The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!
Whether it’s with our families or our work colleagues, Secret Santa is great for making us stop for a moment and cherish those around us. It’s a time for reflection in the colder seasons and a chance for teams to show some love to one another.
So today’s article puts a spin on traditional Secret Santa with fresh new ideas and games. Take a load off and get into our list!
What fun spins do people put on Secret Santa?
Everyone loves a session of Secret Santa. There’s something so special about exchanging gifts with people we care about, showing them appreciation for everything they’ve done over the past year.
So why stick to the usual? Have you ever tried Secret Santa with an auction system in the mix? How about pairing people up and gifting vouchers for outdoor activities, prioritizing quality time over material items?
Well, our list is chock-full of fun variations and ideas to use in Secret Santa. We’ve even got ideas for virtual teams too, so every base is covered. Try out a few of our activities to ensure your holiday season is filled with heartfelt exchanges and hilarious group challenges.
21 Secret Santa games and ideas
Fun variations on Secret Santa
Our first set of games and activities focuses on fun twists to the classic Secret Santa setup. Try these out for maximum carnage at Christmas time:
1. The “Yankee Swap” or While Elephant
Our first recommendation puts a small and slightly naughty spin on Secret Santa. Some call it “Yankee Swap” or “White Elephant” Secret Santa, and it lets people steal an already-opened gift from someone. Put all secret gifts into one pile, and have everyone randomly draw a number to determine the opening order. Add a rule where each gift can only be “stolen” a set number of times (2 is common, meaning the third gift-holder keeps it). When the turns have ended, some people play with a rule where the first player is allowed to, if they want, swap their gift with someone else. This game’s a solid choice for hilarious results and friendly rivalries (though it might bring out someone’s inner Grinch!)
2. Hot potato Santa with mitts
You might call this variation by a different name depending on where you are in the world. Turn Secret Santa into a fast-paced game of chance (while players look a bit silly!). Instead of allocating partners in the build-up to giving out gifts, each person buys a gift and places it into the pile. Have everyone sit in a circle, and while Christmas music plays, they pass the parcel to the person on their left. When the music stops, they unwrap one layer. The twist on this game is that everyone must wear clumsy oven mitts (or even boxing gloves) to make the unwrapping process comically difficult. Wrap each present in multiple layers of gift wrap, don’t stop at just one layer (wrap it a good 5 or 6 times). See who’s the king of unwrapping while their hands are bound up in Auntie Edna’s oven mitts!
3. Santa’s casino
Add some high-rolling excitement to Secret Santa with a mock casino system. Each participant needs to bring a $10 gift and a $5 contribution to the group’s jackpot bundle. Get the gifts rounded up onto a winning table. You can designate some options for them to choose from, like:
- Option A: Pick any gift from the table.
- Option B: Enter their name into a hat to win the jackpot prize.
- Option C: Enter their name in a separate hat to win any leftover gifts.
It’s all in the luck of the draw for this one. Make it a high-stakes celebration this holiday. Going once... Going twice!...
4. Dice spins
Add another element of chance by rolling a dice into your Secret Santa. Use a six-sided dice to determine the order of giving gifts to people at random. Or, put your own spin on it by assigning actions to each number. As an example:
- Pick a gift from the table
- Swap your gift with someone else
- Unwrap a gift
- Choose two people who have to swap gifts
- Steal an unwrapped gift
- Skip a turn
A little unpredictability keeps everyone on their toes and injects a bit of excitement into the party. This could be great for new employees, filled with welcome gifts for the holiday season. Roll on good times!
5. Pirate Santa
Put a swashbuckling twist on the classic gift exchange that is Secret Santa. Each person draws numbers to sort the order of play, but there’s a catch. Each person can “plunder” an unwrapped gift from another player, or take a new treasured gift from the table. To keep things fun, stick a limit on the number of times a gift can be stolen before it’s locked in with its owner. Glam up a little bit with pirate hats and eye patches. Who says you can’t pay homage to the Pirates of the High Sea at Christmas? This is a jolly good way to spread holiday cheer in the office!
