Pollyanna Swap

Like a white elephant gift-exchange party, the Pollyanna Swap is a way to give gifts to ensure everyone in attendance received a gift. The term was more popular in the early to mid 1900s.  There were Pollyanna clubs that met for special occassions, such as a wedding shower.  These clubs were typically associated with churches.

The term Pollyanna Swap is used mostly in Pennsylvania. It is not clear where the term comes from, but there is evidence that is was named after Eleanor Hodgman Porter’s stories whose main character was Pollyanna.  Though, in the Pollyanna book, the game that is played is called the “glad game”.  The first book, Pollyanna, was published in 1913.

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