🎅 Secret Santa 🐘 White Elephant Gift ideas $2 Pack Yankee Swap Rules A Yankee swap is the New England name for a White Elephant style exchange, usually with practical gifts rather than gag gifts. Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. Each player opens a gift or swaps it for one already opened, so nobody ends up empty-handed. At the end, player one gets a final chance to swap.
Rules: Classic · Yankee swap · Dice game · Steal limits · Gift ideas
A Yankee swap is the New England name for a White Elephant swap, and it's often more about useful gifts than gag gifts.
How to play Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. #1 opens a gift and shows it to everyone. Each next player either swaps their unopened pick for any opened gift or keeps what they opened. The person who was swapped with gets the other gift, so no one ends up empty-handed. At the end, #1 gets one last chance to swap. Yankee swap vs. White Elephant vs. Dirty Santa Yankee swap: often swaps 1-for-1, with practical gifts.White Elephant: open or steal, often with funny gifts.Dirty Santa: Southern name; usually allows more stealing.→ Free turn-order generator
FAQ Is a Yankee swap the same as White Elephant? Close enough. The name is regional, and house rules matter more than the name.
How much should a Yankee swap gift cost? Most groups pick $20-$25.