Things You'll Need:
- Instructions
- White office labels
- Boxes
- Wrapping paper
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Step 1
Set a gift price limit, such as $10 or $20. Your amount needs to be low enough that as many people can take part as possible.
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Step 2
Set your date. Choose a day which will be well attended. In a work place, many people take time off around the holidays, so perhaps a week before Christmas will suit your Santas. For a club, choose your last meeting before the holidays and for family, choose a day which everyone is able to attend, perhaps a Sunday afternoon over the holidays.
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Step 3
One month before your Secret Santa, create an invitation to participate. Your invitation should set out price limits as well as the day names will be drawn from the hat and the day of the actual exchange. It's a good idea to remind them that this is an anonymous gift exchange in your invite to keep an air of mystery!
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Step 4
Attach a white label, still on its backing sheet, to each invitation. Ask your participants to write their name on the label itself. On the back of the label, ask them to write down three suggestions for presents. This will help their Santa buy with ease and will ensure they get a gift they will enjoy. Particularly in large groups where people don't know each other too well, this is a lifesaver.
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Step 5
Using old Christmas wrapping paper, decorate a box(es) large enough to hold your participants' gifts. In an office, this box should be placed out of the way, so the gift giving can be truly anonymous.
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Step 6
On the day for the drawing of names, ask all participants to place their white label (including its backing sheet) in a bag, sack, Santa hat or even a bucket. Once they're all in, ask each person to draw a name. Remind them that if they draw their own to place it back in and draw again.
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Step 7
It helps to keep track of who is taking part in the exchange so take note of how many people are participating and make a list of names.
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Step 8
While you have your group gathered, explain the rules of the gift exchange, including what day presents need to be in by, where they should be placed, the time and day of the exchange and price limits. Remind them that the label they have selected will act as their gift tag and it should not be misplaced!
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Step 9
A week before your exchange, it's helpful to send out a reminder email or letter.
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Step 10
On the morning of the exchange, compare your list of names with the contents of your gift receptacle. If any presents are missing, telephone or email all involved to let them know who doesn't have a present in the box. The last thing you want is someone to be left out on the exchange day.
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Step 11
Once all your gifts are gathered, you're ready for the exchange! How you do this will depend on the size of your group. Some people prefer to display all of the wrapped gifts on a table, while others prefer to have someone in charge of handing out gifts.
