There are a large number of competing concepts as to what a white elephant reward change actually is. The origins of the time period “white elephant” level to 1 definition: In line with legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to courtiers who had disappointed them. It was once a much more devious punishment than just having them performed. The recipient had no selection however to easily thank the king for such a luxurious reward, understanding that they most probably may no longer find the money for the maintenance for such an animal. It will inevitably cause them to monetary spoil.
Whilst that tale is nearly for sure unfaithful, it might probably tell one technique to the white elephant reward change: gifting one thing simply helpful or a laugh sufficient that it received’t right away get tossed into the trash, however could also be relatively of a burden. On the other hand, each and every place of work, good friend workforce and circle of relatives unit has their very own technique to white elephant reward exchanges in this day and age. Some compete to get a present that others will undoubtedly wish to scouse borrow, whilst others scavenge for essentially the most area of interest and focused gag presents. Nearly they all, although, generally have a value restrict that assists in keeping the load of reward giving to a minimal — in most cases $50 or much less. So with all of that during thoughts, listed here are some white elephant reward concepts that may get you a couple of chuckles with out requiring you to spend an excessive amount of (or suppose too onerous about it).
Very best white elephant reward concepts
KFC / Enviro-Log
The most productive white elephant presents are those that create a little of intrigue once they input the reward pile. And a full-size, 4.3-pound firelog wrapped in vacation paper is unimaginable no longer to note. It’ll nearly for sure dwarf each and every different reward that’s up for grabs, and can advised never-ending questions and hypothesis about what may well be within the bizarre, strangely heavy field.
The truth that the comically-large field holds a KFC fried chicken-scented firelog makes the entire gag much more a laugh. I’ve a gasoline hearth at house, so I, unfortunately, do not know what the KFC 11 Herbs and Spices firelog in reality smells like. Many on-line evaluations declare it smells “precisely” like the interior of a KFC. Whether or not that’s interesting to you or no longer most certainly is dependent upon your affinity for the Colonel. However I can’t recall to mind a extra pleasant reward to bestow on any person who simply actually sought after to peer what was once throughout the giant, heavy field. — Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter
OCOOPA
A present any individual can admire is the reward of heat, and a couple of those magnetic hand heaters is likely one of the cutest (and maximum handy) tactics to offer that. They’re rechargeable little pucks that can be utilized caught in combination or one after the other to heat up frozen fingers all over the wintry weather — or actually, any time of the 12 months. They warmth up tremendous speedy (in reality, inside of seconds) and can last as long as 8 hours every on a unmarried rate. They’ll also be nice for many who insist they by no means get chilly as a result of they’re so small and compact that they may be able to use them stealthily of their coat wallet, with nobody the wiser. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
ChopSabers
Is there actually any level to sushi or noodle night time when you’re no longer eating your meals with utensils secure through The Drive? No. The solution is not any. Those lightsaber chopsticks glow in several colours with simply the clicking of a button and include integrated batteries so your giftee can get proper to protective their plates from the forces of evil. Certain, they’re going to be successful amongst Megastar Wars enthusiasts, however any individual can in finding pleasure in a couple of extra-powerful chopsticks with which to have impromptu “meals fights” in between bites of sashimi. — V.P.
Local Union
Local Union is a French equipment corporate that made its identify greater than a decade in the past with the Pop Telephone. It was once an outsized, old-school phone handset designed to plug into iPhones again when the sector nonetheless felt a shiver of hope. It helped include that temporary duration after we have been the usage of old-fashioned pictures filters on our social media photos, mixing the previous and the brand new. Now, the corporate has re-released the Pop telephone with USB-C, letting you hook it as much as any telephone or tool you’d care to take calls on. The audio high quality is greater than wonderful, and it’s most certainly extra of an crowd pleasing remark piece in 2025 than it was once in 2015. — Daniel Cooper, Senior Reporter
Magic Puzzle Corporate
I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of jigsaw puzzles, however the items of artwork the Magic Puzzle Corporate makes so that you can compile are a satisfaction. For starters, every has stunning and unique paintings — whilst there are a selection of artists who’ve contributed to the corporate’s puzzle lineup, all of them really feel similar, filled with colour, whimsy and a number of secrets and techniques you’ll understand as you construct. The puzzle items themselves are top quality and cast, one thing that is going a ways in opposition to creating a puzzle a laugh to place in combination.
