When Holiday Fun Turns into a Spooky Surprise: A White Elephant Gift Gone Wrong
When it comes to office holiday parties, one rule reigns supreme: Expect the unexpected. For hairstylist Brie, that rule took a turn into the bizarre at her salon’s White Elephant gift exchange, leaving her with a gift more suited for a horror movie than holiday cheer.
The White Elephant Twist
In a now-viral TikTok, Brie recounts the nerve-wracking moment she approached the gift table. Captioned, “Guess what I got at a White Elephant,” she described her growing anxiety as her turn arrived at the unlucky number 13. Nervously, she begged her boyfriend to pick a gift for her. His response? A firm “No, you’re doing this.”
Left with no choice, Brie selected the most beautifully wrapped package. Her hopes for a cozy blanket or scented candles were immediately dashed when she unwrapped … an Ouija board.
Yes, the iconic and controversial “game” associated with summoning spirits and sparking ghost stories at sleepovers. Brie’s reaction was anything but festive. “Everyone has their own beliefs, and if there’s any chance of opening unwanted spiritual doors in my house, I don’t want any part of it,” she explained.
A Spooky Situation
Hoping someone else might “steal” the Ouija board as part of the exchange, Brie left it on the table. When no one claimed it, the board came home with her—at least temporarily. She left it in her car overnight, an experience she described simply as “not fun.” Her boyfriend, equally unsettled, wanted nothing to do with it. “He didn’t even want it in the car,” Brie told the Daily Dot.
Target to the Rescue
Determined to rid herself of the spooky surprise, Brie devised a plan the next day. Knowing Target sells Ouija boards, she returned the board without a receipt. Much to her relief, the store issued her a credit. “Shout-out to them for still giving me credit,” Brie said, expressing gratitude for the store’s understanding.
Brie described Target’s customer service as “super helpful,” sharing that she explained the situation: “I told the Upland, CA location that I received [the Ouija board] in a game of White Elephant and did not want to keep it.”
TikTok Reacts
The comments section on Brie’s video quickly filled with relatable and humorous responses.
“I just saw the guy that purchased a Ouija board from Target a few days back for a White Elephant lmaoooo,” one user joked.
Another shared their own unusual gift exchange story: “I got a live crab once.”
Some users sympathized, with one saying, “Number 13, and you got the Ouija board. Of course!”
Others echoed Brie’s feelings about the unsettling gift, with one commenter writing, “I would’ve left it at the party and run.”
A Holiday Tradition Lives On
Despite the eerie ordeal, Brie says she’s not letting the spooky surprise deter her from participating in future White Elephant exchanges. “Of course!” she exclaimed. “I love White Elephant.”
For Brie, the experience serves as a reminder that holiday traditions can be full of surprises—some funny, some unsettling, but always memorable.
