A white elephant gift exchange on Earth Day

Sunday April 22nd will mark the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, and about a billion people will participate.

You can say you are green or you can really help to change the world and participate in an Earth Day Gift Exchange party!  This event is just like a traditional white elephant gift exchange, except that you only exchange something that could be recycled or reused.

Earth Day Gift Exchange Themes

For this party you could create a planet-friendly theme and then require that only “green” gifts or recyclable gifts be a part of the game. Another idea would be to host a Cash Mob gift exchange at the local Thrift store. Or  you could host a “Junk and the Trunk” white elephant party.

As a creative party host your ideas for fun can be almost endless. Just think of white elephant gift ideas that will inspire saving our resources or items that will provide opportunity to reuse something more than once. You could also host a totally fun re-gifting exchange where everyone brings something they got as a gift this past year. Another fun theme is to have everyone bring something that they purchased at a swap meet.

Save the Planet with a Party

Celebrating the great bounty of our world is one of the wonderful blessing of living on this earth. Having a gift exchange with family and friends will add memorable experiences while providing an emphases on the value of recycling and reusing our resources. These planet-friendly white elephant gift exchange parties are the perfect way to save resources and add fun on Earth Day.

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

A White Elephant Gift Exchange on NBC

Popular TV host Howie Mandel is adapting the popular group gift exchange game into a television game show format. The white elephant gift exchange is popular in family and friend gatherings so it is logical that a TV version would be in demand. NBC has stepped in to purchased 7 episodes of Howie Mandel’s White Elephant.

The early reports suggest that the game-flow will be similar to the traditional white elephant gift exchange rules, with presents opened, gifts revealed and the possibility of stealing between players.

We also understand that the white elephant gifts in this game show can be extremely valuable – Like those that were shared by the ancient kings of Siam. In fact, Howie does look a little bit like the guy who played in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. Therefore, we wonder if they are going to dress Mr. Mandel up in a traditional costume like King Mongkut of white elephant gift giving fame.

White Elephant TV Party

AlbinoPhant is thrilled that this party is being adapted to television. The more the game is played, the more people will learn of the fun that comes with these gift sharing parties. The producers of Howie’s White Elephant program are welcome to use our site as a resource as they develop this show.

Online Version

With this new Mandel-hosted show the gift exchange game can be played ether with family and friends or observed on TV. But did you know that this same game can be played online using the AlbinoPhant game application? The recreation team at AlbinoPhant has tested and developed a way to gather people together on a computer to have a white elephant gift exchange online. And just like all of the other variations, real gifts are the reward for attending the party. We invite you to give the online version a try sometime.

We wish Howie Mandel great success with the new White Elephant show!

You’re Going to Love This Party!

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

White elephant gifts gleaned from the Junkyard…

We all understand that the real purpose of a white elephant gift exchange is to gather friends together and have fun sharing unique white elephant gifts and great conversation. We also know that these group activities are more memorable when the host suggests something different.

We suggest that you do something unique this year and host a Junk and the Trunk white elephant party?

The rules are simple – Only gifts from a salvage or junk yard will be allowed.

Given that this weekend will mark another Earth Day, why not share recycled stuff with family and friends in a white elephant gift giving event.

Because gift shopping in a junkyard is a little bit different than going to WalMart, we have asked an expert in junk to share some insights.  Joey’s Junk has provided us some information on how to find the perfect white elephant gift for your Junk and the Trunk gift exchange.

By Joey’s Junk

If you are someone who sees the junk removal of others as a fascinating opportunity for your own home, you are in luck. As distressed goods and second hand furniture becomes more attractive, there are a lot of people who are interested in salvage yards and junk yards for their furnishing and hobby needs. While salvage yards have long been a place where people could find parts for car restoration, you’ll find that there are plenty of things that you can discover for your home and your hobbies. Check out these tips to get you started.

Call the Junkyard’s Owners Before Doing Anything Else.

