How do you play white elephant?

Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. In order, each player opens a new gift or steals an opened one. Anyone stolen from goes again. A gift is frozen after three steals, and player one gets a last swap at the end.

What is the difference between white elephant and Yankee swap?

They are the same game under different names. Yankee swap is the common name in parts of Canada and New England; some groups call it Dirty Santa or a gift steal.

How many times can a gift be stolen in white elephant?

Usually three, then it is frozen. Some groups use two to keep the game short or four to keep it wild. The helper lets you pick.

What is a good budget for white elephant?

Most groups set $20 to $30. A workplace exchange with a bigger budget, or a family game where everyone brings a proper gift, can go higher.

How long does a white elephant game take?

About two to three minutes a player, so 30 to 40 minutes for a group of 12. A lower steal limit makes it faster.

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White elephant rules

Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. In order, each player opens a new gift or steals an open one; whoever is stolen from goes again. Three steals and a gift is frozen. Put the names in below and the helper runs the game.

The rules, in order

Everyone brings one wrapped gift, under an agreed budget, and puts it in the pile.
Draw numbers to set the order.
Player one opens a gift from the pile.
Each player after that either opens a new gift or steals one that is already open.
If your gift is stolen, you go again straight away: open a new one or steal a different one.
You cannot steal back the gift that was just taken from you.
A gift is frozen after it has been stolen three times, and stays with whoever has it.
When every gift is open, player one may make a last swap, since they never got to steal.

House rules worth deciding first

The steal limit (two keeps it short, four keeps it chaotic). Whether a gift can be stolen straight back. Whether player one gets the last swap. Whether gifts stay wrapped until the end, which makes stealing a pure gamble. Pick them before the first number is drawn, and the helper above keeps everyone to them.

What to bring

The gift that gets stolen three times is the one everyone can use: something good to eat or drink, something warm, something for the desk. My white elephant strategy has the ones that get fought over. For an office exchange with a bigger budget, a Christmas box arrives wrapped and ready. Drawing names instead? Use the Secret Santa draw.

Questions

How do you play white elephant?: Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. In order, each player opens a new gift or steals an opened one. Anyone stolen from goes again. A gift is frozen after three steals, and player one gets a last swap at the end.
What is the difference between white elephant and Yankee swap?: They are the same game under different names. Yankee swap is the common name in parts of Canada and New England; some groups call it Dirty Santa or a gift steal.
How many times can a gift be stolen in white elephant?: Usually three, then it is frozen. Some groups use two to keep the game short or four to keep it wild. The helper lets you pick.
What is a good budget for white elephant?: Most groups set $20 to $30. A workplace exchange with a bigger budget, or a family game where everyone brings a proper gift, can go higher.
How long does a white elephant game take?: About two to three minutes a player, so 30 to 40 minutes for a group of 12. A lower steal limit makes it faster.