White Elephant Gift Exchange: History and Origins

Examples of White Elephant gifts to be used in the gift exchange of that name.

 

December is considered an important holiday season for many cultural groups.  For Western cultures these holidays are often commonly host to various gift exchange rituals.  Each cultural group has its own specific rules concerning these rituals (e.g., St. Nicholas Day in Germany; Epiphany La Befana in Italy; Kwanzaa; Hanukkah; and more), demonstrating the importance of gift exchanges for these groups.  Today’s blog post will address another gift exchange ritual that exists among Americans: the White Elephant gift exchange.  This blog post will address what this ritual is, its origins, history, and how and why it is celebrated today.

 

The White Elephant gift exchange goes by many other names.  These include Yankee Swap or Evil Santa.  Ultimately, all of these describe a game wherein unwanted, ridiculous, useless, or “gag”/prank gifts are anonymously and randomly exchanged within a group.  There are variations to the rules.  The most common rules require participating individuals agree to partake in the gift exchange, followed by each acquiring (by way of regifting or purchasing) the “gift” to be exchanged.  Group members are assigned numbers at random, and from there each member selects a random gift without knowing which gift was provided by the other members.  Often gifts can be stolen among group members, with a specific number of “steals” allowed before a gift unable to be stolen further.  Group members may informally compete with each other by way of unspoken rules, such as who has the most ridiculous gift, the most sought after gift, or some other value as prescribed by group.  Ultimately, the White Elephant gift exchange is a play on traditional gift giving, which emphasizes being thoughtful and deliberate in choosing a gift.  Instead, the White Elephant gift exchange parodies traditional gift exchanges by emphasizing useless of the gifts and the ridiculousness of gift exchange rituals, thereby removing some of the stress of the more serious rituals.

 

This emphasis on ridiculousness is infused in the name White Elephant, which conjures up odd images since elephants are not naturally white.  The origins of the name are tied to a distorted and false story that claims the Thai king would gift his subjects a white elephant, a gift of great honor but also extreme cost since keeping the animal alive was extremely expensive.  This is actually not quite how the story really goes. 

 

The real origins of the phrase White Elephant come from the poor economic decisions of the American government in the 1850s.  At that time Britian, who was considered a social, political, and economic rival of the United States, showed economic interests in the country of Siam (presently called Thailand).  Fear of missing out on whatever trade deal the British were negotiating with Siam monarchy led the American government to send representatives to the King of Siam to negotiate their own trade deal.  Unfortunately, the American representatives knew little about what the British were negotiating for, and they knew even less about the culture and traditions of the Siam monarchy.  This led to a lot of ethnocentric reactions toward the friendly gestures and actions the Siam monarch made to the American representatives.  The Siam monarch presented various gifts to the representatives, which were meant to secure the friendship and goodwill between the leaders of both nations.  The American representatives could not accept the gifts as per American laws and customs, and they felt that the gifts that were offered were useless.  This led to the gifts being called “white elephant gifts,” referring to useless and unwanted gifts.

 

The term “White Elephant gift” was eventually adopted by Americans as the name for barters or exchanges among peers.  It was commonplace for Americans to trade items of equal value for various purposes, and in the 1890s these exchanges became codified and ritualized parts of the holiday season.  Several newspapers published the rules of engagement for “swap parties” as they were popularly called at that period, although according to a New York Times article it was the publication of the Delphos Daily Herald in 1896 that is credited with renaming the “swap party” to “White Elephant gift exchange.” 

 

Today, White Elephant gift exchanges are fun ways to share gifts and celebrate the holiday season in a minimally stressful way.  These types of gift exchanges are particularly popular among those who do not know each other well, although they are just as entertaining for those who do know each other quite well.  The White Elephant gift exchange showcases the importance of gift giving rituals not just within the holiday season but among Americans across time.

 

Works Cited

Bullen, Ross. "“This Alarming Generosity”: White Elephants and the Logic of the Gift." American Literature (2011): 747–773.

Herrmann, Gretchen. "Machiavelli Meets Christmas: The White Elephant Gift Exchange and the Holiday Spirit." The Journal of Popular Culture (2013): 1310-1329.

Swilley, Esther, Kelley O. Cowart and Leisa R. Flynn. "An examination of regifting." Journal of Consumer Behaviour (2014): 251-261.