City junkyards are typically not open to the public, and private junkyards are of course private property. Before you show up, make sure that you call ahead and let them know what you are after. This is essential if you want to avoid a hefty fee for trespassing!

Bring Along Gloves and Dress for the Occasion

Junkyards are full of, well, junk, and some of it is rather dangerous. Wear sturdy shoes, and long-sleeved shirts as well as jeans or some other sturdy covering on your lower half. If you are going to be doing some digging, be sure that you bring along some thick workman’s gloves to protect your skin. A tetanus shot is also a very good idea.

Keep an Open Mind

You never know when someone else’s junk removal is going to throw you a treasure. You can start by having a vague idea of what you need, but if you keep an open mind about things, you can discover some great options out there. You never know when you are going to discover something that you absolutely did not know that you needed.

Consider Sanitation

With the threat of bedbugs and other insect hitchhikers, it is always worth thinking about how you can disinfect things. Most household goods are fine with some bleach, but be especially careful about wooden furniture. Some people choose to follow the rule that if it can’t get tossed into the dryer and sanitized, it can’t come in the home.

Bring a Friend

You never know when you are going to find something that needs two people to carry it. A friend can also serve as an extra pair of eyes if you are looking for something specific, and you will also find that having another person there can just be fun.

Be Ready to Bargain

Some junkyards will let you haul things off for free, while others do ask that you pay for what you find. A certain amount of haggling is expected, and if you have never haggled before, it can be a little harrowing. Many junkyards will give you everything you find for a lump sum, so before you approach the area, have an idea of what your finds all together are worth. This avoids being put on the spot when the owner asks you what you want to pay. A junkyard has some fantastic options open to you, so be ready to get to work as soon as you find one!

 

This article was written by Joey’s Junk, your friendly garbage removal Vancouver company. http://www.joeysjunk.ca/what.html

Thanks to My Pink Turtle for sharing the image

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

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A White Elephant honor from the kingdom of Thailand

Every country has its top-level awards – like the Congressional Gold Medal, or the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Country of Thailand has high-honors as well.

Here at the white elephant gift exchange headquarters, we strive to highlight all white elephant focused information so that you will be a completely informed party host. Therefore – We give you Thailand’s highest honor…

The Exalted Order of the White Elephant

Listed as a high honor by the King of Thailand, the White Elephant award has a long history.  It was started in 1861 by King Rama IV of Siam (now Thailand) as a recognition of the dedicated service of governmental leaders. Today the king still presents the honor to high achievers within the country.

In the Dusit Garden of Bangkok they conduct induction ceremonies for the Exalted Order of the White Elephant. On the garden’s property is the Royal White Elephant Museum and a small temple with an alter dedicated to bestowing the white elephant medal upon the citizenry. These gifts from a King are in the same tradition of ancient albino elephant giving that has created the basis of modern white elephant gift support.

The true history of the white elephant gift is different from the modern and greatly revised description of these royal elephant gifts. Some identify white elephants with something of a lower value or and item with high-cost and low utility.  Obviously in Siam and modern Thailand, the value of a unique elephant gift is very high indeed.

AlbinoPhant suggests that we all treat white elephant gift giving as a special occasion. It is a time when we share support and fun with those we care about – a very high value endeavor.  By understanding the social significance of white elephants to the people of Thailand we can make playing this modern-day gift sharing game even more engaging.

The Master of ES Award

You should consider adding your own “high-honor” award to your next white elephant party.  It is called the Master of ES and it is awarded to the player who is the most engaged and active in the gift exchange game.

As the host you could observe and score the players as you  judge the most engaged in the party. At the end of the event you could make an announcement and award the prize.  Purchase a medal from the Dollar Store or create your own special gift for the person who is the most Extraordinarily Superfluous… (go ahead look it up).

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

The center of white elephant lore and history – Thailand

Any self-respecting white elephant website must acknowledge the rich history associated with these wonderful and rare animals. As the white elephant headquarters on the internet we take this responsibility very seriously – Even though we spend most of our time sharing fun gift exchange ideas.

