1. A white elephant with six tusks was a recurring dream for the Indian provincial queen who gave birth to the young prince who would eventually grow up to be the Buddha.
2. Leukocystic elephants are enough of a rarity that they have been given divine association in Indian mythology. Their involvement with the Buddha’s origin story spread this association wherever Buddhism was adopted.
3. As a result of the above, Thai monarchs extended the Kerala tradition of elephant worship to their own elephants. As a result, white elephants were kept for ceremonial purposes only and could not be put to work like ordinary gray elephants. This often included massages and a special diet, as leukocystic elephants were often found to be fragile.
4. As such, whenever a courtier incurred the wrath of a monarch, he would be presented with a white elephant. His “elephant-sitting” period would typically leave him in severe financial straits as he could not put the animal to work nor feed it normal fodder. The “sitter” period expired whenever the unfortunate courtier could no longer afford the upkeep, and the monarch would repossess the animal, leaving the courtier burning with humiliation and penury.
OK I looked up White Elephant Gift Exchange and here’s what it is:White Elephant Rules & How to Play
Trade & Steal: Each participant puts their wrapped gift under the tree, then takes a number. The person who drew 1 opens a present. The person who drew 2 can steal the first gift or open a new one. If your gift is stolen, you choose another gift.
True history: White elephants were albinos, and very very rare in Siam. If the king wanted to bankrupt one of his nobility but mask it as an act of kindness, he would give the noble a rare white elephant. The recipient couldn’t get rid of it, and its upkeep was prohibitively expensive.
Michael Thorton over 3 years ago
Fun facts:
1. A white elephant with six tusks was a recurring dream for the Indian provincial queen who gave birth to the young prince who would eventually grow up to be the Buddha.
2. Leukocystic elephants are enough of a rarity that they have been given divine association in Indian mythology. Their involvement with the Buddha’s origin story spread this association wherever Buddhism was adopted.
3. As a result of the above, Thai monarchs extended the Kerala tradition of elephant worship to their own elephants. As a result, white elephants were kept for ceremonial purposes only and could not be put to work like ordinary gray elephants. This often included massages and a special diet, as leukocystic elephants were often found to be fragile.
4. As such, whenever a courtier incurred the wrath of a monarch, he would be presented with a white elephant. His “elephant-sitting” period would typically leave him in severe financial straits as he could not put the animal to work nor feed it normal fodder. The “sitter” period expired whenever the unfortunate courtier could no longer afford the upkeep, and the monarch would repossess the animal, leaving the courtier burning with humiliation and penury.
[Unnamed Reader - 8bb645] over 3 years ago
Either a hippopotamus or their two front teeth?
whenlifewassimpler over 3 years ago
OK I looked up White Elephant Gift Exchange and here’s what it is:White Elephant Rules & How to Play
Trade & Steal: Each participant puts their wrapped gift under the tree, then takes a number. The person who drew 1 opens a present. The person who drew 2 can steal the first gift or open a new one. If your gift is stolen, you choose another gift.
david_42 over 3 years ago
An additional rule that we played with: If you get the White Elephant (clock), you were stuck with it until the next year’s exchange.
LeftCoastKen Premium Member over 3 years ago
Channeling Gayla Peevey …
carlosrivers over 3 years ago
Love that song too…
bonita.eley over 3 years ago
Only a Hippopotamus will do
ekke over 3 years ago
True history: White elephants were albinos, and very very rare in Siam. If the king wanted to bankrupt one of his nobility but mask it as an act of kindness, he would give the noble a rare white elephant. The recipient couldn’t get rid of it, and its upkeep was prohibitively expensive.