Besides the Advent calendar, the mistletoe and polishing boots on St Nicholas Day, there are countless customs and traditions surrounding Christmas. One of them is Secret Santa. This ritual, which originated in Scandinavia, has now also become common practice here. But what exactly is Secret Santa and what kinds of gifts can be given, and to whom? These and other questions are answered in this article.
Table of contents:
2. How does Secret Santa work?
3. What taboos are there?
4. How do I find a suitable Secret Santa gift?
5. Conclusion
What does Secret Santa mean?
Why is it called Secret Santa? A Christmas elf is an old Nordic mythical figure who secretly does good deeds during the Christmas season or occasionally plays little tricks. In its country of origin, this Swedish tradition is known as “Julklapp” and takes place from the first of December until Christmas. Julklapp is made up of the word “Jul”, meaning gift, and “klapp”, meaning knock. Even today, the Secret Santa traditionally throws the gift at their partner's door, knocks on it and then has to sneak away quickly so that their identity remains unknown. In the old traditional Julklapp custom, however, the small presents are only handed over on Christmas Eve.
Secret Santa is less about material value and more about originality. That shows mutual appreciation.
How does Secret Santa work?
There are now various types of Secret Santa, such as white elephant, dice game Secret Santa or steal-a-gift Secret Santa. Traditionally, however, it is done anonymously in a group. The names are then drawn at random from a hat or something similar.
The only thing to watch out for is that participants do not draw their own names. An app that selects the partners by random draw can also help here. Secret Santa is especially popular among work colleagues and friends. The advantage is that everyone only has to buy one gift and can therefore put more thought into the person receiving it. This helps you get to know each other even better. Secret Santa within a team or company can also strengthen the sense of togetherness.
However, there are also rules that need to be observed:
What taboos are there?
As simple, lovely and nice as Secret Santa sounds, it also comes with a few risks. To avoid bad vibes, arguments and awkward missteps, there are some gift taboos that should be observed. If, in the office Secret Santa draw, you end up with a colleague whose preferences you do not know, you can either retreat to an alibi gift (think bath salts, a tea blend or a candle holder – the internationally recognised declarations of bankruptcy among Secret Santa gifts) or simply despair.
Another pitfall is gifts that are meant to be funny. They are by far the biggest and most important taboo in the Secret Santa universe. Because what is meant as a joke can go terribly wrong. A few examples: a hip flask for the (supposedly) anonymous alcoholic, a slimming cookbook for someone overweight, or a free membership to a dating site for the newly divorced. Especially at Christmas, feelings should be handled with kid gloves. As a general rule, alcohol, anything offensive or anything too personal has no place in a Secret Santa gift bag. Toiletries or organisational aids should also be avoided – things like that can easily be taken the wrong way. Gifts that far exceed the agreed limit (usually 5 or 10 €) are absolutely inappropriate.
How do I find a suitable Secret Santa gift?
So what should you do? After the draw, you only have a few days or, at best, a few weeks to find out more about the person you are buying for. Falling back on clichéd assumptions now would be madness. Just because the colleague from accounting is a woman does not mean she would be pleased with kitchen utensils. Just because the colleague from technical support is technically minded does not mean he needs a brightly coloured glowing screwdriver.
This calls for creativity – and a few James Bond qualities. For example, it certainly does no harm to pay a little more attention than usual to the person receiving the gift for a few days. “Aha!”, he mentions by the coffee machine that he really does not like the office coffee and has an original branded coffee machine from the sixties at home. A coffee gourmet! That is just as useful a clue as the desk neighbour casually mentioning that the colleague is leaving work an hour early the next day because she wants to go to a David Garrett concert.
The more personal and original the present, the better – because gifts show appreciation. Sometimes it is that little extra thought that turns a small gift into something special. For example, when a colleague does not feel particularly appreciated anyway and then receives a very personal and carefully chosen gift. Which brings us to another point: homemade gifts, whether it is a tin of biscuits, a cake or a photo book about one of the colleague’s passions, are always better than something carelessly bought.
So it does no harm to keep your ears to the ground and your eyes open, especially as a Secret Santa. Keep an eye on your colleagues during working hours while they sit on their chairs. And for anyone who still hasn’t managed to uncover any new information this way, here is a list of ideas for your Secret Santa gift.
DIY gifts
- Cookie mix in a jar (put together yourself)
- Something handmade or hand-knitted
- Homemade chocolates or colourful chocolate bark
- Homemade jewellery
- Solid hand soap
- Preserves such as jam, syrup or pesto
- Home baking such as biscuits or cake
- Handmade Advent calendar (can be filled with different teas, tool parts, etc., depending on the recipient’s preferences)
Secret Santa gifts under €15
- Wireless phone charger (find out beforehand whether your colleague’s phone supports it)
- A mug warmer for anyone who tends to forget their coffee or tea
- USB fan
- A personalised mug for the office
- Tea bag organiser box (for tea drinkers)
- Plant a tree: “Plant For The Planet” (a campaign worth supporting)
- Hot water bottle with a wintry cover design (for those who feel the cold)
- Advent calendar
- Custom muesli (various online providers mix your chosen blend)
For a bigger budget
If you have a bigger budget, a group gift is a great option. How about a new office chair for ergonomic working, for example?
Conclusion
Secret Santa is a well-established tradition in many offices. It is actually a good idea: if everyone gives and receives a gift, colleagues who are closer to each other do not end up in the awkward position of having to secretly exchange presents behind someone else’s back. The logic is easy to follow: if some people get something and others do not, it leaves those who were left out with an unpleasant feeling at Christmas.
And if we are honest, who doesn’t appreciate a little something that shows appreciation and creates a calm, festive atmosphere? So don’t hesitate any longer and let the Christmas elf work its magic in your office too.
With that in mind, we wish you a peaceful and reflective run-up to Christmas!