6. Gifts on a string
Here’s an unusual take on mystery gift-giving. Turn the gift exchange into a tug-of-fun! Set up a circular area filled with boxes, each tied to a string that feeds through a central tube. Each person takes turns selecting a string and slowly pulling it to see which one moves toward them. They receive the goodies inside once the pulling has stopped. Gifts can range from treasures like gift cards and vouchers to fun little surprises like marshmallows (which we’ll unfortunately label as “snowman poop”). Reset the boxes after each round, and don’t hold back on giving goodies like baked treats, chocolates, and body lotions. Everyone’s a winner!
7. Adventure awaits
Why not shake things up a bit this Christmas? Instead of gifts, people pair up to take their partner on a mystery activity. Each participant writes down a fun social activity they’ll do with whoever they’re paired with. Use activities like bowling, cinema excursions, or even a hike if they’re up for the challenge. Show some employee appreciation and endorse them with vouchers to make the outing more memorable. This one’s perfect for creating deeper connections and getting people to try something new.
Add a twist with fun themes
Having one unifying theme for your Secret Santa get-together can help generate ideas for gifts and bring a refreshing change to the office space. Try these out during a Christmas spirit week:
8. All-in-one color gifts
When the whole Secret Santa procession has one overall color scheme, everyone can glam up their outfits and get creative with their gifts. Decorate the office space in your chosen colorway and ask everyone to get with the color on the day you swap gifts. You also want your teams to focus on their gifts being the same color as the theme, (think wintery desk plants or matcha boxes for a green colorway, old shiny and glittery notebooks for a golden theme). Invite a photographer to capture the day’s moments and you’ll be looking glamorous this festive season.
9. Delightful DIY gifts
How about some gifts with a personal touch this Christmas? Swapping DIY presents is usually hilarious and heartfelt at the same time. Homemade mince-pies are always a good shout, or supply your teams with kits for handmade candles or soap for some Christmas pampering. Some other ideas for DIY gifts could be calendars adorned with positive affirmations. The thing with homemade gifts is that they’re made with love, no matter their imperfections (which some say is what makes them perfect in the first place).
10. Pop culture presents
A Secret Santa session filled with gifts celebrating pop culture brings lots of fun through Christmas. Ask everyone to find a present tied to modern-day pop culture for a barrel of laughs and conversation starters. You could even turn the workspace into a mini-Hollywood and ask people to dress up as their favorite movie stars. Secret Santa infused with homages to popular culture can make a Christmas unforgettable as staff geek out over hilarious gift choices.
Secret Santa with challenges
Secret Santa is a great way to show gratitude at the end of the year, but why not put a little bit of a challenge into the mix and let your teams rise to the occasion? Here are some activities for Secret Santa games to spice up the Christmas work party:
11. Budget busters
We understand that Christmas can be one of the most expensive times of the year for most people. Add a challenge that encourages resourcefulness and frugal spending on a small budget. Gifts have never been solely about their market value, it’s the thought that goes into them that counts. A $5 or $10 cap on spending will have your teams searching for out-of-the-box ideas like handmade crafts or thrift store finds. Create a separate fund or donation box that gets given to charity and you’re in for a more wholesome Christmas this year.
12. Re-gift it!
Leading on from our budget-busting challenge, try putting a spin on Secret Santa with a re-gifting challenge. Encourage everyone to wrap up something from home that they no longer use or need. Re-gifting works best when you know the giftee will get some use out of the gift. Unopened candles and old DVD boxsets are encouraged, or perhaps even that sweater that never quite fit. The fun comes from seeing how creative (or bizarre) re-purposed gifts can get. This one’s guaranteed to bring out plenty of chuckles in your teams.
13. Pun-derful presents
Bring a few moans and some witty wordplay to your Secret Santa with pun-tastic gifts! Set a challenge for each present including a clever pun, either as a part of the gift itself or on the tagging. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- A jar of honey with a note: “You’re the bee’s knees!”
- A pack of mints with: “You’re mint to be my Secret Santa!”