We dedicate this page to the story of Thailand – The center of white elephant lore and history.

By Bangkok florists, John and Ning

Geography & Society

Thailand is a country that is located in Southeast Asia in the center of  Indochina. Thailand was formerly known as Siam until 23rd of June 1939 when the named was changed from Siam to Thailand. The word Thailand means the land of freedom. Thailand was the only land in the area that was not colonized by European countries. The country of Thailand represented by His Majesty The King, it is a constitutional monarchy. The current King is known as King Rama IX who is the ninth king from the rule of Chakri House. The Chakri house has reigned since 1946. They are the longest reigning family in Thailand. Thailand has a population of about 64 million people. It is estimated to have an area of 513000 sp kilometers. It is the 51st largest country in the world. With its population, it is considered to be the 20th most populous country. The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok which is the capital city. Bangkok is home both to the government and most of the industry in the country. The racial make-up of Thailand is as follows: Three percent are the ethnically Malay, 14% are Chinese, 75% are the Thai people and the rest are the other minor groups including hill tribes and minor ethnic groups.

Economy

The economic growth of Thailand increased from 1985 to 1995. The main economic activity in Thailand is tourism due to its diverse culture and beautiful islands and beaches. Many investors have invested in Thailand. It is estimated that the number of the illegal and legal migrants is almost five million. Thailand used to be a main trading partner with China and India and still is to some degree.

Religion

The main religion carried out in Thailand is Buddhism. This religion is practiced by 95% of the Thai population.

Thailand has been influenced by the Indians lifestyle just as the other countries in Southeast Asia. Buddha himself came from India. In the 19th century the Western lifestyle and influences came from Europe and many believe this lead to the downfall of many traditional values in Thailand. Gradually the cultures of Britain and Europe took hold. Even so, ancient practices are still enjoyed within the kingdom.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the Japanese government wanted a passage through Thailand and temporarily occupied the land. Initially there was an engagement  between the Thai military and the

Japanese troops but after eight hours they decided on a military alliance which helped Thailand to regain its lost territories from the British government. In 25 January 1942, Thailand declared a war between against The United States and The United Kingdom. Thailand had the support of the Japanese Empire due to the contract that they had signed.

Post War

Thailand went through a time of political instability but finally they gain a democratic government in 1980. The Thai government has had a change of constitution for about 17 times. This has lead to dictatorship but the monarchy government has been maintained all through.

 

John and Ning are flower shop owners in Thialand. They have a great interest in political history and John has studied history at Chula University in Bangkok. They work together and co-own a Bangkok florist and Thailand flower delivery network.

 

Thanks to Wikipedia for the Bangkok skyline image

 

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

 

Old books can make great white elephant gifts to share with family and friends. We have heard of reading groups that host a white elephant gift exchange to share their favorite books among themselves. We came across some other fun ideas for your old books.

By Rose Simpson

Those who enjoy curling up on a cold day to read a book will tell you that there’s nothing like the feeling of holding a real book. But what do you do when you’re finished with it? Many homes contain vast libraries of well-read books. Those true book worms will likely be dealing with a rapidly-growing collection that can only be sufficiently housed with additional storage space.

If your collection of books seems to be taking up all of the space in your home, you may be thinking about what you can do with them. But there are many other things you can do with your old books besides donating them or lending them to a friend.

Repurposing

The term ‘repurposing’ refers to using an item in a way that it wasn’t necessarily designed for. And there are many ways to repurpose your old books, although you may want to check and see if any of them are rare before you do!

Around Your Home

Books that are damaged beyond repair can still have a useful life around your home, while saving you money at the same time.

If you exercise using step aerobics or yoga, use one thick book or several thinner ones as a step or yoga block. They can easily be bound together by tape or fabric so that they stay together. And when not in use, they can double as a bookish decoration.

