White Elephant Gift Exchange

TakeNine · #1 12-15-2005, 01:23 AM

Rather than the normal gift exchange, involving putting gift ideas and drawing a relative's name out of hat, we're doing a white elephant gift exchange. (One person opens a gift, the next person has a choice to take an opened gift or open a wrapped gift, and so on.)

The problem is selecting a suitable gift, something funny or ugly. I have nothing at home that would be appropriate to regift, and I have no good ideas. Now, "The collected wit and wisdom of the Actuarial Outpost political forum" wouldn't be appreciated by my family, so I can't use that. I'm sure that someone here would have a good idea, right?

#2 12-15-2005, 08:54 AM

Dear Ms. Take Nine,

From these parties I've been to, these are the most popular gifts that makes people all giddy and wild:

1. Any type of alcohol
2. Any type of alcohol paraphenelia (wine glasses, shot glasses, martini glasses, martini mixers)
3. Gift Cards to big name stores: Best Buy Electronics, Barnes & Noble Books
4. Scratch Lottery Tickets

There weren't many "cute" gifts. People are too traditional and conservative I guess.

Happy's Beach Party · #3 12-15-2005, 08:58 AM

Sex toys too

UNCORRELATED LAY · #4 12-15-2005, 09:04 AM

In my office we call this a "chinese christmas exchange" Don't know why and I do think it is a liitle offensive to Chinese people and has no link, but I am only a participant.

smaug · #5 12-15-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNCORRELATED LAY

In my office we call this a "chinese christmas exchange" Don't know why and I do think it is a liitle offensive to Chinese people and has no link, but I am only a participant.

smaug · #6 12-15-2005, 09:08 AM

.... just wanted to use that thingy

Maine-iac · #7 12-15-2005, 09:14 AM

We call it a "Yankee Swap" in this neck of the woods.

My former roomate once got stuck with a bottle of mouthwash after one Yankee Swap. That was peculiar.

Hmmm. For amusement value, how about one of those tacky "Billy Bass" or the Christmas equivalent singing reindeer doo-hickeys?

The alcohol suggestion isn't bad, either. It's actually a fairly useful gift, and good for lots of ribbing about who the problem drinkers are in the crowd as it gets passed around. (Assuming there aren't any REAL problems drinkers in the crowd to make the joke fall flat.)