A funny gift works when the joke points at something you both know. Generic gag gifts flop because they're for nobody in particular.
That holds at the office and at a White Elephant among friends: what gets remembered is what was thought up for one specific person.
Jokes that last
A deliberately absurd object
A rubber chicken, a mug with an absurd slogan, a giant version of something tiny. It gets a laugh without explanation and stays on display for a long time.
An inside joke made physical
If a phrase keeps coming up in the group chat, print it on a tote bag. If there's an endless argument about a food, give them that food. The more specific, the better: if an outsider wouldn't get it, you're on the right track.
A self-aware gag with a useful core
A cookbook with a ridiculous theme that you can actually cook from, a silly card game that's genuinely fun, ugly socks made of good wool. It gets a laugh when opened and keeps getting used.
A “worst-of” version of something they love
The cheapest knock-off of their favorite candy, the worst cover of their favorite song, that famously bad film they always said they wanted to see. It works because it's made for that person.
When a joke goes too far
Before buying, ask yourself whether you'd show it to a stranger. If not, the joke is at the person's expense and you should drop it. And don't overspend on a joke: the idea is what counts.
Run the draw, then plan the joke
A funny gift works when the giver knows the recipient. Cuchumbo runs the draw privately, so nobody can rig who they get. After that, everyone can work on their joke.
