Ready to dive into the fun and festive world of Secret Santa? This classic holiday activity is the perfect way to bring groups together through thoughtful gift-giving! Keep reading to learn how to play Secret Santa and grab all the things you need to get started, including a Secret Santa sign-up form, secret Santa questionnaire, secret Santa gift tags, and more!
So grab your group of friends or coworkers, follow these easy steps, and get ready for a holiday experience filled with mystery and joy!
What is the Secret Santa?
Secret Santa is a holiday gift exchange game where each participant gets a name randomly to find out who they will be giving a gift to, usually keeping it a secret until the gift is given. A spending limit is set to ensure that no one overspends. A Secret Santa questionnaire is given to help you know just what to get the person you drew. It’s a popular, fun way to exchange gifts in groups while keeping things affordable and adding an element of surprise!
Who Can I Do a Secret Santa Gift Exchange With?
There are so many fun places to have a Secret Santa gift exchange with others. Some great options are:
- Workplaces: Colleagues participate to foster team spirit.
- Family Gatherings: Families use it to simplify holiday gifting, especially among siblings and extended family.
- Friend Groups: What better way to have fun with friends than having a Secret Santa gift exchange with them.
- Community Organizations: Clubs, church groups, and more can host exchanges to strengthen bonds with one another.
Things That Make Secret Santa Easier
Having everything you need will help you make your Secret Santa gift exchange earlier. Plan to have these things to make it easier. All these things are in our easy-to-download Secret Santa Kit.
- Secret Santa signup sheet
- Secret Santa Questionnaire
- Secret Santa name cards
- Secret Santa gift tags
How to Play Secret Santa and Rules
Starting a Secret Santa Gift Exchange is easy with these rules. Of course, you can change the rules for the group as needed.
- Sign Up- Have everyone who wants to sign up for the Secret Santa gift exchange sign up on the Secret Santa sign up form. Be sure everyone knows the last day they can sign up to join.
- Fill out Your Name Draw Card and Secret Santa Questionnaire- Once people sign up, be sure to give them a Secret Santa questionnaire and have them write their name on the Secret Santa card. The secret Santa questionnaire is the key to a great gift exchange.
- Choose Names- There are several ways to choose names for who will buy for her. You can use a name generator; you can have each person draw a name from the name cards, or the organizer can draw the name cards for each person.
- Set a Budget- Participants agree on a spending limit to keep things fair and affordable, typically ranging from $10 to $50.
- Keep it Secret– The gift giver’s identity should remain a secret until the gift exchange event.
- Gift Selection- Each participant buys a gift for the person using the questionnaire as a guide to find the perfect gift.
- Gift Exchange- On the set day, everyone gathers to exchange gifts, either guessing who their Secret Santa is or simply enjoying the reveal.
Get a Sample of our Secret Santa Kit by joining our email list, or you can grab the whole kit now to get the gift exchange started in no time!
Michele Tripple is a renowned author and expert in the fields of parenting, relationships, and personal development. She is a certified Life Coach with her degree in marriage and family studies, her experience as a Family Life Educator, and over a decade of experience as a professional writer; Michele has authored books that provide practical advice and insights into improving family dynamics and personal growth. Her work is celebrated for its blend of research-driven information and relatable, real-world applications. Michele has been a keynote speaker at conferences and has contributed to numerous publications and media outlets, solidifying her reputation as an authoritative voice in her field and helping families build relationships.