It’s that time of year. Lots of gift guides and Black Friday deals circulating for everyone on the list, like friends, family, and even toddlers. But there are more gift traditions than the ones that have to do with Secret Santa, including the White Elephant game. It’s a fun game because it’s for adults, mainly, and there’s no pressure of finding the perfect gift for someone, because the gifts are supposed to be funny, weird, or just insanely niche.
People play the game differently, but usually, those in the group are asked to bring a wrapped gift that is one of the above adjectives. Everyone passes the gift around one by one (usually by order of a drawn number) and can choose to keep it or pass it. Once the gift gets to someone, they can choose to keep the gift and open it, or trade the wrapped gift for an opened gift that they “steal” from someone else.
We found 20 items that would be great for White Elephant. Some are funny and some, we think, will be stolen right away—and all are sure to make for a really fun game. Check them out here. And remember: A gift can always be stolen back, even by the person who purchased it.
And hey CafeMoms, we’ve got the scoop (and the exclusive) on major savings before Black Friday. If you want to save on items for everyone on your list, check out this weeklong sales event. We secured amazing deals from some of our favorite brands across categories like baby, beauty, home, and more. Expect to see markdowns of up to 30%. You can start shopping the exclusive deals on November 21 from 12 a.m. until midnight on November 25. Happy holidays!
Juna Nightcap Sleep Rollerball
This gift is part of our shopping event! Use code CAFEMOM20 for 20% off Juna’s Nightcap rollerball, which uses functional botanicals to soothe and relax the body. Use it to calm the mind and prepare for a deeply restorative sleep. Key ingredients include vanilla, lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, and chamomile. It’s best when rolled on temples, behind the ears, wrists, and soles of the feet. Folks will be fighting over this one — guaranteed!
'Accidents Happen' Plant Pots
People with a sense of humor and houseplants in need of a pot upgrade or change will love this super punny White Elephant gift. It’s a set of two white planters that have fun sayings on the outside of the pots. These two say “I wet my plants” and “I soiled myself.” It’s sure to make the person watering these plants laugh.
Dog Hair Clips
Hair clips are always in style, but it seems that these days, they’re having a moment. But why use regular hair clips when these dog ones exist? We can’t think of a reason either, so that’s why we included these adorable dog hair clips on our White Elephant gift list. The clips are different shapes, sizes, and dog breeds.
2023 Pooping Pooches Dog Calendar
Speaking of pups, one of this writer’s favorite White Elephant gift that she’s ever given has been this Pooping Pooches calendar. Each month features a dog in that adorably cute pooping position, you know the one! Whoever gets this gift will see a new pooping pup image every 30 days. This one is for 2023.
Taylor Swift Candle
$16
from
Shop Bobby K
Taylor Swift has a new album out and will be going on tour next year. If there’s a Swiftie in your life, help them mark these big occasions with a Taylor Swift candle that may or may not look like a worship candle, and pay homage to our earthly “mother” Taylor. Once again, it’s a joke and may not be so well-received by more devout friends.
Hand-Held Vegetable Spiralizer
$18
from
Crate & Barrel
This gift is not so much funny as it is random, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that’s perfect to use as a White Elephant. And even though it’s random, it’s still slightly practical and people who like experimenting in the kitchen might want to steal this during the game.
Knit Crocodile Socks
Fun socks are always a great gag gift, not just for a White Elephant. These are particularly silly and make for a useful but funny gift to use in the game. These croc socks looks like a cute crocodile taking a chomp of each foot. According to the Amazon page, the blend of cotton, nylon, and spandex make these animal socks soft, comfortable, stretchy, and breathable.
'My First Spray Tan' Prank Gift Box
Future parents will get a laugh from this baby spray tan gag gift for the game, after maybe being very confused. It’s called the First Spray Tan Kit and it features a tanned baby on the front of the empty box. Emphasis on it being an empty box because it’s a joke! Because babies should not be tanned, obviously.
Hot Dog & Bun Toaster
Cooking hot dogs is easy, but it’s not always fun. It requires boiling water or pulling out a stove top grill or skillet. Save friends or family some time, especially if they have kids to make hot dogs for, with this easy hot dog maker. Just stick the dogs in and let them cook, like toast in a toaster. There’s also slots for the buns!
