Also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa, the White Elephant gift exchange is, in essence, a party game meant more so to entertain guests than give actual gifts of value. So, there’s literally no pressure to bring that perfect gift to your holiday gathering.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of fun because no one may need a nightlight in the shape of a deflated duck, but that doesn’t mean someone won’t highly enjoy such a nightlight.
Here are some funny and kind of goofy options for your slate of White Elephant exchanges.
The Benson Lying Flat Duck Night Light is an actual thing, and it’s available on Amazon for $15.99, so it’s well below the standard $20-$25 price limit that most White Elephants adhere to. This adorable squeezable nightlight is suitable for children and adults and can double as a phone rest. I like that it could serve as a toy as well as a light, and the fact that it lays flat as if the duck has fallen over speaks to the general tired vibe that darker days tend to bring out.
Speaking of a tired vibe, another cutesy gift for a bit of comfort is the Religes Toast Bread Plush Pillow, also on Amazon. The plushie comes in a happy/lightly toasted shade featuring a smile or in a frowny face/burnt crust shade. At $9.99 each, you can get them together and gift them as a set. Both are really cute and fluffy, which is great for a kids’ room or a dorm as a cuddle pillow. For grownups in the mood for something cutesy, these pillows can provide lower lumbar support for an informal office or a work-from-home setup.
If you’re more inclined to give practical gifts, you can still have fun with your White Elephant offering. Take, for example, Uncommon Goods’ Swimsuit Calendar, which features watercolor paintings of adorable animals sporting one-pieces, board shorts, and string bikinis. Miss March is a blond bull posing in a blue polka-dot bikini. This gift is great for planning the year ahead and providing cheeky smiles.
Another animal-fun gift from Uncommon Goods is a deck of How to Speak Cat Cards. This deck features 100 cards to help you decipher your cat’s body language, facial expressions, and sounds to gain a better understanding of your kitty’s wants and needs. Plus, it breaks down some biology and historical facts about cats that are helpful for longtime cat lovers as well as new pet parents.
Take an even deeper dive into feline mentality with the Cat Purrsonality Test book, which features 81 multiple-choice questions across nine tests to help you learn more about your individual cat’s behavior and personality with delightful illustrations and puns.
If you’re looking to psyche out your gift recipient, then pack a standard gift like a candle, slippers, or chocolate in a prank gift box. Kohl’s Prank-O line features a series of “prank” gift boxes to trick the receiver into thinking they are getting something ridiculous like cargo socks, a squirrel hot tub, or a pre-seeded toilet seat cover to sprout a meadow in the bathroom. Note, none of these items are actually IN the boxes; they are empty boxes with pictures of absurd products on them to pull a fast one on whoever picks your gift at the party. Make sure to tape the box shut so they can’t open it during the exchange and ruin the joke.
Also from Kohl’s and extremely on-brand for the office gift exchange is the Fred Daily Desk Plaque. This desk plate will give your co-workers the opportunity to show off their own witty side with 50 different titles and phrases, such as “Not A Doctor, But I’ll Take A Look” or “Genius At Work.” This fun and functional item, at only $15, will hopefully end up with a colleague who will appreciate that your workplace needs a little levity.
Speaking of levity, nothing entertains quite like a pun. If you’re the queen of memes and gifs in your circle of friends, consider some punny coffee mugs for your White Elephant exchange. From the Amazon store Todolia, there’s a “How Does Moses Make Coffee? Hebrews It” mug made from durable ceramic. Or “I Keep All My Dad Jokes IN A Dad-a-Base” mug. While punny mugs make great White Elephant gifts be careful because they can get a little raunchy. Stay clear of anything with curse words or an aggressive tone.
Sure, you could always re-gift from last year’s exchange, but as a joke, that doesn’t always hit. Folks would need to remember you received that last year. Of course, if it’s a tradition for your White Elephant group to re-gift from previous swaps, by all means, go for it. But in general, try not to re-gift for White Elephants, but instead pick up a few novelty, cutesy items to bring a smile to whomever ends up with your gift.