“White elephant” is a phrase for an unwanted or unwieldy item or project, whose upkeep costs exceed its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability. The term comes from the rare white elephant of East Asia, which is high-maintenance and has no practical use, but is considered sacred in Burmese culture, and therefore cannot be neglected or abandoned. Considering the amount of food and water it requires, some people found it a good strategy to gift a white elephant to an enemy in the hope of bringing them to financial ruin. In modern-day terms, a white elephant is something that is using up valuable real estate inside your home, without giving anything back in terms of usefulness. And it’s a party game!
The White Elephant Gift Exchange Game Rules:
** Announce a theme in advance. Each guest must bring a wrapped “white elephant” gift in line with the theme.
** Arrange all the guests in a circle, with the presents piled in the middle.
** The first player selects, and opens, a gift.
** Each subsequent player has the option to either “steal” an already opened gift, or to unwrap a new gift from the pile.
** Play continues until everyone has an opened gift in their hands. That’s the one they take home.
So, what will you bring to a White Elephant Party?? Here are some ideas centered on a BATHROOM theme…
Holiday Guest Towels
You bought these at the after Christmas sale three years ago and never even remembered to put them out. They’re too tacky too put out when your in-laws are there for the holidays, and too ‘festive’ for the rest of the year. These are white elephants. Wrap them up.
Musical Toilet Seats
When you lift the lid, Rudolph’s nose flashes and the elves start singing. This is a white elephant if you’ve never used it. (You haven’t used it have you?) If you’ve got one of these hidden under the bathroom cabinet, drag it out and don’t forget to include fresh batteries! It’s a white elephant. Wrap it up.
Counter Top Accessories
The hollow ceramic Christmas tree that holds toothbrushes. The soap dish shaped like a sleigh. The Kleenex dispenser that’s shaped like a reindeer and squeals “Jingle Bells” when you pull a tissue out of the back end. Those are white elephants. Wrap them up.
The Toilet Plunger Cozy
You’re never going to use that extra-long-Santa-hat decorative plunger cozy are you? Are you? Set it free. It’s a white elephant. Wrap it up!
The Naked Elf Shower Curtain
Face it. It’s too much trouble to climb up and change a shower curtain, just to have to change it back a couple of weeks later. And even if it wasn’t, can you shower with a naked elf staring at you from the curtain? Creepy! This is a white elephant, and so are those candy cane shower curtain hooks. Wrap them up.
Talking Wall-hangings
Do you have one of those talking wreaths with a motion detector built into it? Or worse yet, the holiday version of “Billy the Singing Bass”? It’s still in the box because in your heart you fear that having Christmas carols start blaring every time there’s a movement in your bathroom might give grandma a stroke. It’s a white elephant. Wrap it up.
Musical Toilet Paper Holders
Christmas carols every time it turns. A cute idea in theory, but do you really want everyone within earshot to know how much paper you’re using in there? “Remember the time Cousin Elroy went through three choruses of Winter Wonderland after he drank Thelma’s “special” eggnog…” is not what you want your holiday memories to be about. Don’t risk it. It’s a white elephant. Wrap it up.
Have fun with this! Remember, a white elephant is something you already own, but aren’t using for any practical purpose. De-clutter your bathroom while spreading some holiday cheer!
Have a great party!
To read more articles by this author…Click Here.
