Secret Santa: Rules, Variations and Gift Ideas for Your Group

Every November the same question pops up in the group chat: "Shall we do Secret Santa again this year?" The answer is usually yes, because it saves money, stress and endless wish lists. Instead of everyone buying for everyone, each person gets exactly one present. To keep it from descending into chaos, here are the rules, the most popular variations and a few ideas that work in almost any group. In German-speaking countries this is called Wichteln, by the way, which is why you'll see that word now and then.

Secret Santa rules: how the classic version works

1. Gather your players. From around four people it gets fun, and there's no upper limit.
2. Set a budget. One fixed amount for everyone, say €10 or €15. This is the most important rule, otherwise a packet of tissues ends up next to a pair of headphones.
3. Draw names. All names go into a hat and everyone takes one. Draw yourself, put it back and try again. If you're not in the same place, use an app or website that assigns names at random.
4. Keep it secret. Nobody reveals who they've got. That's half the fun.
5. The big reveal. On the agreed day, everyone hands over their gift, ideally with a round of guessing who bought for whom.

Variations: from junk swaps to online Secret Santa

Classic Secret Santa

As above: draw a name and choose something specifically for that person. Ideal when the group knows each other, such as family or close friends.

The junk swap (Schrottwichteln)

In a junk swap, everyone brings something from home that nobody wants any more: the vase from Aunt Erika, a CD from 2004, the egg boiler with a loose connection. Nothing gets bought, it's all about the laughs. There's just one rule: broken things and actual rubbish stay at home. It's similar to what some people call a White Elephant swap.

The dice game

A popular version for parties and offices: everyone brings a wrapped present and they all go in the middle. In round one you take turns rolling a die, and whoever rolls a six takes a parcel. Once they're all gone, round two runs against the clock, often with a kitchen timer: roll a six and you can steal a parcel from someone, roll a one and parcels get swapped. Whatever you're holding when the timer rings is yours. Each group sets its own exact rules, and it works with bought gifts just as well as with a junk swap.

Julklapp

Julklapp is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition in which presents are handed over anonymously. In Germany, especially in the north, the word is often used simply as another name for Secret Santa.

Online Secret Santa

Here everything happens online: names are drawn by an app, wish lists are shared digitally, and presents are posted straight to the recipient. Handy for families spread across the country or for teams working from home.

Budget tips

• Don't set the limit too low. At €5 it quickly turns into chocolate. From €10 the choice gets much wider.
• Stick to the limit. Going well over is just as awkward as going well under.
• Bundle your circles. If you're doing Secret Santa at work, with family and with friends, buy everything in one go. With Mix & Match you get 5 products for €50, which works out at €10 per gift.

Secret Santa ideas that work for any group

A good Secret Santa gift is neutral enough for someone you barely know and useful enough that it doesn't get passed on next year.

• Good chocolate or homemade biscuits.
• A mug or a travel cup.
• A card game or a puzzle book.
• Solid soap or solid shampoo from a small maker.
• A Soapi for €12.95: this magnetic soap holder keeps the bar on the wall. A bottle cap is pressed into the soap, the magnet holds it, the soap dries all the way round and the sink stays clean. It sticks on tiles or glass without drilling. Since 2023 it has been stocked in more than 250 shops, and over 1,600 reviews give it an average of 4.88 out of 5 stars.
• A magnetic key holder for €11.95: sticks on next to the door without drilling and holds even heavy bunches of keys.

In a hurry? With Mix & Match you can combine Soapis, key holders and soaps freely. For more ideas sorted by budget, from €5 to €20, read our article on Secret Santa gifts under €15.

Secret Santa FAQ

How much should you spend on Secret Santa?

Anything from €5 to €20 is common, with €10 or €15 the most popular. What matters is that everyone knows the same figure.

What's the difference between Secret Santa and a junk swap?

In classic Secret Santa you buy a present for one specific person. In a junk swap you bring something unloved from home, and gifts are usually rolled for or swapped.

Can you do Secret Santa online?

Yes. Apps and websites draw the names and manage wish lists, and the presents are sent by post.

The bottom line: clear rules, good gifts

Set a budget, draw names, pick a variation: that's all a good Secret Santa needs. For the gifts themselves, Mix & Match is worth a look if you're covering several groups at once. And if you're also thinking about little things for the office, find ideas in small Christmas gifts for colleagues.