What a white elephant is
A white elephant, also called a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa, is a different game from Secret Santa. Nobody is assigned a person to buy for. Everyone brings one wrapped gift to the same budget, the gifts go in a pile, and players take turns either opening a gift or stealing one that has already been opened. The fun is in the stealing, which is why Dirty Santa gets its name.
The exact origins are unclear, and the popular story about a king giving away unwanted elephants is a tale rather than a documented fact. What matters is that the rules vary from group to group, so agree yours before you start.
The usual rules
- Everyone brings one wrapped gift to the agreed budget.
- The players draw numbers, or use the turn order above. Player 1 opens a gift first.
- On each later turn, a player either opens a new gift or steals an opened one from someone else.
- A player whose gift is stolen takes a turn: they open a new gift or steal a different one.
- Some groups limit how often one gift can be stolen, and some give the first player a final turn at the end.
These are common house rules, not official ones. Agree them out loud before the first gift is opened.
Secret Santa or white elephant?
| Question | Secret Santa | White elephant |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets your gift? | One person you were given | Whoever ends up with it |
| Is the giver secret? | Yes, until opened | No |
| Can gifts be stolen? | No | Yes |
| Best for | Small, close groups | Larger, livelier groups |
If you want a draw of who gives to whom, use the Secret Santa generator.
If you would rather assign one person to each giver, read how to organise a Secret Santa and pick gifts from Secret Santa gift ideas by budget. The Kris Kringle generator is the same assigned draw under another name.
Questions people ask
Is a white elephant the same as a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa?
Broadly yes. They are different names for the gift-stealing game, and the rules vary slightly by region and group.
Who should go first?
The turn order is random, so number 1 goes first. Some groups let the first player swap with any gift at the very end.
How many times can a gift be stolen?
There is no official limit. Some groups cap the steals per gift, and others allow unlimited steals. Agree it before you start.
Is the order stored?
No. It runs in your browser and nothing is saved or sent.