What’s your favorite white elephant gift you’ve received? Last year, I got a coffee mug that read, “What if soy milk was just regular milk introducing itself in Spanish?” I thought it was hilarious. But what does this amusing gift exchange have to do with elephants? Let’s dive into the history behind this classic Christmas game:
The origin of the name white elephant can be traced back to Siam (modern-day Thailand). White or very pale elephants were extremely valuable, so most went into the immediate possession of the King. One legend associated with Buddha reads that the night before his mother gave birth to him, she dreamed of a white elephant giving her a pure lotus flower. Thus, the white elephant became a sacred creature. The animal was so highly valued that it appeared on the national flag of Siam until 1917.
However, these creatures were practically useless in captivity. They were deemed so sacred that they weren’t allowed to be worked and required special, expensive food and housing. The kings of Siam would give white elephants to anyone who displeased them or had fallen out of favor, so that they had to spend a fortune keeping the precious animals. The recipient of the white elephant would be unable to get rid of the creature, and the upkeep would eventually ruin them financially. Thus, the white elephant has been used to refer to a less-than-desirable gift.
The term white elephant first appeared as a joke in 1907 in Nebraska’s The Columbus Journal. The segment read, “One of the popular women announced a ‘white elephant party.’ Every guest was to bring something she could not find any use for and yet too good to throw away … Nine out of the eleven women invited brought their husbands.” The joke is over a century old, but I still got a kick out of it.
The white elephant joke quickly spread through the country, and people began having real gift exchange parties where attendees were encouraged to make gifts out of objects they wanted to get rid of. Thus began the tradition of a white elephant gift exchange. Nowadays, it is a common game for office Christmas parties and small holiday get-togethers. Whether it’s about the joy of surprising friends or receiving the funniest gift, this quirky tradition can bring friends and family together during the holiday season. Happy gifting!
I had always wondered why it’s called a white elephant and I would’ve never guessed that it came from the beginnings of Bushism. It’s really funny thought that it was original meant to burden people but now it’s a way to give each other gifts. It’s really interesting to see how the term has morphed over time and changed meaning, from financially ruining people with expensive elephants to office Christmas parties.
I love White Elephant! My family has been doing it for years, and its never failed to bring a smile to my face. Where do you think this present exchange game came from, and whats your favorite memory of it? I I loved how there is a historical aspec t to how white elephants have been important to the world, throughout centuries.
This is the first time I have learned about white elephants. I had never thought of the historical factors behind this joke. This interesting custom brings joy and laughter to parties, turning unwanted gifts into a source of fun and friendship.