Gardeners spend a lot of time digging in the dirt. So why not cover an old book with foam and use it as a kneeling pad? This can save you a trip to your local dollar store, leaving you more time to tend.

If you want to secure your valuables, consider creating a book safe. Simply cut out the center of all pages while leaving the front and back covers intact, place your valuables in it and then hide it in plain sight amongst the other books on your shelf.

The covers of an old book, or thinner books can make great trivets when you need extra space for hot pots or pans. Using books with busy covers can add a nice pop of color to your kitchen, in addition to saving your counter space from damage.

Anonymous Lending

If you can’t bear the thought of ripping, cutting up or otherwise rendering your books un-readable, a neat solution can offer a suitable alternative.

BookCrossing is a ‘catch and release’ site for books. When you find a book that you want to give away, you simply visit the site, and register that book. The site will generate a unique ID number for your book. Once you have an ID number (called a BCID on the site), you can visit another area of the site that offers free printable labels that you can stick on the inside cover of your book.

Once you have filled out the information on the label, it’s time to ‘release’ your book. You can do this in three ways: by leaving it somewhere, such as on a park bench or in a shopping mall for another reader to pick up, by giving it to someone you know, or by placing it in an area known to be used by other ‘book releasers’.

When you’ve released your book or books, you can return to the BookCrossing site after a few days, enter in your BCID, and see where your book has traveled since you released it. This can be fun for kids of all ages, as you can visit the site at any time to see how your literary ‘message in a bottle’ is doing.

Citations:

• Book Crossing
• 80 Awesome Ideas For Your Old Books

 

Guest author Rose Simpson enjoys writing on a variety of topics, including how to help families get a great deal at their favorite theme park.  Check out some of Rose’s work at www.wirl.info.

 

Thanks to Content in a Cottage for sharing the image

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

By Erin Nolan – Guest blogger

As the weather continues to warm, your mind may be dreaming of your next great white elephant gift exchange party. But to do it right it takes a good bit more than merely opening a bag of chips. Fun get-togethers seem effortless yet they are anything but. Before sending out the invites make sure you’ve got a handle on how to have a fun and safe shindig.

Friends

A truly evolved person most likely has friends from all walks of life, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all necessarily be appropriate together in one evening. Think of the tone of the party – looking for wild and fun?

If one of your best friends can’t let others get a word in edgewise then he might not be appropriate for a more subdued event. It’s good to have a variety of people but do try to consider personality types when drumming up the guest list.

Just be forewarned, when planning your guest list you almost always run the risk of offending someone by not inviting them. If you talk it through and their feathers are still ruffled you might want to plan a separate date with that friend, or a party with them particularly in mind. Though if you’re really close friends and feel you’ll run the risk of alienating them by the omission then you may want to just take the chance and invite them.

Food

Similar to the guest list, food plays a big role in setting the tone of your party. For instance, finger food, light snacks and appetizers passed on trays will help keep guests on their feet and mingling. Whereas a sit-down, more formal meal will provide for more one-on-one conversations.

Also remember to clearly mark items being served and to check for any allergies your guests might have. In addition it’s also a great idea to have some vegetarian and also gluten-free items like fruits and vegetables, whenever possible.

Music

Tunes are a great way to get the party jumping or keep it all subdued. It stands to reason that if the music’s loud and frenzied then conversation might not be possible but dancing will most likely be encouraged – just make sure you’ve got room for it.

What do you have in mind, a live band? A DJ? Or maybe you’d prefer to save money and hassle and just put your music player on shuffle? You can also create the perfect playlist for your party. Whatever you do, just remember that music will absolutely have an effect on the tone of your party. Also note that you want to choose an option that requires as little attention from you, the host, as possible.

Safety

This topic doesn’t sound fun, does it? But still, the best parties are ones where everyone has fun but also stays safe. Think ahead in order to avoid problems. Will children be present? If so do everything you can to childproof your home, especially around the pool and barbecue area. Also be sure to make sure you aren’t providing rickety chairs for your guests and that all cords and cables are safely taped down or run under rugs.

