White Elephant, Pollyanna, Yankee Swap, Dirty Santa. There are lots of names, but the idea is the same: pick a wrapped gift from the pile, or steal a good one from someone who already picked. We've had white elephant gift exchanges at family parties in the past, and they can be a crap shoot. Some people bring gag gifts that leave the recipients grumbling and pissy. And some bring cool gifts which cause that normally-meek cousin to become a raving, thieving bitch. Here are a few ideas that fall into the gag category.
Thrift Store Mug with Lipstick on the Rim
Make sure it says #1 Dad or has some random name on it (like Rod) or contains an image of the Hamburglar or Cathy.
A Beautifully-Wrapped Box of Dead Stink Bugs
I don't have a picture because I don't feel like putting on my shoes and searching the dark corners of my garage for dead stink bugs. Also, if you give this as a gift, be prepared to never talk to the recipient again.
Muff Mitten
I don't know if my 92-year-old grandmother would appreciate picking this gift out of the pile, but it would sure entertain the rest of us.
Awkward High School Photo, Framed and Autographed
Here's one photo that Chris has used in the past. That's him on the left, with his matching-shirt girlfriend perched ever-so-gently on his knee. And his friend Mark (who ended up being our Best Man) and Mark's matching-shirt girlfriend. They're in the jungle, baby.
Do you partake in White Elephant gift exchanges? What types of funny gifts do you like to give? Do you think your family would be offended or elated if they picked a Muff Mitten?
Read the whole list of fresh gifts.
My family is doing the white elephant gift exchange for the second time. Last year went okay, so I'm hopeful for this year. So far, nobody has done the joke gift.
Posted by: Nanette | December 17, 2011 at 09:18 PM