Wright, Jennifer Ashley. "A Brief History of the White Elephant Party." New York Times 23 November 2022.

A Long Yarn: The History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Tradition

Figure 1: Examples of "Jingle Bell Sweaters" (Source: University of Fashion)

The holiday season is meant to be a period of merriment and fun, but it can also be quite stressful.  The search for the perfect gift, hosting family and friends for meals and events, the reduction in natural light and the rise of seasonal affective disorder, and more all affect people’s moods and attitudes about the holidays.  This is one of the primary reasons why the Ugly Christmas Sweater tradition started in the early 2000s and quickly became part of the mainstay of contemporary holiday traditions.  Very few people, however, realize that this trend predates the current century, which will be explored further in this blog post.

 

After decades of brutal and bloody conflicts (e.g., the American Civil War, World War I, World War II) Americans were ready to embrace a different way of life, leading to a variety of cultural changes.  One of the resulting changes was the commercialization of the Christmas holiday, which began in the 1950s.  Borrowing from the Norwegian sweater fashions of the 1930s that drew upon natural motifs (e.g., stag, tree, and star motifs) American retailers sold manufactured “Jingle Bell Sweaters” to help shoppers embrace the holidays (Figure 1).  Unfortunately, shoppers were not really buying into the trend, although various television personalities did.  The “Jingle Bell Sweater” trend quickly faded into obscurity.

 

It was resurrected again in the 1980s due to popular culture phenomena, specifically the rise of the absurd Christmas movies.  “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” featured its main characters donning, gifting, or receiving any number of absurd Christmas sweaters as they navigated the pitfalls of a holiday season continually going bad.  As a result, consumers briefly bought into the fashion trend, seeking out their own “ugly” Christmas sweaters to match their favorite movie characters and recreate the holiday flair they watched on their screens (Figure 2).  By the 1990s as cultural preferences once again changed the fashion also shifted and the “ugly” Christmas sweater was once again abandoned. 

Figure 2: "Ugly" Christmas Sweaters of the 1980s (Source: University of Fashion)

The trend made a comeback in the early 2000s, yet again thanks to a movie.  This time it was the romantic comedy “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”  Bridget’s vexing paramour wore a “hideous” reindeer sweater, which endeared him to both Bridget and the audience alike.  A year later in Vancouver, British Columbia, two friends hosted the first recorded “Ugly Christmas Sweater” themed party.  They encouraged attendees to raid their closets, explore vintage and secondhand clothing stores, or create their own garish designs to embrace the ridiculousness of bad fashion.  The purpose of this was not specifically to make fun of bad fashion but to bring some lighthearted humor to the stressful holiday season. 

 

People began embracing the “ugly” Christmas sweater idea, and it quickly became not just a game but a way of life to locate the “ugliest” Christmas sweater.  Vintage and secondhand stores began marketing their “ugly” Christmas sweaters.  Resellers began selling them at high prices.  People created their own monstrosities, all in the hopes of capturing the title of having the “ugliest Christmas sweater”.  Manufacturers began to create their own gaudy designs, complete with tinsel, sequins, pom poms, bells, and more.  Not to be outdone, major fashion houses, like Dolce and Gabbana and Givenchy, released their own lines of high fashion “ugly” Christmas designs.  Most pop culture experts claim that the event that sealed the deal on the “ugly” Christmas sweater tradition, however, was a fundraiser held in 2012, which normalized the trend. 

 

For almost 25 years now the trend has not abruptly ended as it had in the past, demonstrating that people not only love but need some levity during the holiday season.  This explains the increased popularity in other stress-relieving holiday activities, such as the White Elephant Gift Exchange.  This suggests that this trend may die down once people feel they no longer need a stress relieving activity to stomach the holidays, but that prediction is yet to be realized.  Perhaps it will be in the future, but in the meantime, be sure to “don your ugly apparel” and embrace the new norms of the holiday season.

 

Works Cited

Cerdio, Fernanda. "The Beautiful Story Of How The Ugly Sweater Became a Thing at Christmas." 24 December 2024. CULTURA COLECTIVA. 17 October 2025.

Cerini, Marianna. "A cozy history of the ugly Christmas sweater." CNN Style 18 December 2024.

Tatter. "History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater." 25 December 2023. Tatter. 17 October 2025.

