How To Organize Secret Santa for Small Work Teams
Playing Secret Santa is a great way to celebrate the holiday season at work and exchange thoughtful gifts with coworkers. In this guide, we will explain how to make the gift exchange fun even for a small group of people, and how to ensure that everyone gets a present.
The Secret Santa exchange is a popular workplace tradition. People exchange gifts anonymously, which adds a touch of mystery to the traditional gift-giving. The best part is that Secret Santa works even for small groups and you can save on Christmas gifts for coworkers.
The Secret Santa rules for a small group
With a gift exchange, everyone can purchase a thoughtful present for a coworker and save money. For the Secret Santa gift exchange, you need a minimum of 3 participants. Here is how the exchange works.
Step 1. Set the price limit and deadline
Set a gift budget (for example, $20 is a good budget for coworkers). Encourage everyone to bring presents of the suggested value to keep the exchange equal. You can also choose a theme, such as tech gifts, homemade presents, or something green. Set the date when everyone should buy their gifts.
Step 2. Draw names to see who gives to whom
Draw names randomly to determine who gets a present for whom. You can use the old-fashioned way and draw pieces of paper with everyone’s names from the box. Today, there are also plenty of online Secret Santa generators that can draw names online and save the result of the draw. Plus, in an online generator, you can set exceptions.
Step 3. Write gift suggestions
If you draw names from the hat, ask everyone to write a gift idea next to their names, so that the Secret Santa knows what to buy. In the MySanta online generator, you can also write gift suggestions and even create personalized wishlists to get exactly what you want for Christmas.
Step 4. Plan the gift exchange party
Organize a small office party to exchange presents and celebrate the festive season together. Everyone brings their gift to the office secretly to avoid spoiling the fun. Make sure to incorporate fun games and team-building activities to make the celebration memorable.
Step 5. Guess your Secret Santa
Guessing your Secret Santa is half of the fun! Each participant unwraps their gift and guesses their gift-giver. Since in a small group it is easier to guess, use riddles and clues to make it more challenging and fun for everyone!
What are the alternatives to Secret Santa for a small group?
If you want to add a unique twist to your gift exchange, do the White Elephant. This gift exchange prioritizes humorous and ridiculous gifts. Plus, you don’t buy a personalized present for one person. All players buy presents of similar value and steal the best presents from each other. Read the rules and how to organize the White Elephant exchange below.
Secret Santa gift ideas for coworkers
When organizing a Secret Santa in your small office, you can choose a personalized present as you probably know the person you’ll be giving to quite well. Yet, if you feel stuck, use the ideas below for inspiration.
| Gifts for coworkers under $20 | Creative gifts |
|---|---|
| 1. Tea gift set | 11. Coloring books |
| 2. Wireless phone charger | 12. Essential oils |
| 3. Scented candles | 13. Wine gift box |
| 4. A box of chocolates | 14. Ugly Christmas sweater |
| 5. Noise-cancelling earbuds | 15. Moon lamp |
| 6. Water bottle | 16. Personalized coffee mug |
| 7. Daily planner | 17. Mindfulness app subscription |
| 8. Warm gloves | 18. Smartphone projector |
| 9. Bluetooth speaker | 19. USB mug warmer |
| 10. Humidifier | 20. Travel set for flying |
Tips to organize a perfect Secret Santa gift exchange at work
Plan early
Invite coworkers to play Secret Santa a month or two before Christmas. Thus, everyone will have plenty of time to choose gifts and prepare for the festivities.
Learn more about your giftee
The best Secret Santa gifts are personalized to meet the giftee’s interests and wishes. If the giftee has shared gift suggestions, make sure to follow them. Yet, these suggestions can be vague (for example, the person wrote that they want something nice for the office or a good novel).
In the MySanta app, you can use anonymous chats and learn more about your giftee’s interests and preferences without revealing yourself. Plus, each participant can add items to their wishlist, so you can simply buy something the person will like for sure.
Plan more activities and games
If you have only 5 or 7 people in your office, everyone will guess their Secret Santa quickly. So, plan more activities to keep everyone entertained the entire evening. Run the office decoration contest, decorate gingerbread houses, set up a selfie location, or watch a holiday movie. Plan the team building activities so that the team not only has a good time together but also bond with each other.
Team-building activities for a small team
- Office decorating contest – compete in small teams and decorate the place for the holiday.
- Holiday Who Am I – this holiday variation of the popular game works as a great icebreaker.
- Christmas Trivia – a simple and fun activity for teams of any size.
- Scavenger hunt – hide clues in the office and fuel a competitive spirit.
- Movie night – for coworkers who want to chill out and relax.
- Wine tasting – add a touch of sophistication to your office Christmas celebration.
Choose a gift theme
To make the gift exchange more fun, set a gift theme and ask all participants to follow it. For example, you can bring homemade gifts, tech presents, Harry Potter-themed gifts, or gifts that start with a C letter.
Prepare work-appropriate gifts
Pick a professional gift that will not confuse your coworker in a workplace setting or you’re your relationship tense. The etiquette suggests avoiding personal gifts such as perfume, underwear, personal care products, or healthcare items. It’s best not to give religious gifts as well.
Have a couple of spare gifts at hand
Prepare a few spare gifts in case something forgets to bring their present to the office. Thus, you'll make sure that nobody leaves the party empty-handed and the celebration will not be ruined. These can be gift certificates, mugs, yearly planners, and similar practical gifts.
The Secret Santa exchange can bring the team together, improve morale, and let everyone have fun and unwind with coworkers. With the above recommendations, you'll encourage everyone to prepare personalized gifts and share the joy of giving.
FAQs
Can you do a Secret Santa for a group of 5 people?
For the Secret Santa gift exchange, you need a minimum of 3 players. So, the game will work perfectly with five participants. Moreover, with a few players, the exchange can be more personalized and intimate. You can play with odd or even number of players, and the MySanta app will draw names for you in a few clicks.
How to make Secret Santa fun for a small group?
To make Secret Santa fun for a small group of coworkers, use creative gift themes, for example, homemade gifts, 80's style gifts, funny items, or travel souvenirs. Encourage the participant add clues to gifts to make the giftee solve a puzzle or a riddle to guess who their Secret Santa is. It will create a lively dynamic even with few players.
Can you exchange gifts virtually?
If your small team has remote employees, you can exchange presents by mail or send digital gifts like gift cards, online subscriptions, or downloadable items. If you choose to mail gifts, send them early so that everyone receive their presents before Christmas. Organize a video call when everyone can open their presents together and share joy of a real-time reveal.
How can we keep the identity of each Secret Santa a mystery in a small team?
In a small team when people communicate with each other a lot it is more challenging to keep the mystery until the exchange date. Explain the importance of keeping their identity secret and use the online generator to avoid revealing who gives a present to whom.
What is the appropriate budget for the Secret Santa exchange?
The Secret Santa budget for work usually ranges from $10 to $30, depending on how much your team is willing to spend. Make sure that the budget is comfortable for everyone to encourage participation without overspending. Set the budget in advance to keep the exchange equal.
