Where did the term white elephant originate?

The origins of the phrase come from Siam (modern-day Thailand). White or very pale elephants were so highly prized that when one was discovered, it immediately became the possession of the King. Such was the reverence held for the animal in Siam that it appeared on the nation’s flag until 1917.

Why is it called the white elephant game?

The game derives its name from the term white elephant as defined by something of dubious or limited value or an object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others. Thus, in its basic form the game calls for people to bring “gag” gifts or gifts they received that they have no use for.

What does the white elephant symbolize?

The white elephant—which was more often than not stricken with albinism, and thus more a ruddy-pink color—was, and remains to this day, a symbol of success. To possess a white elephant connoted political power, wealth and prosperity, great wisdom, and the love of one’s people.

When did the white elephant Party Start?

The term white elephant party first appeared in a joke published in 1907 in Nebraska’s The Columbus Journal, according to blogger Peter Jensen Brown. “A shocking thing happened in one of our nearby towns,” the joke begins. “One of the popular society women announced a ‘white elephant party.

Is white elephant an idiom?

The idiom white elephant describes someone or and item that’s costly but with no use.

What’s another term for white elephant?

In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for white-elephant, like: junk, more trouble than it’s worth, worthless object, burthen, onus, clutter, outmoded object, heirloom, albatross, ball-and-chain and burden.

What is a gift exchange called?

gift exchange, also called ceremonial exchange, the transfer of goods or services that, although regarded as voluntary by the people involved, is part of the expected social behaviour.

Is Dirty Santa the same as white elephant?

Whether you call it White Elephant or Dirty Santa, the game sticks to the same format. We’re not sure where the word choice “Dirty Santa” originated but, it’s meant to refer to game participants, the “Santas,” stealing desirable gifts from each other.

What two meanings are associated with the term white elephant and how does that relate to this story?

A white elephant is a gift that turns out to be more like a burden. It is an allusion to a practice once used by the King of Siam. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” it symbolizes Jig’s feelings about her unborn child and the American man. She sees the baby as a potential gift, but he sees the baby as a potential burden.

How do the multiple meanings of white elephant relate to the story?

A white elephant symbolizes something no one wants—in this story, the girl’s unborn child. Comparing the hills—and, metaphorically, the baby—to elephants also recalls the expression “the elephant in the room,” a euphemism for something painfully obvious that no one wants to discuss. …

Is white elephant real?

A white elephant (also albino elephant) is a rare kind of elephant, but not a distinct species. The traditional “white elephant” is commonly misunderstood as being albino, but the Thai term chang samkhan, actually translates as ‘auspicious elephant’, being “white” in terms of an aspect of purity.

What are white elephant projects?

A “white elephant project” is a phrase which is used in reference to a financial endeavor which fails to live up to its expectations. A “white elephant project” can be used in reference to a completed project or one whose undertaking is still ongoing.

What is the a white elephant gift exchange?

A White Elephant Gift Exchange is a popular Christmas event where people vie to walk away with the best present.

What is the purpose of a White Elephant Party?

A white elephant gift exchange, Yankee swap or Dirty Santa is a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities. The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item.

What is the origin of the term white elephant?

“The term white elephant refers to an extravagant, but impractical, gift that cannot be easily disposed of. The phrase is said to come from 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.”

What is the difference between Dirty Santa and white elephant?

Originally, for many, a White Elephant gift exchange was different to a Dirty Santa gift exchange. While the rules for picking and stealing gifts were similar, the difference was in the type of gift that was brought by each player.

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