How to organise a Secret Santa

Decide who's taking part

Secret Santa works with three people or more, and gets more fun from about six. Keep it to one circle that will be at the same party, or that can send gifts to each other: one team, one family, one group of friends.

If some people are couples or share a home, decide now whether they may draw each other. Most groups say no, so nobody buys a gift for their own household.

Agree on a budget

Pick a range rather than a single number, for example 50 to 100 RON or 15 to 25 EUR, and always say the currency. A range gives Santas room without anyone feeling they spent too much or too little.

Choose an amount the least comfortable person in the group can easily afford. Nobody should have to ask for a lower budget.

Set the dates

• The party: when the gifts change hands, in person or on a video call.
• A deadline for wishlists or anything else people fill in, a week or two before the party.
• The draw: as soon as everyone has joined and filled in their part. An early draw means more time to shop and less stress.

Choose the rules

The classic version is one name and an optional wishlist. If your group has done that for years, try a twist: every gift in one colour, or a small challenge each person sets for their Santa. You can also let the group vote on it.

Draw the names in secret

The draw is where many Secret Santas go wrong. Names from a hat need everyone in one room, and an organiser who draws for everyone knows all the pairs. An online draw solves both: each person sees only their own name, and nobody else, the organiser included, sees the rest.

Before the draw, list any pairs who must not draw each other, and decide whether people may get the same person as last year.

Remind, then shop

Nudge the people who haven't filled in their part yet. A friendly reminder a few days before the deadline works better than one on the day. After the draw, give everyone a few weeks to shop.

The reveal

At the party, put the gifts together, open them one at a time and let people guess who their Santa was before you reveal it. That moment is the best part, so keep the secret until then.

With Secret Santa Twist

1. Sign in with Google and create a group for your friends, family or team.
2. Share the invite link in your group chat. People join with their Google account.
3. Create this year's event: a name, a budget range and currency, the party date and an optional deadline. Pick the twist yourself, or let the group vote.
4. In the group settings, add pairs who must never draw each other. On the event, tick "Avoid last year's pairs" if you like.
5. Start the event once at least three people have joined. Send a reminder from the app to anyone who still has to vote or fill in their part.
6. Run the draw. Each Santa sees their person in the app, and everyone gets an e-mail saying the draw is done. Nobody else can see who drew whom.
7. At the party, start the reveal. Everyone taking part approves it in the app, and once a majority have (or the number you set), everyone sees who was whose Santa.