59 Of The Most Interesting Things People Received As Gifts

Finding the perfect gift is not easy. That's why the holiday season causes immense amounts of stress for people. In fact, 40% of Americans say that not knowing what gifts to buy seriously messes up their holiday vibe. That worry is only second to having to navigate overcrowded stores during Christmastime.

You'll find lots of White Elephant exchange gifts on this list, and Americans really seem to love their gift exchanges. People online have even been noticing how popular White Elephant is in 2025. A previous poll in 2023 found that the majority of Americans who celebrate Christmas (84%) participate in some kind of gift exchange.

The popularity of Christmas gift exchanges differs by the age of the person. Gen Z is the most likely (98%) to take part in White Elephant or Secret Santa, with Millennials following closely (72%). Surprisingly, Gen X is the generation least likely (45%) to participate in a gift exchange, and Baby Boomers (50%) are in the middle.

On average, Americans planned to participate in six gift exchanges in 2023. The numbers for 2025 are still pending, but in 2024, the online platform White Elephant Online reported that 4,600 players participated in 3,000 gift exchanges with the help of its website, swapping around 47,000 gifts in total.

It's probably not ideal to gift someone what you want to get for yourself. Luckily, most Americans agree, as, on average, the gifts they want to receive differ slightly from what they give to other people for Christmas. In 2025, the most popular gifts to both give and receive were clothes and shoes.

However, the most common gifts Americans bought for someone else were toys and games, vouchers or gift cards, food and snacks, books, and health and beauty products. Ironically, out of these, people wanted to receive gift cards the least. Only one in ten Americans says they would like to get a voucher as a Christmas present.

Of course, gift preferences differ according to age as well. Older people don't really want to receive clothes, books, or health and wellness products. In the poll, they listed their preference as "other," meaning more personalized or less conventional gifts. Sports equipment, vouchers, music, movies, and video games were also among the least favorites for those aged 60 and over.

White Elephant might be gaining more and more popularity in recent years because it's a bit more interesting than your average Secret Santa. The origins of the White Elephant gift exchange are traced back to Siam, or modern-day Thailand. According to legend, the king would give white elephants to subordinates whom he didn't like. And that logic tracks to this day: White Elephant is about giving away silly, unusable gifts, with the chance for other participants to steal them.

But what if you're completely out of ideas about what to give another person? Well, the starting point would be making peace with the fact that you're probably not going to give someone the perfect gift. Let's be real: those don't exist. People like different things; some want a gift that's thoughtful and personal and doesn't cost a fortune, while others may prefer that it costs at least more than $10. Some people prefer experiences; others want more tangible things like accessories, clothes, or certain objects.

Still, you can usually get some hints about what a person would like if you know them at least a little bit. Erica Cerulo, the co-host of the A Thing or Two podcast, told Vox that there are three gift-giving boxes that might give you some direction about what to gift a person.

1. Can I introduce someone to something they might not otherwise know about?
2. Can I get them a nicer version of something than they would buy for themselves?
3. Or can I make them feel seen?

Another strategy, often used for giving presents to kids, is the five gift rule. Some choose to give one gift from each category, but if you're gifting to a colleague or an acquaintance, choosing one from each category would suffice.

1. Something they want.
2. Something they need.
3. Something to wear.
4. Something to read.
5. Something they don't know they need.

You don't have to dread the holiday season because you don't know what to give people. Many of us are in the same boat and are just trying to figure things out! Most people even prefer to give gifts compared to receiving them, and 82% of Britons believe they are good gift-givers. So, chin up, because this Panda believes in you, and this list might even help you get an idea or two!

What did you get for Christmas, Pandas? Let us know what Santa put under your Christmas tree this year. Also, don't be shy and share the gifts you gave to others, too! You might give some good ideas to others about what to gift next Christmas. If you feel like reading some juicy Christmas family drama, check out this story about a woman who is refusing to host Christmas dinner for the eighth year in a row!