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White elephant, run properly.

Draw the turn order, set the steal limit, and put the live game screen on the TV. Every steal tracked, undo included, rules card ready to print.

Rules

The rules in thirty seconds

  1. Everyone brings one wrapped gift within the agreed budget. Pile them up where no one can see the labels.
  2. Draw numbers. Player 1 goes first and opens any gift.
  3. Next, each player either opens a new gift or steals one that is already open.
  4. If your gift is stolen you immediately take another turn: open a new gift or steal another one.
  5. A gift is frozen after its third steal. It stays with whoever holds it.
  6. Final swap: after the last player goes, player 1 may swap with anyone.
Full rules and variationsPrintable rules card
A heap of mismatched wrapped gifts on a rug in front of a Christmas tree

Last-minute white elephant gifts under $25

HC Hand cream trioSmall tubes, big difference in winter. ~$20 SP Smart plug four-packUseful for any home. ~$24 NS Novelty socks pairPizza, cats, tacos. ~$9 RL Reading light clipSoft light that clips to a book. ~$13 TW Touchscreen winter glovesWarm and still phone-friendly. ~$14 BC Bamboo cutting boardA good board is always used. ~$25

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More gifts under $25 · Gifts under $50

White elephant FAQ

How many people do you need for white elephant?

At least 5 or 6 for it to be fun, and it scales happily to 30 or more. Each person brings one wrapped gift, so the number of gifts equals the number of players.

What is the steal limit?

The number of times one gift can be stolen before it is frozen and stays with its holder. Three is the classic default. Lower it to 1 or 2 for big groups so the game moves faster.

Can I steal the gift that was just stolen from me?

Most groups ban the immediate steal-back so the game does not stall between two people. Hollyhush enforces it by default and you can turn it off.

What is the final swap?

After everyone has taken a turn, the first player gets one last chance to swap with anyone, because they never had the chance to steal. It is optional in Hollyhush.