| In days gone by, there were no real rules about family | | | | time. The white elephant gift exchange can be themed |
| gift buying. Basically everyone purchased a gift for | | | | to coincide with your family's favorite things. For |
| everyone else. The gifts were all exchanged when the | | | | example, families who love camping can choose that |
| family gathered somewhere during the holiday season. | | | | as a theme. All the family members must bring a gift |
| Changing Times | | | | related to camping. From army knives to backpacks to |
| Nowadays, traditions have changed. It is more | | | | compasses, all the gifts must relate to camping in |
| common for people to be assigned a specific person | | | | some way. |
| to buy for, often by drawing a name out of a hat. | | | | Other white elephant exchange themes include |
| Other families have a "white elephant" exchange | | | | cooking, fishing and music. The theme should please as |
| rather than having family members buy for certain | | | | many family members as possible and be something |
| individuals. Whether families exchange "white elephant" | | | | they can relate to. Create fun games for the white |
| gifts or give a gift to a designated person, all families | | | | elephant exchange. Have everyone draw a number |
| want a fun way to exchange the presents. | | | | and choose their gifts from the pile based on the |
| Hunting For Christmas Gifts | | | | number they pick. You can start the game this way |
| There are several fun ways to enjoy yourselves if | | | | then let people 'steal' someone else's gift if they want. |
| family members drew names. Hide the gifts and give | | | | Stealing Christmas Gifts |
| out clues to the location of the presents. If you get to | | | | To 'steal' someone else's gift you can have the gift |
| grandma's house with a gift for Uncle Harry, tuck it | | | | recipient study the gift, shake it up and down and then |
| away in the refrigerator. Make up a series of clues so | | | | make an educated guess as to the contents before |
| Uncle Harry can find the gift. You may want to say, | | | | they open it. If the recipient is correct, they can 'steal' |
| "It's a milky situation" or "It's cold". | | | | someone else's gift and if they are wrong, they keep |
| Looking For Christmas Clues | | | | the gift they have. |
| Clues can be serious or silly, depending on your mood. | | | | Cards and Christmas Gifts |
| The clues can easily lead to the gift in a minute or may | | | | You can also build up gift giving anticipation by playing |
| involve a series of complicated clues to actually find | | | | cards. Play fast card games such as rummy or poker. |
| the present. For small groups or large homes, turn the | | | | Tell everyone they cannot get their Christmas gift until |
| game into a hunt. Leave clues that lead to another clue | | | | they win a hand in the card game. Everyone gets to |
| and then another. Have several leading clues to | | | | play games, open their gifts and have a good time. |
| different places in the house until the gift is finally | | | | When you exchange gifts with your family, you should |
| located. | | | | also enjoy each other's company. Feel the Christmas |
| Themed Christmas Gifts and White Elephants | | | | spirit when you play engaging, enjoyable games with |
| Kids aren't the only ones who want to have fun. Make | | | | the adults and children in the family. Exchanging gifts is |
| up whimsical gift exchange ideas for the grown-ups. | | | | more than opening presents, it's sharing time with the |
| Whether your family decides to have a name draw or | | | | people you care about. |
| not, a white elephant gift exchange is always a good | | | | |