White elephant gift swap

What it is

A funny gift exchange (also called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa). Everyone brings one wrapped present within a set budget. In turns, players unwrap a new gift or steal one someone else has opened. Good gifts get stolen again and again; joke gifts get passed around.

Plan ahead

• Two weeks before: send invitations with the price limit (for example, around the cost of a takeaway meal) and theme: useful, funny, or “re-gift something from your house”.
• The day before: print numbered cards and the rules.

The rules

1. Everyone draws a number.
2. Player 1 unwraps a gift from the pile and shows it to everyone.
3. Each following player can either unwrap a new gift or steal an opened one.
4. If your gift is stolen, you can unwrap a new gift or steal a different one (not the one just taken from you).
5. A gift can only be stolen three times, then it is “frozen” with its owner.
6. When all gifts are opened, Player 1 gets a final turn to swap with anyone.

Set the scene

Put the gifts under the tree or on a table. Arrange chairs in a circle so everyone can see the unwrapping. Have a bin bag for wrapping paper.

Food and drink

• A festive grazing table: meats, cheeses, crackers, chutneys, grapes, nuts
• Cocktail sausages and mini quiches
• Christmas cookies and fudge
• Mulled wine, Prosecco, and a hot chocolate station

Tips

• Write the rules on a board where everyone can see them.
• With big groups, set a 2-minute limit per turn so the game moves.
• Add a “secret santa” twist for families by having each person buy for the group, not one person.