In regards to drinking it’s important to make sure that underage guests don’t get a hold of the liquor, and also make sure your inebriated guests have a safe way home or are set to stay overnight.

White elephant gift parties are great fun, or they can be – it just takes a little forethought and then you’re ready to go. So what are you waiting for? Spring is here, party up!

 

Written by Erin Nolan. Injured at a party? File a claim here: www.accidentclaims.org

Our thanks to BEAUTE’ D’AFRIQUE for the image

 

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

We welcome this guest post from Angela Mason and suggest that any of these great ideas could be added to your Easter-time white elephant gift exchange party. Thanks to Angela for these suggestions for enhancing this special time for family and friends.

If уоu will bе entertaining children (уоur оwn оr оthеrs) thіs Easter, соuld уоu usе sоmе unique аnd fun Easter Egg hunt ideas? Оnе оf thе mоst fun activities fоr children оn Easter holiday іs tо dо аn Easter egg hunt.

Тhеrе аrе mаnу variations оf thе traditional egg hunt аnd hоw іt саn bе performed. Іf уоu wаnt tо mix things uр а lіttlе thіs year оr іf you’re simply оut оf ideas аt аll fоr аn Easter Egg hunt, hеrе аrе sоmе tips аnd ideas wе hаvе trіеd оvеr thе years thаt wе hope уоu mау enjoy аs well.

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Here аrе sоmе fun Easter egg hunt ideas fоr уоu tо consider wіth thе children thіs Easter:

1. Find thе Easter Basket: Іnstеаd оf јust leaving thе Easter baskets оut fоr thе children tо find, consider leaving а trail оf eggs wіth clues inside tо help thеm find thеіr surprise frоm thе Easter Bunny. Yоu саn adjust thе clues tо bе age -appropriate.

2. Scavenger hunt – Turn уоur egg hunt іntо а scavenger hunt wіth riddles аnd clues аnd mоrе. Наvе special prizes fоr thе children whеn thеу complete thеіr scavenger list.

3. Stuffed Eggs – Usе plastic eggs wіth small prizes inside fоr thе children tо find suсh аs stickers, temporary tattoos аnd mоrе. Тhіs іs аlsо а great idea іf уоu dоn’t wаnt tо (оr саn’t) fill thе eggs wіth candy.

4. Color coded eggs hunt – Тrу color coding thе eggs sо thаt еасh egg fоund оf а сеrtаіn color corresponds tо а specific toy оr prize.

5. Egg Notes - Hide plastic eggs wіth special notes inside. Тhеу mау bе clues fоr whаt thе child nееds tо dо tо gеt а prize suсh аs “sing а song tо Mom”.

6. Odd аnd Еvеn Eggs – Place numbers оn thе eggs аnd gіvе thе kids instructions tо find оnlу thе odd оr thе еvеn numbered eggs. Еасh child will оnlу bе аblе tо gеt eggs wіth thе number thеу wеrе assigned tо.

7. Find Yоur Egg – Веfоrе thе hunt bеgіns, place thе nаmе оf еасh child inside аn egg (оr write іt оn thе оutsіdе оf real eggs) аnd thеn tеll thеm thе fіrst person tо find thеіr оwn egg gеts а special prize.

8. Checklist оf Eggs - Маkе а checklist fоr еасh child (sіmіlаr tо thе scavenger hunt) thаt tells hоw mаnу eggs оf еасh color thеу shоuld find. Offer special prizes tо thе fіrst tо finish thеіr checklist оf eggs.

9. After Dark Egg Hunt - А good game fоr older children оr еvеn adults іs tо wait untіl thе sun gоеs dоwn аnd search fоr уоur eggs іn thе dark. Gіvе еасh participant а small flashlight.

10. Indoor Egg Hunt – Іf you’re worried thаt uncooperative weather mау ruin уоur Easter egg hunt, уоu саn consider аn indoor egg hunt thіs year.

