Ultimate Guide to Secret Santa: Rules, Tips, and How to Play Online
What is Secret Santa?
Secret Santa is a fun and anonymous gift exchange tradition practiced during Christmas. Participants draw names randomly to determine who they will buy a gift for, and the recipient optionally tries to guess who their Secret Santa is after opening the present.
This tradition promotes joy, surprise, and community spirit.
Secret Santa Rules: How to Play
For these instructions we are informing you how to do a traditional secret santa using either online toold or fully in person. For how to run a fully virtual secret santa see our guide here.
1. Gather Participants:
In-Person: Have everyone write their names on slips of paper.
Online: Use an online gift exchange generator like ours to randomly assign names.
2.Set a budget, theme, and exchange date:
Agree on a spending limit, typically between £20 to £30, to ensure everyone receives a gift of similar value.
3. Draw names
In-Person: Draw names from a hat, ensuring that no one draws their own name.
Online: The online generator will handle the random assignments and each participant will need to draw the name of their giftee.
4. Create wish lists:
In-Person: Each participant writes down a few gift ideas on the same slip of paper with their name.
Online: Participants create comprehensive wish lists using platforms like our draw names, they will add their gift ideas later on when they drawn their name.
6. Plan a Gift Exchange Party:
In-Person: Organize a gathering where all participants bring their wrapped gifts. Place the gifts under a communal tree.
Online: Host a virtual party via Zoom or Google Meet where participants can open their gifts together on camera.
7. Send out reminders:
This is the same for in person and online, send out reminders to everyone to make sure they have ordered their gifts a couple weeks before the exchange date.
8. Exchange Gifts:
During the party, each person receives their gift and tries to guess their Secret Santa's identity. Optionally, you can allow gift-givers to reveal themselves after the guessing.
Tips for a Successful Secret Santa
- Dress Up: Add a festive touch by dressing up as Santa or one of Santa’s helpers during the name drawing.
- Ensure Participation: Double-check that everyone who wants to participate is included, and encourage undecided individuals to join for an even number of participants.
- Keep It Fun: The key rule of Secret Santa is to have fun. The anonymity and surprise are what make the tradition enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the rules for Secret Santa?
Gather participants, create wish lists, set a budget, draw names, purchase gifts, and exchange them at a party, either in-person or online.
How do Secret Santa rules work?
Participants draw names secretly, buy gifts based on wish lists, and exchange them anonymously.
How do you reveal Secret Santa?
During the gift exchange, recipients guess their Secret Santa’s identity, and optionally, the givers can reveal themselves.
What is the correct way to play Secret Santa?
Follow the traditional or online rules: gather participants, draw names, set a budget, buy gifts, and exchange them at a designated time.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure a fun and successful Secret Santa experience, whether in-person or online. Merry Christmas and happy gifting!
Check out our other guides to Secret Santa
How to do Secret Santa with your Family (and why it's better)
How to organise your work's secret santa to be fun and inclusive this year - 2024