How to play Secret Santa with college friends?

When organizing this year’s Christmas party with friends, don’t forget to plan the Secret Santa activity. This gift-giving tradition is a guaranteed recipe for laughter, inside jokes, and memories that last for years. Plus, it is a great way to save for students on a budget, as everyone buys only one gift for the assigned friend.

Secret Santa is not for office clerks and family gatherings only. It lets everyone unleash the gift-giving genius, fosters stronger bonds with your college mates, and adds a touch of mystery (does Alison know that I am giving her a gift? She’s been talking about how much she wants that makeup palette for Christmas). In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide to planning a smooth gift exchange and ensuring that everyone gets a great personalized gift.

How to organize a killer Secret Santa with college friends?

Without further ado, here’s how to organize this year’s Secret Santa with friends:

Invite participants

For the Secret Santa exchange, you need a minimum of four people, but more is usually better. You might invite a group of your close friends, or members of your class, or mix various social circles and get together people with diverse backgrounds. Ask around ASAP so that everyone has time to discuss the details and buy presents before Christmas.

Set a gift budget

Establishing the gift amount is necessary to keep the exchange equal and avoid hurt feelings when someone gets an overly cheap gift. However, money is a sensitive subject, so make sure to discuss the budget in advance. Many students live on a budget and won’t be comfortable spending much on presents. Meet in person or schedule a FaceTime call to discuss it and ensure that the amount works for everyone.

Tip: Usually, $10 to $20 is a great budget for college friends, but the amount might be different for your group.

Draw names

Once you invited all attendees and agreed on the budget, it’s time to draw names. The most convenient way is to use the online generator, such as the MySanta app. However, you might use a hat and write names on pieces of paper if you prefer the old-school way to play.

With an online organizer, you can invite players by email and then draw names in one click. Keeping things secret is the core part of the fun, so instruct everyone NOT to tell whom they got! The results of the draw are saved, so there is no way someone forgets for whom they should buy a gift. Plus, in an online generator, everyone can add their gift wishes (e.g. a portable phone charger, blanket, fiction books, or a gift certificate).

Try our MySanta app

Create wishlists and exchange gifts with college friends this year! Set exceptions, chat with your giftee secretly, and track gifts to ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Set the game rules

The good thing about Secret Santa is that you can personalize it however you like. Moreover, some extra rules keep the gift exchange (and the party) organized and unique. For one, you can set the gift theme – everyone brings green gifts, gag gifts, Marvel-themed gifts, or gifts that start with a T letter. Next, you can encourage everyone to attach a clue to the wrapped gift to make guessing even more tricky.

Ask everyone to have their gifts ready a few days before the Christmas gathering. It will help avoid situations when someone forgets to buy a present or grabs a last-minute one.

Tip: Have a couple of small spare gifts just in case – no matter the circumstances, nobody should leave the party empty-handed!

Share hints and wishlists

Now, the trickiest and most exciting part – choosing a present for your assigned friend or college mate. If you were lucky to draw a close friend, you probably know what they want. If not, rely on gift suggestions that the person wrote on paper next to their name or in the online generator. Try to learn more about the person casually, or use the anonymous chat in the Secret Santa generator. Encourage everyone to create wishlists – it will save time for each player!

If you don’t know the person well, make sure they will appreciate any gift and the effort you put in. Think out of the box and try to make the gift as personalized as possible. Christmas is all about giving, and preparing a good gift lets you appreciate this tradition.

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Plan the fun reveal

Encourage everyone to bring a wrapped gift with a recipient’s name on it to the party and let the fun reveal begin! Each player unwraps their gift and guesses who got it, which is accompanied by bursts of laughter and creates new inside jokes. To sparkle up the big reveal, combine the Secret Santa with Christmas Trivia questions or clues. Spread the holiday cheer while keeping the suspense high!

Here are some ideas to make a reveal hilarious:

• Set the holiday theme. Encourage everyone to wear Winter Wonderland costumes, the 80’s outfits, or ugly sweaters (nothing can beat the classics).
• Add clues to the gift. Everyone should solve a puzzle, a riddle, or answer trivia questions before unwrapping the gift. Such challenges work great for a small group of friends.
• Plan more activities and games. Unwrapping presents is the core activity, but you might want to plan a movie night, fun contests, and group activities to keep everyone entertained.
• Capture the moment! Take pictures of your group, including the most awkward moments and surprised faces as your friends stare at their gifts. Create memories that last!

Plan the gift exchange day in advance so that everyone has free time to get together and celebrate. Christmas holidays are hectic, and it will be a pity if someone cannot make it.

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What to give a college friend for Secret Santa

Picking a perfect present is easier when you got a close friend. If you have no idea what to give (or the person didn’t provide hints), use it as an opportunity to bring a super helpful or, on the contrary, fun and ridiculous gift. Or, use our gift ideas that most college students will appreciate:

Gift ideas for students

When choosing a gift for a college mate, consider their interests and wishes. A personalized present can strengthen your friendship and bring positive emotions for the next year.

Playing Secret Santa with friends remotely

If you cannot meet in one location for Christmas, organize a virtual gift exchange! With an online Secret Santa organizer, you can exchange gifts with people living in different states and continents.

Here’s how to set up your virtual exchange:

1. Create a virtual Secret Santa game in the MySanta app and invite players by email. Each participant will need to add their mailing address.
2. Encourage everyone to fill out wishlists and share gift ideas. When you cannot meet in person, it is harder to guess what the person wants for Christmas. With a wishlist, you won’t have to guess and can simply buy what your friend wants.
3. Draw names to find out who gives to whom. Everyone sends presents to the recipient in advance so that there are no delays in delivery.
4. Plan a video call to meet online, celebrate the holiday, and unwrap the gifts! Thus, you can share joy and laughter even in the distance. Plan some virtual activities (such as Christmas Trivia, Never Have I Ever, or holiday bingo to have a great time together.

Playing a Secret Santa will help you chill out and have a good time after the exhausting finals, part-time jobs, and other difficulties of student life, and the great memories will last long after the semester ends. Plus, a heartwarming exchange will help you show appreciation for your friends and strengthen bonds while celebrating the holiday season.

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