What should you never give at Secret Santa?
- Anything intimate or crudeIt embarrasses the person in front of everyone, and at work it can become an HR matter.
- Anything that hints at a flawDeodorant, scales, diet products, anti-ageing cream or a pointed self-help title all read as a comment. Give a tin of good hot chocolate instead.
- Something used, opened or out of dateLast year's planner, a half-used gift set or a present someone else can recognize as a regift.
- Nothing, or far less than agreedEveryone else kept the deal. A token gift next to proper ones is what people remember.
- A joke at one person's expenseA gag about their age, their job or their love life is not funny to them.
- A gift with a messagePolitical or preachy items turn a game into an argument.
- A live animalIt is a responsibility nobody agreed to.
- A fakeKnock-offs break quickly and make the giver look careless.
Which gifts usually fall flat?
| Usually falls flat | Give this instead |
|---|---|
| Plastic gadgets and ornaments that gather dust | A better olive oil, honey or spice set, or a small kitchen tool |
| No-name electronics | A power bank or speaker from a known brand |
| A generic bath and body set | One good hand cream from a brand people know |
| A slogan mug filled with sweets | A mug that matches their hobby, or an insulated tumbler |
| A tiny or awkward voucher | A tin of quality tea or coffee |
| A bulky appliance or a chore gift | A small kitchen gadget that gets used every day |
Perfume, make-up, jewelry and clothes are guesses when you barely know someone. So are gifts for a life they do not have: a game for the wrong console, car gear for someone without a car, or a team shirt for someone who does not follow sport. Children's toys for adults rarely land either, unless the group asked for them.
When does it depend on who you drew?
- AlcoholOnly when you know they drink. At work, when you do not know, choose something else.
- Joke giftsOnly when the whole group agreed on a joke round. In a white elephant swap, the silly gift is part of the game.
- FoodCheck allergies and diets first.
- A gift card or cashFine when someone asked for it. Otherwise it can feel like no thought went in.
- A donation in their nameLovely as an extra the group agreed on. Never as the whole gift, and never for children.
- Candles, socks and mugsThe chosen version is loved. The first one off the shelf is the gift people joke about.
How do you run a Secret Santa nobody regrets?
- Make joining optional, and let people step out quietly.
- Agree one limit before the draw, at a level the whole group can afford.
- Decide up front whether the round is real gifts or jokes, and never mix them.
- Ask everyone for one wish, one thing they do not want, and any allergies.
- Gifts go between colleagues, not up to the boss. Our office Secret Santa rules cover the rest.
- In a swap or dice game, buy something almost anyone would want.
What can you send the group before the draw?
Secret Santa is on! Joining is optional. Please add one wish, one thing you would rather not get, and any allergies.
Quick check before the draw: is this a real gift round or a joke round? Reply with your vote.
Reminder: the group agreed on one limit for everyone, so stay close to it in both directions.
What do people actually love getting?
- Good chocolate or pralines
- Quality tea, coffee beans or hot chocolate
- A quick card or party game to play on the day
- A gourmet treat such as olive oil, honey or hot sauce
- A cozy throw, a hot water bottle or rechargeable hand warmers
- An insulated bottle or travel mug from a known brand
- A power bank or tracker
- A good notebook or a planner for the coming year
- A small kitchen gadget, a jigsaw or an adult building set
Secret Santa gifts that land
*Paid link
USAOPOLY Flip 7 party card game
This USAOPOLY game puts a colleague's love of double or nothing into a round everyone can start once the gifts are open.
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