Hey! I’m Andreas Jones and I am the founder of KindaFrugal.com. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and lifestyle businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur On Fire, Lifehack.org, Influencive and Goalcast.
| Published on December 8, 2023
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Secret Santa is a great holiday activity that can be enjoyed year after year with any group of people. You may not always end up with gifts from your wish list, but it is a fun way to have fun and make memories during the holiday season.
Budgets can be tight, and we may not always know all our coworkers as well as we think when the gift-giving season rolls around. Establishing a Secret Santa game for the office or your team is a great way to relieve some pressure. It allows everyone to celebrate without feeling obligated to buy everyone in the office a gift. Plus, you may find it turns into a fun bonding experience and an opportunity for your coworkers to learn more about one another.
But Secret Santa isn’t just limited to office holiday parties. Any team, group of friends, or family can easily establish a fun Secret Santa tradition. We’ve got you covered if you’re new to Secret Santa or need a refresher. We will go over the basics of the game and how to make it more fun for your colleagues in the office or any other group you may play with this year.
Remember, it’s not about the presents. It’s about bonding with the people you work with and creating meaningful experiences.
How to Play Secret Santa
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Secret Santa is a Western tradition in which community members (or a company department/professional team) are randomly assigned to give gifts to other group members.
In this tradition, the gift giver cannot reveal their identity, and the recipient will not know who the gift came from. This gift-giving tradition is fun and can make the company’s Christmas party more merry. Nowadays, it is a common team-building event in most office departments, usually just before the holiday time off that most employees take.
To play Secret Santa, a person needs to be assigned the role of organizer. This person will structure the game’s ‘rules’ or theme. If you are the organizer of the event, then here is what you need to do.
Determine the Gift Price Range
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Secret Santa is not about fancy gifts. It’s about fun and laughter.
Usually, anything between $10 and $20 is acceptable. But hey, if you are working for some international oil corporation, you do you. Opting for handmade gifts might also be a fun twist on the game if you’re looking for a unique angle or way to keep costs down.
Determine When the Game Will Take Place
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This is important because it is best to do the gift exchange after everyone has had enough time to find a gift and when everyone can participate. It is most fun this way because you can see each other’s reactions and enjoy receiving and opening presents together.
Announce the Game to All Who May Participate
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Send an announcement email to all who wish to participate in the game. Make sure to mention the gift price range, theme if there is one, and when the gift exchange will occur. This is an important stage in setting up the game because you will want to establish who’s participating.
If you can, include a little survey in your announcement email that those wishing to participate can fill out with some of their interests. This form can inspire the Secret Santa when it comes time to buy gifts.
Draw Names at Random
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When you have the final list of people who want to participate, it is time to draw names and let the games begin!
Put the names into a Christmas hat or some funny-looking bag. Go around the office, visit the people who have signed up for Secret Santa, and ask them to draw the name of the person for whom they will get (or make) a gift.
Send a Reminder Email
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Remember to remind your coworkers about the Secret Santa event a week before the gift-giving. Make sure to mention where they can place the gift once they bring it to the office.
Usually, that would be under the office Christmas tree, but a nearby table will also work.
You are all set. Now, all that is left is to wait for the gift-giving day. When the day comes, have someone in charge of taking photos to commemorate the event. Enjoy your gift-giving and unwarping!
What to Get for Secret Santa
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So, the gift exchange is in a couple of days, and you still have no clue what gift to buy. Maybe the interests survey wasn’t filled out too thoroughly, or you are just struggling to think of something. Don’t stress; this is meant to be a fun thing. There are a couple of different ways you can approach your challenge.
Opt for something outrageous. Secret Santa is supposed to have an element of lightheartedness and humor, so lean into it. Many online stores and resources are dedicated to creating the funniest gag gifts. But if humor’s not your thing, take a minute to reflect.
Think of some of the gifts you’ve loved best over the years. Sharing a favorite gift, be it a cooking tool, subscription, or game, is a wonderful way to connect by sharing something about yourself with the other person.
If you feel like being clever, you might also find ways to casually glean ideas from other participants who know your gift recipient well. Just make sure not to give yourself away.
How to Make Secret Santa More Fun
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If playing Secret Santa the good old-fashioned way seems a little dull for your crew. Making things more fun and exciting can be as simple as adding an off-the-wall theme or setting another constraint that will challenge each shopper to find a unique gift and make the reveal all the more entertaining. Here are seven ways to liven up the game and raise the stakes.
White Elephant
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The White Elephant gift exchange is a great way to make Secret Santa more fun. This is probably the most popular alternative version of the game.
