How exactly do you play the game "white elephant"?

How do you play white elephant gift exchange game?

• Answer:

  White Elephant exchange means that everyone wraps a gift and puts it on a table. Somehow someone is selected to go first (sometimes this is determined by age, but I have usually drawn numbers). That person then selects a gift and unwraps it. Then the next person to go has the choice to select another gift, or to steal the gift that has already been unwrapped. Each gift can only be stolen a certain number of times (usually twice). Sometimes you play that at the end the player who went first has the opportunity to steal, sometimes not. You have to be very careful about what kind of gifts you bring however. Sometimes White Elephant means gag gifts. Sometimes it means gifts that you find around the house. Sometimes it doesn't mean anything, and you just set a dollar amount for the gifts. Make sure you know what kind of gift is expected.