You mау оr mау nоt usе thеsе ideas fоr уоur оwn Easter egg hunt thіs year but wе hope thаt whаtеvеr activities аnd festivities уоu hаvе planned, уоu hаvе а vеrу happy, fun аnd safe Easter!

About the author: Angela Mason is a kindergarten teacher with thirty years of experience. She is known for her creative thinking and event planning, including, Christmas tree decorations, Easter basket ideas and much more.

 

Thanks to joe-ks.com for the elephant Easter egg hunt image

White Elephant Egg Hunt

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

International Cash Mob Day + white elephant gifts

Did you know that March 24^th was International Cash Mob Day?

We learned about the Cash Mob events from our friends at Small Biz Survival but we were too late to join in the fun this year. So next year we will host a Cash Mob Gift Exchange to celebrate the day.

As we understand the shopping-mob process, a group of like-minded individuals gather at a specified location with the agreement that they will each spend at least $20 dollar in a given store. The invitations to the event are usually spread via the social media sites like Twitter or Facebook.

Cash Mob – White Elephant Gift Exchange

Our family stumbled into this process without even knowing it was called a Cash Mob, or that it had an official day!  We have enjoyed several Cash Mob Gift Exchanges over the years and they are great fun.  Shopping as a mob and then sharing gifts was a big holiday tradition for our family when the children were young.

Here is what to do:

1. Selected a Thrift Store or Flea Market in the town where you are holding our white elephant gift party.  Here are a couple of links to thrift store locators:  Goodwill…. Salvation Army….
2. Send invitations to all the family members with the date, time and the store location. Note: The party starts at the store and ends somewhere else.
3. Arrange for a family member to host the actual gift exchange portion of the party at their home.  (remember to tell them not to come to the final location first, but to go directly to the store)
4. Tell everyone what the maximum gift cost should be and that they will be required to purchase the gift at the Cash Mob’s thrift store site.
5. Ask everyone to be as “stealthy” as possible in selecting and purchasing the gifts, so that items will not be recognized and associated with any one player. (This is a big part of the “Cash Mob” fun of doing white elephant gift shopping in the same place!)
6. Provide brown paper bags for people to stuff their gifts into, so that they can take them to their cars without detection.  You might want to give the store manager or clerks a “heads-up” as to why there are so many Cash Mob shoppers acting so strangely and stuffing things in bags!
7. Give the shoppers at least an hour to enjoy the shopping and “secret check-out” process before they are due at the gift exchange location.
8. You could ask that everyone bring wrapping paper and tape or gift bags for preparing the gifts for the official exchange. Then give people some space at the party location for wrapping. What you will find is that they will do most of this in their cars.
9. When everyone is at the final party location you will run the white elephant gift exchange game just like you would do normally, with random name selection, stealing and the like.

The cool part of this unique white elephant party is that everyone becomes a part of a group shopping adventure that helps a local charity.

The Cash Mob Gift Exchange allows sharing at a high level of engagement, so we suggest you try it on a holiday or on next year’s International Cash Mob Day.

You are going to love this party!

 

Thanks to the Budget Fashionista for the Goodwill image.

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

White Elephant Bath

These very rare white elephants are being well cared for in Myanmar. These beautiful creatures are still a prized possession by the ruling class within this country and always receive special treatment. This mother and baby even have their own bathing pool and caregiver.

The history of white elephants tells a story of valuable gift giving among those with high social status. To receive a prized white elephant was something to be treasured. Over the years the white elephant gift has been given a much different level of value. Today we associate the white elephant with fun and games. Some even use the words to describe things that are expensive to maintain. Regardless, these elephant images display one of the worlds most treasured and rarest animals.

Baby White Elephant

As White Elephant aficionados, we like to share the real history of these great creatures, while at the same time embracing the modern-day meaning of wacky gifts and fun white elephant gift parties.

Thanks to MSNBC’s photoblog for these great white elephant images.

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.