Every year, usually in an office setting, millions of people get together to take part in the Secret Santa gift exchange. This game is perfectly suited to an office environment, and it is rare that a workplace does not participate in it. Secret Santa replaces the hum drum of regular gift giving. Also, it is more cost effective, especially if you work in a large office where buying everyone a gift could cost you hundreds of dollars, and you may not even like everyone you have to buy for.
The concept of Secret Santa is very simple. You have a group of people who have picked a name out of a hat. Each person must then buy a gift for the person they drew, without telling them who the gift is from. This can take the form of small multiple gifts rather the just one gift. Buying gifts at a dollar store is a good option. Then you can leave small gifts everyday for the person to find. They will be surprised and will try to guess who is sending them the gifts.
Another variation is that all the items are all parts of a larger gift, or that they are all gifts that follow the same theme. They can be clues to a final larger gift as well.
It is very popular in a work setting because it ensures that no one is under pressure to get a big gift, or worry that it won't be liked, because no one knows who bought what and there is usually a limit on the price of a gift.
While it is called Secret Santa in Canada, the United States and Britain, it goes by other names in other countries. In Australia and New Zealand, it is Kris Kindle. In Brazil, it is Amigo Secreto, and in other Latin American countries it is Amigo Invisible.
Of course, with any popular traditions, there are some variations of it. There is the Thieving Secret Santa, or Yankee Swap, in which gifts are wrapped to disguise their identity. Then someone will choose a gift, and the next person can either steal that gift or choose a new one. This is very popular in offices and can create some intense competition and strategy.
Stolen Santa is like Secret Santa, except the gifts are often stolen or illegally attained. In an office setting, participants will steal office supplies from the workplace to add humor to the entire event.
Sometimes, to prevent problems with inappropriate gifts, there will be a referee who has the knowledge of who is giving what to whom, allowing them to make sure that nothing that could cause a sexual harassment case.
Secret Santa is a fun way to get any Christmas party going. You can have fun with the gifts given, depending on the message they send, and it is a rare case where someone does not enjoy themselves. If you are bored with the usual Secret Santa, then try a variation like Yankee Swap. This will give the entire event a much needed kick of pizzaz and it will make the exchange a huge hit in the office.
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