Spotlight on Students: Origins of Agriculture

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students. Students were given the opportunity to research and identify the origins of agricultural products (be it plants or animals) from one of their favorite meals. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts. Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

Domesticated cattle, which are prime ingredients in oxtail and beef stew.

By: Addison Bernskoetter

My favorite food is oxtail with rice. Oxtail is made from the tails of cattle and is commonly found in stews. It is a small piece of meat surrounding a bone where the cattle's tail was. Oxtail is commonly made into a stew with spices, vegetables, and beef broth. The cattle that oxtail are made from are normally beef or veal cattle. These cattle originated from North Africa, Europe, and Asia. They were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, which is in the Middle East. This was nearly 10,000 years ago. While there are many breeds of cattle, two stand out among the rest. Bos taurus and Bos indicus are now the most common domesticated cattle we see today. Bos taurus, or taurine cattle, were domesticated in colder climates and through evolution, developed large bodies and thick coats to protect them from the cold. Bos indicus, or indicine cattle, have looser skin to protect them from heat, as they were domesticated in Africa. 

Cattle have been a very important part of history. They provide many different cuts and resources of meat, including the chuck, rib, loin, sirloin, round, brisket, plate, and the flank. Cattle can also be used for their pelts, which is used to make leather. Cattle stool is also used in many places as fertilizer for crops. It makes the soil richer and has other benefits to crops. Cattle also help encourage plant growth by spreading seeds through their stool and helping the plants spread from one place to another.

 References

Cow Meat Diagram explained. Redefine Meat. (2025, March 12). https://www.redefinemeat.com/blogs/cow-meat-diagram-explained-redefine-meat/

Filippone, P. T. (2024, August 16). How to cook the best fork tender oxtail. The Spruce Eats. https://www.thespruceeats.com/oxtail-cooking-tips-1805846

Origins of domesticated cattle: The untold story of their evolution and impact. cattlepedia.com. (2025, January 8). https://cattlepedia.com/origins-of-domesticated-cattle/

  

By: Jeneail Henry

My favorite food is Beef Stew. According to (Britannica, 2019), the term cattle refer to domesticated bovine farm animals that are raised for their meat, milk, or hides or for draft purposes. Cattles were first domesticated from wild aurochs around 10, 000 years ago in the Near East and Indian subcontinent (Walden). Aurochs were large, wild oxen that once inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa. The process of domestication began with selective breeding, which eventually led to the evolution of modern domesticated cattle breeds.

While early domestication began around 10, 000-8,000 BCE, cattle herding became a more prominent food source by 2,000 BCE which then spread to regions such as the Indus Valley. As humans continued to breed cattle, they selected desirable traits such as growth rate, maternal ability and reproductive performance Kutz (n.d.). Over time, these animals became tamer, much calmer and more productive, which eased food production and farming efficiency. Modern day cattle, known as Bos taurus, originated in the Near East (Walden). Some other well-known cattle breeds include, Angus, Hereford, Brahman, Charolais and Santa Gertrudis.

Some specific cultigens or meat products that were created from cattle include beef, veal and dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter. Agnus and Hereford cattle were bred to produce their well-marbled beef, known for its balance of tenderness and robust beef flavor, Mike (2024), while the Holstein breed was bred for its superiority in milk production. Today, the products derived from these animals like the beef used to make Beef Stew are because of a long history of domestication and selective breeding. 

Sources

Britannica. (2019). cattle | Description, Breeds, & Facts. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/cattle-livestock

Kutz, B. (n.d.). Breeding & Genetic Selection. Breeding & Genetic Selection. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/beef-cattle/breeding-genetic-selection.aspx

Meaty knowledge served fresh daily. (2025, June 4). TATNUCK MEAT and SEAFOOD.

https://tatnuckmeatandsea.com/fresh-meat/beef/where-did-beef-originate/

Links to an external site.

‌ Mike. (2024, January 21). Hereford vs. Angus Beef - Comparison - The Thin Kitchen. The Thin Kitchen. https://thethinkitchen.com/hereford-vs-angus-beef-comparison/

 

Ingredients present in Chicken Alfredo: chicken, pasta, and dairy products.

By: London Taylor  

A pasta dish made with chicken, noodles, butter, cream, and cheese, and my personal favorite, is known as Chicken Alfredo.  Originating in Rome, Italy, during the early 1900s, some credit Alfredo di Lelio with inventing a version of fettuccine, al burro e Parmigiano. Esposito says this is more than likely true. This recipe spread worldwide and changed as it went; cream was added instead of just butter, while chefs experimented with different meats, such as chicken, for an altogether new taste sensation we call today's creamy Chicken Alfredo (Esposito).  

