Image courtesy DCI

The Gift That Keeps on

Being Given

Just because one man's trash is another man's treasure doesn't mean it makes a good Christmas present. Here's how to re-gift the right way

By Melanie Wanzek
CTW Features

According to Albert Jack, author of "Red Herrings and White Elephants: The Origins of Phrases We Use Everyday" (Harper Collins, 2005), a white elephant

is an expression used to describe something valuable that has, or will, become a huge burden to those who possess it. It suggests the cost of possession

could ruin a person financially. As the legend goes, in Siam (present day Thailand) white elephants were highly valued and became property of the king

upon discovery. The king would then give them as royal gifts to subjects who displeased him, which often caused such a burden that they would ruin the subjects. Jack writes that the phrase arrived in England when Empire builders brought it home with them, applying it to impressive yet useless structures.

The official history of white elephant gifts exchanges is surprisingly elusive; though plenty of theories and a Wikipedia entry exist, few academics claim expertise. Cele Otnes, professor of business administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, whose personal expertise lies in gift giving, says perhaps it is because the ritual is celebrated only by certain subgroups, rather than as a whole in the culture. "Holiday traditions that are either widely celebrated or that are supported by marketing have origins that are typically better developed and more easily traceable," she says.

Nowadays, a variety of familiar exchanges carry the white elephant label, ranging from the "most ridiculous gift you can find" to more focused parties, such as an "ugly lamp swap." Other times hosts require attendees to bring nicer things they have but have never used, like glassware, kitchen utensils or wine. Newbern suggests a holiday-themed exchange, where people bring the best and worst of what they have of unused holiday gifts, from Christmas ornaments to gingerbread cookie jars.

Usually at the beginning of the party, everyone draws a number. Number one picks first, unwraps the gift and can choose to keep or pass. Otnes says the process continues and the rules of swapping then apply - usually an item can only change hands a certain number of times, such as three - until a gift can no longer be "stolen" or swapped.

For a proper white elephant gift, the first fundamental rule is that almost any gift can be re-gifted but not in any way. "Sometimes people think just change the tag and it's good, but there are different things you can do to make it unique and thoughtful," she says. Newbern suggests embellishing the gift you previously received, a process she has coined as "gracious-regifting," by adding personal touches, repackaging or mixing it with other gifts you can't use to create a theme basket.

Otnes says white elephant parties need to be thrown with caution, however, because they carry with them social risk. Event in a poor economy, she thinks people are more likely to turn to practical items like Wal-Mart gift cards, which were popular at Christmas last year. Rather than participating in instead of these kinds of parties, people will just cut back by drawing names instead of giving to everyone on the side of a family. The exchanges can be dangerous because of the potential for hurt feelings, feeling on the outside of inside jokes or simply because the gift lacks individual meaning.

However, Newbern says a white elephant exchanges can be an excellent way to revive the idea of re-gifting, which will save money and stress while dealing with the economy this holiday season.

"A family might decide not to do a gift exchange to cut down on expenses, but there are ways to get around that," she says. "Our family decided we are having a re-gift Christmas this year - when you make it apparent, it takes the pressure off, so people can have fun with it. You can still give great gifts without feeling cheesy or tacky."

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