What should the host say at a White Elephant?

Welcome everyone, explain the rules in under a minute (open or steal, no instant steal-backs, freeze after three steals, final swap), then call each turn and announce frozen gifts.

Should the host play too?

Yes, usually. The host can draw a number like everyone else. If you're also tracking steals, ask someone else to keep count on your turn.

How do I explain the rules quickly?

Use the 'rules in 60 seconds' section of this script. It covers everything people need, and you can answer edge cases as they come up.

White Elephant Host Script to Read Aloud (Free)

Words in [brackets] are for you to fill in. Change the steal limit and budget to match your house rules.

1. Welcome (30 seconds)

“Okay everyone, grab a drink and a seat. It’s time for the White Elephant! Thanks for bringing gifts. That pile looks dangerous. Before we start, quick rules. Listen up, because there will be a quiz. There won’t. But listen anyway.”

2. The rules in 60 seconds

“Everyone’s drawn a number. Number one goes first and opens any gift from the pile. Show it off so we can all see.

After that, on your turn you have two choices. You can open a new gift from the pile. Or you can steal a gift that someone already opened.

If someone steals from you, don’t panic. You go again right away. Open a new gift, or steal a different one. But you can’t steal back the gift that was just taken from you. Not this turn, anyway.

Each gift can be stolen [three] times. On the [third] steal, it’s frozen and that person keeps it.

When everyone’s had a turn, number one gets a final chance to swap with anyone. That’s it. Number one, you’re up!”

3. During the game

Use these as the game goes:

On an open: “What did you get? Hold it up!”
On a steal: “Oh, [name] is going for the [gift]! That’s steal number [one/two]. [Name], you’re up again: open or steal?”
On a frozen gift: “That’s three! The [gift] is frozen. [Name], it’s yours forever. Everyone else, hands off.”
When someone tries a steal-back: “Nice try. That one was already stolen this turn. Pick something else.”
To move things along: “Ten seconds, [name]. Open or steal?”
When the pile is empty: “That’s the last gift! Number one, it’s time for your final move.”

Keeping count while you host is hard. The free steal tracker does it on your phone.

4. The final swap

“Number one, you went first and had nothing to steal, so you get the last word. You can keep your gift, or swap it with any opened gift in the room. [If frozen gifts are allowed:] Even the frozen ones.”

If you’re playing the chain version:

“[Name], you just got swapped. You can keep what you have now, or swap with anyone who hasn’t been swapped with yet. The game ends when someone keeps their gift.”

5. Closing

“And that’s the White Elephant! Thanks for playing. Photos in front of the tree, everyone with their gift. And if you hate what you got, private trades are allowed after the game.”

Short version for Zoom

“Welcome! Here’s how this works. The app shows the gift pile and whose turn it is. On your turn, open a new gift or steal one that’s already open. If you’re stolen from, you go again. Gifts freeze after [three] steals, and number one gets a final swap. The game tracks everything, so just have fun. Gifts get shipped after the game, and you’ll get a link to enter your address.”

The virtual White Elephant game has a big-screen view to share on the call. More hosting advice is in the how-to-host guide, and gift ideas start at the adults list.