How Secret Santa works

The rules

Each person buys one good gift for one other person, instead of small gifts for everyone. These are the rules most groups use.

1. 1Everyone who's playing puts their name in.
2. 2Each person draws one name, and that's who they buy a gift for.
3. 3Keep the name you drew to yourself.
4. 4Stay within the price limit the group agreed.
5. 5Label the gift with the person's name, not yours.
6. 6Hand out the gifts on the day of the party.
7. 7Agree beforehand whether Secret Santas reveal themselves at the end.

How the draw works

The classic way is names on folded slips of paper in a hat. Everyone draws one, and if you pull out your own name, you put it back and draw again.

That works for a small group in one room. It gets awkward when the last person can only draw their own name, when partners shouldn’t get each other, or when some of the group can’t be there for the draw.

A Secret Santa generator does the draw for you. It never gives anyone their own name, can keep partners apart, and shows each person only the name they drew.

Running a Secret Santa

Most of the organising happens before the draw.

1. 1.Ask who's in

   Make it opt-in, and ask about two or three weeks before the party. A list of who’s in is easier than chasing people one by one. Secret Santa sign-up sheet.

2. 2.Set a price limit

   $20 to $30 is common with friends, and $15 to $25 at work. Give one number, like $25, rather than a range. With a range, most people spend the top of it.

3. 3.Collect gift ideas

   A few lines from each person about likes, dislikes, sizes and allergies save a lot of guessing. Only the person’s Secret Santa needs to see them. Secret Santa questionnaire.

4. 4.Draw the names

   Draw once sign-ups close, and leave at least two weeks for shopping. Deliveries take longer in December.

5. 5.Pick the day

   Agree when and where the gifts are handed out. If the group is busy, a date poll finds the evening most people can make. Find the date.

6. 6.Keep a spare

   Buy one extra gift at the price limit, in case someone drops out late or forgets theirs.

Secret Santa at work

At work, keep it optional and say so clearly. Some people can’t afford it in December and some don’t celebrate. Neither should have to explain.

Keep the price limit low and the same for everyone, from the newest hire to the manager. Leave out gag gifts and anything personal, since the gifts are opened in front of colleagues.

For a team spread across offices, ask for gifts that can be ordered online and shipped, and open them together on a video call. If there’s food at the party too, an office potluck sign-up sorts out who brings what.

Secret Santa with family

Families often switch to Secret Santa among the adults once the gift list gets long. Each person buys one gift they can put real thought into, instead of a dozen small ones.

Keep partners and people from the same household apart in the draw. Otherwise a couple can end up buying for each other.

Children usually stay out of the draw and get gifts from everyone, or they have their own draw with a lower limit.

Doing it online

The reveal

Decide before the draw whether the Santas reveal themselves. Some groups go round the room, and each person guesses who had them before their Santa owns up.

Others keep it secret for good, and every tag just says “From your Secret Santa”. Either works, as long as everyone knows which one you’re playing.

Secret Santa or white elephant

In Secret Santa you buy for the one person you drew. In a white elephant swap you buy for a pile, and the gifts can be stolen during the game.

Choose Secret Santa when you want every gift picked for someone. Choose white elephant when the party wants a game, or when not everyone knows each other well. Dirty Santa and Yankee swap are other names for white elephant.

White elephant rules, and how to run the swap.

Other names for it

The game goes by other names around the world.

Ireland

Kris Kindle or Kris Kringle

Canada and Australia

Kris Kringle, as well as Secret Santa

The Philippines

Monito-Monita or Kris Kringle

Brazil

Amigo Secreto or Amigo Oculto

Spain, Portugal and Latin America

Amigo Secreto or Amigo Invisible

Kris Kringle comes from Christkindl, the Christ Child who brings the presents in Austrian tradition.

Questions

What is Secret Santa?

A gift exchange where everyone draws one name and buys a gift for that person, without saying who they drew.

How does Secret Santa work?

Names are drawn so each person has one other to buy for. The gifts are handed out together, often at a party, and the givers stay secret or reveal themselves at the end.

What are the rules for Secret Santa?

Draw one name, keep it secret, stay within the price limit, and bring the gift on the day. Agree beforehand whether you reveal who had whom.

Can Secret Santa work between 5 people?

Yes. It works with three or more. With a small group, a generator saves redrawing when someone pulls out their own name. Secret Santa generator.

What is the difference between Secret Santa and Dirty Santa?

In Secret Santa you buy for the one person you drew. Dirty Santa is another name for white elephant, where gifts go in a pile and can be stolen. White elephant rules.

How much should you spend on Secret Santa?

$20 to $30 with friends and $15 to $25 at work are common. Pick one number and stick to it.

What can I give someone for Secret Santa?

Something from their gift ideas. Without any, choose something good to eat or drink, or a small thing for a hobby you know about.

How do you do Secret Santa online?

Draw the names with a generator, share gift ideas in private, and have each gift shipped to the person you drew. Draw names online.

Do you have to reveal who your Secret Santa was?

No. Some groups guess and reveal at the end, others keep it secret for good. Agree which before the draw.