What are the rules of a white elephant gift exchange?
Open one or steal oneEveryone brings one wrapped gift and draws a number. On your turn you unwrap a new gift or steal one that's already open, and whoever loses a gift does the same. Most groups freeze a gift after two or three steals and set a price limit of about $20 to $30, with $25 the most common.
Gifts and giving
How much should you tip at Christmas? 
What should I give my child's teacher for Christmas, and how much? 
How does Secret Santa work, and how far ahead should you draw names? 
What goes in a Christmas stocking? 
How do you kindly end a family gift exchange? 
What should you bring to Christmas dinner as a guest? 
How long do you have to return a Christmas gift? - What's a good price limit?
- About $25, the most common choice. Say one number out loud, so nobody feels shown up.
- How many times can a gift be stolen?
- Two or three is most common. After that it's frozen and stays with whoever has it. Agree before the first gift is opened.
- Does the first person get another turn?
- In many groups, yes. They had nothing to steal at the start, so at the end they may swap for any gift that isn't frozen.
- Is a Yankee swap the same thing?
- Nearly. The turns work the same way, and Yankee swap gifts tend to be more useful.
See the whole Christmas Checklist
Last checked Monday, November 9.
From our shop Tartan tree crewneck Rosa wins sweater day in tartan every year. Our tartan tree crewneck, if you'd like to give her a contest. 