The rules are simple: the first participant takes a present from the stack, and their turn ends. The second participant can either open a present from the stack or steal the first participant’s unwrapped present.
The game ends when all participants are holding a present. At the very end, the first participant has the right to either steal a present or unwrap the very last present to end the game. Many people make the game fun by buying silly gag gifts, while others prefer to make it a competition for the most coveted gift.
However you choose to play, this is a fun way to change things up.
Conspiracy Santa
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Another popular alternative is Conspiracy Santa. In this game, everyone in the room opens a gift, and then everyone takes a turn and tries to guess who their Secret Santa is. The goal is to be the last gift giver matched with their respective present. As the deception and good-natured accusations fly, you can be sure there will be many laughs.
Sneaky Santa
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Just like old Nick slips presents under the tree unnoticed, you’ll be tasked with doing the same. The idea is to bring a present and do your best to sneakily place it on the recipient’s desk without them noticing you.
This is a lot of fun because it puts everyone in the office on edge to catch their Sneaky Santa in the act. How will you plot a distraction and place your gift unnoticed this year?
Dirty Santa
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In this game modification, the participants try to get the most absurd and impractical presents they can get. The idea is to make the game as ridiculous as possible.
If you really want to mix things up this year, combine multiple game modifications for a new level of fun. Dirty Santa works great in combination with the White Elephant mod.
Establish a Gift Theme
Image Credit: Shutterstock.Imagine if the theme of your Secret Santa presents was the color yellow. This means everybody has to get a yellow present. But the theme can be anything from animals to toys or be related to specific activities like cooking or working out. It’s so fun to see everyone’s creative take on the theme and hear them explain the inspiration behind their gift. Subscriptions and services are also great themes.
Mystery Wrap Gift-Picking
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In this version, everybody brings a well-wrapped present. When the next person is called to the pile of presents, they can choose their mystery present solely based on its wrapping and appearance. Not only will the gift inside be a surprise, but figuring out who bought it can also be a fun angle and way to combine the Conspiracy Santa game.
Scavenger Hunt
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Everybody has to hide their present somewhere in the office. Then, they must leave a note with a riddle on the recipient’s desk. Watching your colleagues mindlessly searching and scratching their heads over the nonsensical notes can be a lot of fun. These games are not so much about winners and losers but about building connections and sharing laughter.
What to Do Instead of Secret Santa
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If you want to play something that is not gift-based during your office Christmas, here are my top 5 suggestions based on my personal experience as a person who has worked for the same company for over ten years and attended the same number of Christmas office parties.
Trivia With Rewards
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Every office has at least a few smarty-pants who love showing off their knowledge of the world. Well, you can put them to the test (as well as everyone else who isn’t annoying) by organizing a trivia with rewards. You can have themes as well. It can be company-related trivia or just general knowledge. Just have a list of questions (and their correct answers), gather everybody, and start shouting!
Murder Mystery
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Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? The boring folks, that’s who! But murder mysteries are simply amazing, and they add an element of exhilarating excitement to your company Christmas party, so consider organizing it. Besides, there are thousands of scenarios you can choose from!
You Smile, You Lose!
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Trivia and murder mysteries are engaging, and they require effort and thinking. So here is a game that doesn’t need anything other than sheer willpower. Gather 7 to 10 people in a circle and have them stare at each other. The first to smile or laugh drops out! The victor shall be the one who remains at the end, their lips never to betray them with the smile of weakness and shame!
Imaginary Words
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This is another game that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Pick one of your colleagues and ask them to develop a non-existing word. Something like “hotezelment” or “traflarkian” or anything else that sounds like a word but isn’t. Then pick three other people to come up with an imaginary definition. The person who came up with the word gets to determine the winner of the round based on which definition they find the most amusing and clever.
Donate to Charity
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Though fun and games are great, many people see the holidays as a time to reflect, express gratitude, and be mindful of those in need. So, instead of Secret Santa, you could select a local charity to support. Providing books or toys to children in need or volunteering time to provide warm coats or meals are three great ways to spread kindness and cheer where it’s most needed this year.
Key Takeaways
Everyone can play Secret Santa. It is an enjoyable alternative to the regular gift-giving process.
This social activity lets you get to know people better and bond with your colleagues.
The Christmas office party can be a fun opportunity for colleagues to get together and celebrate the holidays.
You can have different games for each of your departments, as you are not limited to just one Secret Santa or style of play.
A fun-filled office game event can be an excellent way to get your staff together, and it’s perfect for Holiday parties.
Hey! I’m Andreas Jones and I am the founder of KindaFrugal.com. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and lifestyle businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur On Fire, Lifehack.org, Influencive and Goalcast.
