Many of our current Christmas traditions such as having a Christmas tree came about during Queen Victoria's reign. But it wasn't until recently that the game Secret Santa became a staple during the holidays.
The original Secret Santa is thought to be American philanthropist Larry Dean Stewart, who has been giving away anonymous gifts for more than 25 years. It's a wonderful tradition that has quickly caught on.
To celebrate the launch of the updated Secret Santa planner at Giftwhale we're going to take a dive into the details of the secret santa gift exchange. If you're wondering how to play the perfect Secret Santa game, keep reading, whether its an online gift exchange or one you intend to do in person with a group of friends. We're sharing with you a few different ways to plan a Secret Santa to keep your friends and family talking about it for years to come.
If you are the organiser of a secret santa then this will hopefully give you lots of different options to start the festivities this holiday season!
The Basic Premise of the Secret Santa Game
How does Secret Santa work? It's an easy game to play.
A group of people are assigned to buy or make a gift for one other person. It's done anonymously so the person receiving the gift has no idea who their Secret Santa is.
Typically you draw names at random, often on a piece of paper, to determine who you're supposed to buy a gift for. Most people like this game because, let's face it, the holidays can get expensive. Most households in England spend an average of £500 extra in December. But with Secret Santa you only have to buy one a gift for one person. This means you can usually afford to pay a little more, and you'll have even more time to put thought and love into the gift choice you make. A Price Limit and Date are Set With Secret Santa, a gift price limit is always set. A date when the gift exchange is scheduled can also be set.
Since the Secret Santa knows who the person is, they tend to select a gift that's personalized for the gift recipient.
Players gather together on that date to exchange gifts. Often people then try to guess who the secret gift-giver was based on the gift they were given. If it is not easy to all get together then you can send your gifts to each other and have a virtual holiday party between all members of t he group.
Different Ways to Do Secret Santa
There are different versions of Secret Santa. Each version has its own interesting twist with slightly different secret santa rules. The following list of secret santa ideas is a collection of different ways to organise a secret santa exchange. Not all of them are suitable for an online secret santa but we are sure that with some imagination you can find something to keep the grumpiest office elf happy on a Christmas zoom video call with coworkers!
1. The Yankee Swap
The Yankee Swap is also sometimes called the White Elephant or Dirty Santa. It begins by setting a specific price point limit that everyone can easily afford.
No gifts can be above that price limit. No names are selected in this version.
Instead, everyone on the list of participants has the choice to either select a new gift or steal a gift another player has already opened. The last player may end up with what the group may consider being the "worst" gift.
2. Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are always fun. This version has people collecting gifts before the party begins.
The gifts are then hidden around the office or wherever the party is being held. Hints are then given out to help participants find their location.
Everyone starts the game at the entrance to the room and begins to play this gift exchange game. Each player keeps the gift they find and the game is over for them upon finding that gift. This way, everyone ends up with a gift.
3. Gift Auction
Gift auction is a fun game to play because you have a good chance of getting exactly what you want. But you better have enough money to bid on the gift.
Gifts are traded in exchange for Monopoly money. Each player begins with the same amount of money.
The host or someone else acts as the auctioneer. The person with the highest bid wins the gift. The game ends when the last person has a gift.
4. Gift Hot Potato
You don't need to be a kid to still enjoy playing a good round of hot potato. Except, in this case, you're tossing around gifts rather than potatoes.
Just make sure none of the gifts are breakable items. Toss a gift around the room until a timer or music stops.
5. The "Loser" Gets the Gift
The person who is still holding the gift when the music or timer stops gets to keep the gift. Keep playing until everyone has a gift.
And unlike hot potato, you actually win when you lose.
6. Holiday Dice Exchange
If you're searching for a game that's fun to play with smaller groups, this is it. You'll just need to find a pair of dice and print out a rule sheet to get started.
Everyone comes with a gift. Once everyone has gathered, begin by rolling the dice one at a time.
The number the dice lands on comes with instructions printed out on the rule sheet that shares the fate of each person's present.
7. Numbers Fact Game
This game is perfect for getting to know the other players a little better. Begin the game by marking each gift with a number.
Each player is given a paper with a corresponding number. Write down a fun fact about yourself on that paper.
8. Guess Who
Then place the paper into a hat. The host then reads off the facts each person shared.
Whoever guesses who wrote the fact gets the gift associated with the number.
9. Coffee Mugs
One way to stick to a small budget and encourage people to get creative is to use coffee mugs. This is great to do in offices where most people either drink tea and/or coffee.
It's easy to design your own mug and put creative sayings on them. You can mark each wrapped mug with a number.
Each participant picks a number from a hat and then picks up the corresponding mug. You may even wish to give out an extra gift for the funniest or most creative mug created.
10. Santa's Casino
Participants in this game bring money and gifts to play. To ensure things don't get too crazy, set a price limit on the amount of money and the gift brought.
Three Choices
Each player then has three options to choose from:
Option One: Choose a gift placed on the table
Option Two: Place their name in a hat to win the jackpot
Option Three: Place their name in a separate hat to win one of the gifts no one chose
This is a good game because it can last quite a while, and adds an interesting spin.
11. Create a Wishlist
Another fun Secret Santa Game is to have everyone create a wish list. Each person is assigned one person and they purchase a gift from their wish list.
Each player then guesses who bought them the gift.
Where to Get Started
Start setting up and planning your Secret Santa right here at Giftwhale. This enables you to start an online Secret Santa gift exchange by allowing Giftwhale to complete the draw secretly and will then email all participants to let them know who they have received.
We can also help you get started making your wish list where you can add gifts from any online store or even in the street - providing lots of options for the gift giver to choose from to select the perfect gift and eliminating any guesswork for gift ideas.
Christmas can be expensive, so it's great to know Giftwhale is totally free to use and the secret Santa generator helps provide a fun way for all members of the group to easily be involved.
Have a wonderful Christmas and good luck at your secret Santa party! Ho ho ho
Questions
What are some fun and unique gift ideas for a Secret Santa exchange?
Some fun and unique gift ideas for a Secret Santa exchange include personalised items like custom mugs, quirky socks, scented candles, or DIY kits. You can also consider experiences like movie tickets, coffee shop gift cards, or themed baskets tailored to the recipient's interests.
How can you organise a successful Christmas Secret Santa event?
To organise a successful Secret Santa event, set clear rules and deadlines, use online platforms for anonymity, establish a budget range, ensure everyone participates, and have a fun gift exchange event. Communication and planning are key to making the activity enjoyable for all participants.
