One of the things I look forward to every year during the holidays is the white elephant gift exchange. Anyone who has participated in one knows that picking a good white elephant gift is half of the challenge. If the gift is too nice, then it gets stolen and frozen right away. If the gift is too bad, it never gets stolen and forces the unlucky recipient to sit and watch while every one else has fun.
So what makes a good white elephant gift?
It has to be impractical. A reaction like, “Hey, a stapler! I’ve actually been meaning to get a new one.” does not make for an entertaining white elephant gift exchange. A white elephant gift should be something that you would never use in everyday life.
It has to be weird. Thinking outside of the box is the key to a good white elephant gift. If the first reaction when the person opens your gift is, “What the ****???”, then you’ve succeeded. On the other hand, make sure your gift isn’t so weird that it becomes offensive. Of course, this depends entirely on how easily your friends, family, and/or coworkers are offended.
It has to be funny. Chances are if your gift meets the previous two criteria, then it meets this criterion too. The best way to know is pretty simple. Did you laugh when you first saw this gift?
This past year I ended up with one of the best white elephant gifts I’ve ever seen. I’m now the proud owner of the not quite New York Times best seller, Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat.
You’re probably thinking, “What the ****???”, and the answer is, “Yes, it’s for real.” This book actually shows you how to make stuff out of your own cat’s hair.
Oh, and if you’re not a cat person, don’t worry. There’s always the other modern day classic, Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You’ll Never Meet.
What’s the best white elephant gift you’ve ever given or received?
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