Dog Treat Maker
$30
from
Williams-Sonoma
If you’re wondering if there are any gifts for dog lovers who would totally make their dog homemade food or treats, wonder no more! Seriously, a dog treat maker exists and it will be a hot commodity among your pet parent friends in the White Elephant game. This one makes eight bone-shaped treats in each batch. The treat maker comes with a book of recipes for tasty treats.
Pasta Necklace
Pasta lovers who are also jewelry lovers will go gaga for this pasta-shaped necklace. It’s a funny, unique homage to pasta, which most people we think love, but we may be biased. The chain has a charm attached that’s shaped like a piece of farfalle pasta. You can choose from rose gold, gold, or silver and various lengths.
Pearly Fur Headband
$32
from
Anthropologie
Earmuffs keep ears warm and headbands are a fashion accessory and this fur pearl headband earmuff is what happens when two of those things combine. It’s a casual, fun gift for a family member or friend who is fashionable and wants to look cute, either because they’ll like this gift or get a laugh out of it.
Milk Mug
$10
from
Urban Outfitters
There are various types of milk out there, from cow’s milk to almond, oat, and more. And with all of the different types, it can be easy to mix them up when serving hot drinks. Prevent that from happening, or just show off a fun mug, with one of these from Urban Outfitters. It will make serving morning coffee or tea to those with particular milk preferences that much easier.
Fujifilm Camera
$24
from
Urban Outfitters
People who were born in the ’90s or earlier will likely laugh seeing this given as a gift, or even over the fact that’s it’s sold as a trendy item from Urban Outfitters, which is why it made this list. If a Gen Z-er gets it in the game, though, instructions may be required for actually printing the photos.
Shark Coochie Board
It’s not easy to pronounce “charcuterie” board. Maybe instead, try saying “shark coochie” like many do anyway. This wooden charcuterie or cheese board is a play off of that mispronunciation, along with a shark drawing. It’s sure to get a laugh and become someone’s favorite thing to break out during parties. It’ll look fancy with an array of meats and cheeses, no matter what it says.
'Mommy Cusses' Funny Book
$5
from
Thrift Books
Parents will get a kick out of this White Elephant gag kid’s book, which we don’t actually recommend to give to kids, just adults playing the game. It’s called Mommy Cusses and is about just that. The subtitle of the book says it all: “Inspiring Profanity and Stimulating Sarcasm for Mamas Who’ve Seen It All.”
Excel Mug
We all know that person (not us) who is just incredible at working with Excel. And if not, there has to be at least a few people in the group who use it, whether they enjoy it or not. Throw in this funny gift mug for the “Freak in the Sheets” just for them. This would be perfect for an office White Elephant game.
Custom Face Socks
$16
from
My Face Socks
Fun socks that have a character or design on them are fun for a reason and thanks to My Face Socks, those designs can be personalized—from a person’s dog to their kids’ faces and more. Maybe have them printed with the boss’s face for a work game, or the family jokester if it’s for a family game. It’s a gift no one else will have!
Funny Pill Box
Pills boxes are underrated gifts. They’re a tiny but incredibly useful item for anyone who takes medication, vitamins, or supplements on a routine basis. They can also be used during a game of White Elephant if they have a fun saying on them. This one says, “I just don’t have time for the nervous breakdown I deserve.”
Wine Sippy Glass
$30
from
Chalk Talk Sports
The running joke is that moms need wine because their lives are so stressful, and while it’s become a bit of a stereotypical joke, sometimes moms do just enjoy a glass of wine. And that’s OK. So, for those moms (or anyone else who loves to sip) this wine glass sippy cup with a crazy straw is a great gag gift we’re sure plenty in the group will be vying for.
Cheese-Shaped Scented Candle
Cheese, please! Or rather, the cheese candle, please! This gift is perfect for a group with lots of cheese and candle lovers, bonus points if they’re both at the same time. This cheese candle from Amazon is made from natural soy wax and burns for up to six hours.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
