Yankee Swap 2024

Ferrandino-Bedard Christmas Eve 2024 Yankee Swap

Yankee Swap Fun Facts

A Yankee Swap is also known as a white elephant gift exchange.  The term “white elephant” originally referred to a less-than-serious gift.  It is a popular holiday party game found primarily in North America.  A well-executed Yankee Swap has been known to result in playful rivalries between players trying to get sought after gifts. The goal of a Yankee Swap is usually to entertain rather than to gain.

From Wikipedia: The term white elephant refers to an extravagant, impractical gift that cannot be easily disposed of. The phrase is said to come from a perspective about the historic practice of the King of Siam (now Thailand) giving rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the animals' upkeep costs. However, there is no actual record of the King gifting a white elephant specifically to burden the recipients, and white elephants are considered to be highly valuable and sacred in Thai culture, so much that any white elephant that is found must immediately be brought to the King according to his legal ownership. The first use of this term remains a matter of contention among historians.

Yankee Swap Procedure

1.      Participation is not compulsory. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Yankee Swap, bring one wrapped gift to the Ferrandino-Bedard Family Christmas Eve party, scheduled to be celebrated on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.  The event starts at noon for any early birds at the Ferrandino-Bedard’s house in the jungle in Spencer, MA (actual location is 123 Hastings Road).

a.      It has been suggested to limit the value of the gift to $25.  Keep in mind the spirit of the Swap – to entertain rather than to gain.

b.      That being said, it is suggested to bring a gift which is not intended for any particular person (ie. a framed picture of Kayla’s dog).  Rather, a gift of universal appeal would be appreciated (ie. favorite holiday treats, useful household items and the like.  To make the most exciting game, imagination is preferred over utilitarian).

2.      The gifts will be placed in a central location where The Swap is to happen.  When the time comes, all participating members and on-lookers will gather in said location.

3.      The total number of gifts will be counted and that number of pieces of paper with corresponding numbers will be placed in a container.  For example, if there are 15 gifts (in turn, 15 participants), the numbers 1 through 15 will be placed in a container.

4.      Each participant will blindly pick a number from the container.

5.      The participant with number 1 starts the game.  That person will select a gift, unwrap it and display it for all to see.

6.      The participant with number 2 selects a gift from the remaining gifts.  That person will unwrap the gift and display it for all to see.  That person then has the option of swapping gifts with participant #1.  Play continues in this fashion with each successive participant selecting a gift, unwrapping, displaying and then has the choosing to swap their gift with any of the previously selected gifts.  You may also choose to keep the gift you selected rather than swap.

7.      Once the last participant takes the final gift, unwraps, displays and chooses to swap, play returns to player #1.  Player #1 then may choose from ALL the gifts if desired or keep the gift they currently possess.

Remember – the goal is to entertain rather than to gain!