Our curriculum book, Domestication, declares that the red junglefowl used to breed chickens (Gallus gallus) was native to Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand and India. This domestication seems to have begun about 8,000 years ago, though initially intended for cockfighting rather than food. Early humans took chickens displaying calmer behavior, larger size, and early maturity, thereby increasing their productivity not only for meat but also eggs. Today's meat breeds, such as Cornish Cross, have resulted from thousands upon tens-of-thousands-years in this way and are much larger and more docile than their wild ancestors (Wiener).

 

Derived from wild grasses like einkorn and emmer in the Fertile Crescent, the wheat in Chicken Alfredo has a long history. From about 10,000 years ago onward, over time, farmers selected seeds that were larger and non-shattering heads, making harvesting easier. These criteria almost certainly led to the appearance in modern days of red winter wheat, now used for bread and pastas' main varieties, of which are Triticum aestivum.  

 

The dairy products in the Alfredo sauce,  milk, butter, and cheese, all originally come from domesticated cattle (Bos taurus), which are descended from the wild aurochs of Eurasia. This domestication occurred around 10,000 years ago in areas that included the Fertile Crescent and Indus Valley. Humans selected cows that produced more milk and were easier to manage, leading to specialized breeds of dairy cattle, such as Holsteins or Jerseys.  

 

Established sources of foods that are Italian-American and grew out together from literally roots, both common and different during those several thousand years in history. Culturally, Alfredo La Fonte is not simply a comfort food; it is also a representation of our human race's shared agricultural history and ingenuity.

References 

Cesari, Luca. “The Invention of Fettuccine Alfredo: A Love Story, A Brief History of a Beloved Pasta Dish”, January 26, 2023, https://lithub.com/the-invention-of-fettuccine-alfredo-a-love-story/

Wiener, Florence. “The Domestication and Global Spread of the Chicken.” Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sept. 2022, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-a-volcanic-eruption-caught-seismologists-by-surprise-180980704/

“Wheat Domestication: Lessons for the Future.” ScienceDirect, Elsevier, 2011, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631069110003021

“History of Cattle Domestication.” World History Encyclopedia, 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1446/interview-the-mysterious-bronze-age-collapse-with/

Gift Giving Guide 24: Gifts for the Anthropologists or Anthropologically Interested

Biannually I dedicate blog posts to the presentation of gifts that may be suitable for anthropologists or individuals interested in anthropology (any and all subfields).  As we are currently in the December holiday (and gift giving) season it seems appropriate to dedicate a post to this very topic.  Below are some of the latest additions to the list of gift ideas that may be appropriate for your anthropologically interested person. Also, as an added bonus all of these gifts are under $50 USD!

 Cultural Anthropology

Margaret Mead is a well known cultural anthropologist who left her mark on the discipline as a whole.  This well known children's book about her life, career, and contributions to the field is a timely gift for young and old.  Individuals with dreams of becoming an anthropologist may find inspiration in Mead's story, while others may become nostalgic in her tale.  This item is available through the MuchGratitude320 Etsy shop. 

Archaeology

Archaeologists dig up old people's garbage, and the jokes about this profession never get old.  This gift is a different version of one that was featured previously, but this sticker is a little more versatile than the previously featured pin.  You can purchase this gift from StraitJack on Etsy.

Linguistic Anthropology

Language and culture collide within linguistic anthropology, making it both difficult but interesting to locate the appropriate gift for someone interested in this subfield.  This bag that address frictives may be the best option.  It is gender neutral, and the giftee can use this bag to carry their research materials or their groceries.  Either way it is more than likely going to get people talking, an added benefit for the linguistic anthropologist.  This bag is available through Speechie157 Etsy shop.

Biological Anthropology

The diversity of areas of study within biological anthropology can present a challenge to locating the best gift for someone interested in this subfield, which is why there are also different themes for this specific gift category.  It has been a moment since we featured one for those interested in primatology (the study of nonhuman primates), so this Owl Monkey replica skull is an option. This is created by Lucy3DMatrix, and she has various other nonhuman primate replicas and hominid ancestors replicas, too!