (Properly, apart from these weirdos who get up at 4:30 AM day-after-day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.) It’s an alarm clock that, in case your giftee tries to hit the snooze button, runs away from them persevering with to beep, telling them in no unsure phrases it’s time to rise up. And each morning, they’ll stumble away from bed drowsily cursing your title. – Terrence O’Brien, Former Managing Editor
White elephant FAQs
What’s white elephant?
A white elephant present trade is a celebration recreation sometimes performed across the holidays during which folks trade humorous, impractical presents.
How does white elephant work?
A bunch of individuals every convey one wrapped present to the white elephant present trade, and every present is usually of an identical worth. All presents are then positioned collectively and the group decides the order during which they’ll every declare a present. The primary particular person picks a white elephant present from the pile, unwraps it and their flip ends. The next gamers can both determine to unwrap one other present and declare it as their very own, or steal a present from somebody who has already taken a flip. The principles can fluctuate from there, together with the rules round how typically a single merchandise could be stolen — some say twice, max. The sport ends when each particular person has a white elephant present.
Why is it known as white elephant?
The time period “white elephant” is claimed to return from the legend of the King of Siam gifting white elephants to courtiers who upset him. Whereas it looks as if a lavish present on its face, the assumption is that the courtiers can be ruined by the animal’s maintenance prices.
Take a look at the remainder of our present concepts right here.