However my favourite phase is the truth that if you end the primary puzzle, you’re no longer performed. Each and every has sections that may slide round after you are performed, which opens up a brand new center house to be stuffed in with an advantage segment of items. This new addition seamlessly suits into the puzzle and expands on its tale. It’s onerous to explain, however it’s in contrast to anything else I’ve observed in different puzzles. I’m beautiful agnostic about my puzzle-makers, however I’m itching to get my fingers on extra from the Magic Puzzle Corporate and discover their secrets and techniques. — Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor
Aimeizi
Who doesn’t need their front room to seem like a galaxy a long way, a long way away? Your giftee would possibly need to fight their babies (or others on your reward change) for this galaxy projector, which shines other gentle results up onto the ceiling with adjustable brightness and velocity. They may be able to use it to reach the very best vibe for his or her subsequent Megastar Wars binge watch celebration, or to soothingly usher themselves to sleep on a nightly foundation. Along with an integrated far off and a significant other app, the projector has a timer too so they may be able to set it to show off simply as they go to sleep. The cell app will allow them to customise all facets in their private house box, from its nebula and twinkling results, to the swirling colours, to the tune that they pair with it (sure, there’s a speaker in-built as smartly). Disregard the ones uninteresting previous good gentle bulbs — this galaxy projector is the good tool that may level-up any individual’s house atmosphere. — V.P.
Etsfmoa
What’s higher than a heat and comfortable beanie? A heat and comfortable beanie that still is helping you notice higher while you’re strolling the canine on a chilly, darkish, wintry weather morning, going for a night jog or rummaging for a particular instrument on your storage. This unisex beanie has a detachable gentle on its entrance edge that has 4 LEDs within and will run for as much as 8 hours on a unmarried rate. And when it wishes extra juice, you’ll be able to merely take the sunshine fixture off, recharge it and pa it again into the hat. — V.P.
WANIDEA
Our desks are cluttered and uninteresting, however this cute little rechargeable gentle can brighten issues up. The chibi flame throughout the old-school kerosene lamp determine is made from silicone, so it’s simply as squishy as it’s lovable, and it has two lighting fixtures modes: candlelight and night time gentle. The cushy, heat hue it emits shall be nice for environment the temper on your house, and its dimmable so you’ll be able to get simply the correct amount of sunshine on your style. — V.P.
Engadget
The Banana Telephone is strictly what you’d be expecting it to be — a banana that’s additionally a telephone. It would no longer have a SIM card or a provider plan connected to it, however your giftee can pair it with their smartphone by way of Bluetooth so they may be able to ditch that drained, $1,000+ handset and get started taking calls the fitting manner — with a work of fruit. Along with taking and making calls, they may be able to additionally use the Banana Telephone with the Google Assistant and Siri, to invite concerning the climate or inform it to “Play Merciless Summer time through Bananarama.” Sure, the Banana Telephone additionally works as a Bluetooth speaker and has a 30-foot vary, so it might probably play tunes on every occasion they’re no longer the usage of it to habits legitimate industry. — V.P.
Clocky
If the purpose of a White Elephant reward is to be a type of low-key torture, then the Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels could be the best White Elephant reward of all time. (Smartly, except for for the ones weirdos who get up at 4:30 AM each day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.) It’s an alarm clock that, in case your giftee tries to hit the snooze button, runs clear of them proceeding to beep, telling them in no unsure phrases it’s time to stand up. And each and every morning, they’ll stumble away from bed drowsily cursing your identify. – Terrence O’Brien, Former Managing Editor
White elephant FAQs
What’s white elephant?
A white elephant reward change is a celebration recreation generally performed across the vacations by which other people change humorous, impractical presents.
How does white elephant paintings?
A bunch of other people every carry one wrapped reward to the white elephant reward change, and every reward is generally of a an identical worth. All presents are then positioned in combination and the crowd makes a decision the order by which they’re going to every declare a present. The primary particular person alternatives a white elephant reward from the pile, unwraps it and their flip ends. The next gamers can both come to a decision to unwrap some other reward and declare it as their very own, or scouse borrow a present from any person who has already taken a flip. The foundations can range from there, together with the information round how steadily a unmarried merchandise can also be stolen — some say two times, max. The sport ends when each and every particular person has a white elephant reward.
Why is it referred to as white elephant?
The time period “white elephant” is alleged to return from the legend of the King of Siam gifting white elephants to courtiers who disappointed him. Whilst it sort of feels like a lavish reward on its face, the conclusion is that the courtiers can be ruined through the animal’s repairs prices.
Take a look at the remainder of our reward concepts right here.