- A toy fish wrapped with: “You’re o-fish-ally the best!”
- A bag of coffee beans saying: “I like you a latte!”
Guaranteed groans, giggles, and a pun-derful time for all, it is the season!
14. Bags of deception
Sometimes the best things come in small packages, and sometimes the packaging throws you off completely! Create a “bags of deception” challenge for your teams, where everyone brings a gift wrapped in an unusual or deceiving shape. Think along the lines of a football-shaped package with a retro '90s CD inside, or a Russian doll parcel that has a gift nestled inside progressively larger boxes. Just don’t get any ideas of wrapping up a puppy for the office!
Virtual options
The holiday season for remote employees is something that should be cherished together. Who says Secret Santa can only be in person? Our next activities celebrate remote teams, spreading holiday cheer and keeping people connected, no matter the distance:
15. Messages from celebs
Make your virtual Secret Santa star-studded with a personalized video from a celebrity. There are lots of video platforms to choose from, like Cameo and Rivet. These sites let you pay for a short, customized shoutout to the receiver, creating a one-of-a-kind experience over the holidays. Hollywood stars, sports personalities, and influencers add a unique touch to a heartfelt holiday greeting. Get your remote employees a thoughtful Cameo message as part of their end-of-year celebration. Shout out all of their recent hard work, and give cheers to the year ahead!
16. Gifting subscriptions
In today’s digital age, most people have a subscription they enjoy during their downtime. Make a Secret Santa exchange focused on gifting subscriptions to much-loved apps this holiday. This activity can encourage your teams to start thinking about new apps and subscription programs they can try out themselves. Most people know of and use Netflix and Spotify, but how about meditation and wellness apps like Headspace for personal growth? Gifting out subscription vouchers is a great way to show gratitude to your teams. It’s also a practical gift that helps people financially and can be enjoyed long after the holidays are over.
17. Tickets to virtual events
Another great option for remote gifting among your teams is tickets to a virtual event. Many music concerts are now fully streamed in high quality for remote attendees. Comedy shows and cooking classes are another great package to gift out, there’s something to suit every taste and preference. It makes the gift exchange interactive and engaging, and could even be done as one virtual event for all of your teams to attend together. Virtual events show thoughtfulness and appreciation for your remote staff, so try them out as a gift this Christmas!
Gift ideas for Secret Santa
Stuck for specific gift ideas for your company's Secret Santa? Well, you can’t go wrong with any of our choices below. Try unpacking these gifts during your company holiday party:
18. Caffeine swap
If there’s one thing that always goes down a treat in the office, it’s a fine cup of morning coffee for the energy we need. Pair people up and celebrate everyone’s favorite pick-me-up (tea is also a solid choice!). Have pairs swap unique blends of their favorite hot drink, encouraging their drinking buddy to try out something new this season. By the way, our current go-to is Vietnamese coconut coffee, and we encourage you all to try it!
19. Profile picture mugs
How about pairing up a caffeine swap with hilarious custom mugs with a person’s face printed on them? You might have great professional headshot photos or some funny candid ones, any photo counts when exchanging profile picture mugs at Christmas. Packaged together with Secret Santa drinks, this is a practical and personal way to spark smiles during Monday meetings. It’s also a solid way to make everyone feel seen (literally!).
20. Travel inspo
Christmas is one of the busiest times of travel for many people, so give them something that inspires an adventure (or just a trip to the nearest beach!). For a colleague who’s always dreaming of their next adventure, a travel-themed Secret Santa gift is a sure winner. The Lonely Planet series is a great place to spark some jet-setting desires. It even tailors suggestions by budget, family-friendliness, and splurge-worthy experiences. Ignite some wanderlust for the holiday season!
21. Cookie exchange
Our final recommendation is an office favorite. Cookies have a long and deep history with Christmas, originally being a European practice of leaving treats for travelers. If you have kitchen masters in your teams, encourage them to bake their own batches. Alternatively, prepare some kits complete with decorative tins and festive wrapping for the sweetest exchange ever! Long live the holidays!
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