You’ve probably sat through plenty of predictable gift exchanges where everyone politely swaps scented candles and generic mugs. This year, shake things up with a White Elephant Auction. Instead of the usual passing-left routine, you’ll hand out play money and watch the competition heat up as people fight over mystery packages. Here’s how to transform your holiday party into something your friends will actually remember.
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The Basics
- Each guest brings 2 wrapped gifts – up to the maximum value set by the host.
- The host distributes play money to each guest.
- The host acts as the auctioneer.
- Players bid on the wrapped gifts.
- The player with the most cash at the end wins the grand prize.
- Add variations like stealing, clue-giving, or pre-game cash distribution through bingo to increase engagement and excitement.
How the White Elephant Gift Auction Works
Unlike traditional White Elephant games where players swap and steal gifts, this auction version lets you bid on wrapped presents with play money.
You’ll start by distributing $100 of printable Christmas cash to each player, consider denominations of $1, $5, and $10 on colored paper for easy tracking during bidding.
The host acts as auctioneer – auctioning each gift by running bids until someone wins the gift with the highest offer. Since each guest only starts with $100, begin the auction at a few bucks and build up from there as bids build.
FUN TIP: The host can also insert several wrapped “gifts” of extra play money, giving players an opportunity to win more money.
Bidders open their prizes immediately, revealing either delightful surprises or hilarious gag gifts. Bidding continues until all presents are sold.
The Winner! The player holding the most cash at the end wins a special grand prize prepared by the host.
Supplies and Christmas Auction Cash You’ll Need
Getting this game up and running requires minimal prep work and supplies.
Next, you’ll need printable Christmas auction cash in denominations of $1, $5, and $10 – Use your own template or purchase pre-printed money on Amazon: North Pole Play Money
If you print your own money, I suggest using different colored paper for easy sorting. A good paper cutter will speed up the cutting process. This Fiskars Paper Trimmer is AMAZING and worth every penny!
You’ll also prepare a grand prize and make up a few extra gift bags with bonus auction cash.
Setting Up Your Party for Maximum Fun
If you aren’t in a place that already has a Christmas tree, I like to decorate a little “Charlie Brown” like Christmas tree to add to the festive vibe.
Mix thoughtful presents with absurd gag gifts like disguised beans, mystery gift cards, or confetti-filled boxes for unpredictable hilarity.
Before the auction begins, you might want to swap gifts into new bags to maintain anonymity and surprise. The host runs the auction and the rules, so be spontaneous and create new rules as you go to keep things interesting and exciting. I have a reputation for “changing the rules”, and it keeps my guests on their toes.
Gift Ideas That Will Have Everyone Laughing
The best White Elephant Gift Auctions thrive on variety. Mix thoughtful finds with hilariously absurd items to keep bidding unpredictable. If you like you can ask each player to bring one good gift (within your set dollar limit) and one gag gift. Think gift cards with mystery balances, toilet paper wrapped like treasure, or extra auction cash hidden inside. Dollar store gems, quirky Christmas food, coloring books, and soap all work beautifully. Some of my favorite Amazon White Elephant Finds include:
Creative Twists and Game Variations
Standard White Elephant Gift Auctions deliver plenty of laughs, but a few creative tweaks can transform your party into something truly memorable.
Play left-center-right or card bingo beforehand to distribute varying cash amounts and avoid ties.
Combine bidding with stealing mechanics.
Add clues to wrapped gifts hinting at the contents inside.
Award bonus prizes for the most creative or absurd gift through a group vote.
During the auction, encourage side bargaining so guests can swap items they’ve won.
Conclusion
You’ve got all the tools to turn your holiday gathering into an unforgettable laugh fest. Remember, the more you put into planning quirky gifts and creative twists, the more you’ll get out in belly laughs and memories. This is one of those times where I don’t stress about perfection – sometimes the most chaotic auctions create the best stories. So print that Christmas cash, wrap those ridiculous gifts, and let the bidding wars begin! And until next time… Savor The Gathering! 🎄🎁
