How to Host a Summer Secret Santa (aka Christmas in July Gift Exchange)

Learn how to host a Secret Santa gift exchange in July and make the summer months special for your loved ones. Choose thoughtful presents, plan fun activities, and organize a fun reveal to make the party unforgettable.  

Christmas in July: The origins of the holiday 

Christmas in July is a tradition that has gained popularity recently. It is celebrated on 25^th of June and has all the features of the Christmas celebration. Its history began in 1933 in a girls’ camp in North Carolina. The first Christmas in July included all the elements of the traditional Christmas celebration including carols, a decorated tree, and gift exchanges.

According to another theory, it all started with a 1940 film called "Christmas in July", a comedy about a man who mistakenly believes he's won a fortune, leading to a Christmas celebration in his neighborhood. After that, retailers started using the concept of the holiday, popularizing it across the country. 

For people in the US and beyond, this holiday is the perfect reason to spend time with friends and coworkers and play the Secret Santa gift exchange, spreading the joy of giving. 

How to host your Summer Secret Santa gift exchange 

Set the date and invite players

Start planning your Christmas in July party early so that everyone can make it. Choose the time and date, and decide on the type of party you’ll have (from an ordinary mid-week gathering at home to a BBQ or beach party). Send invitations to everyone and collect RSVPs. 

Summer Secret Santa Party Invitation Template 


Subject: Ho Ho Ho! Let’s Meet for Christmas in July Party 

Hey everyone!

Get ready to chill with holly and sunshine! We're throwing a Christmas in July Secret Santa exchange to celebrate the summer season!

Join us for a festive afternoon of good cheer, delicious BBQ, Christmas-themed activities, and a Secret Santa exchange and want you to join the fun. Let's spread some cheer and beat the heat with a little gift-giving magic! 

Bring any summer-themed gift. The gift budget is $20 – let’s keep it creative, not extravagant! Wrap your gift to make it a surprise for the recipient. 

Dress Code: Summer Casual - think sundresses, shorts, and sandals. 

RSVP: Please RSVP by [Date] so we can assign Secret Santas! Reply to this email to let us know you're in.

We can't wait to see you and exchange some summery surprises!

Best,

[Your Name]

If your dear ones live far away, arrange for a remote Secret Santa exchange with them. 

Also Read:

A Step-by-Step Guide To Organizing a Secret Santa for Virtual Teams

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Choose a gift theme and set budget

For a smooth gift exchange, set a budget that will let everyone participate without financial strain. Discuss it with the group and choose a budget that works for all participants. To add creativity to your gift exchange, suggest a theme for presents, such as handmade items, summer essentials, or gag gifts. 

Establish other ground rules if necessary – for example, no personal hygiene items, or each gift should go with a card and a clue about the gift-giver. 

Draw names 

The next step is to draw names to see who gives a present to whom. You can draw names from the hat or box in an old-fashioned way. Yet, we’ve all been in situations when you draw your own name and it has to start over, or when someone loses the paper with the recipient’s name and someone is left without a gift. 

To eliminate all the unpleasant situations, use the MySanta Secret Santa organizer. With it, you can draw names in seconds, save the results of the draw, and share the gift ideas with your Santa to get a desired summer present. 

To easily create your gift exchange, follow these steps: 

1. Sign up, create a game, and invite players by email or QR code. 
2. All players share their gift preferences and write what they don’t want to get from their Santa. 
3. After everyone joins in, click on Draw names to instantly assign Santas. You can set exceptions to exclude couples or if some people in your group don’t get along well. 
4. People can talk to their giftee secretly and learn more about their preferences.  
5. The gift progress is saved, meaning that the game host can see who has bought a gift and who hasn’t, and can send reminders to avoid delays. Everything is recorded and organized, and there is no way to reveal the identity before time. 

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Use wishlists

In the MySanta app, there is an option to create wishlists and add specific items from online stores. Thus, your Santa won’t have to guess and can purchase something that will make you happy for sure! You can also explore personalized gift suggestions for the age, gender, and location of your giftee. 

Decorate the place 

To get everyone into the festive spirit, decorate the location where you plan to celebrate. Blend the Christmas and summer-inspired decorations to create a memorable atmosphere for everyone. If you celebrate at home, use festive lights to create a warm and welcoming ambiance, and decorate the tree in your backyard – your creativity is the limit! 

Christmas in July décor ideas 

1. Hang Christmas lights around trees, fences and patio umbrellas, and add some string lights with tropical shapes. Add safe lanterns for the ambiance.
2. Combine Christmas colors with tropical ones – add white, bright blue, and pink colors to the palette. 
3. Use themed tablecloths, table décor, plates, and other décor elements to set the mood. 
4. Decorate a Christmas tree with seashells, starfish, and mini sunglasses. If you don’t have a Christmas tree, decorate a potted plant. 
5. Hang colorful Christmas ornaments infused with tropical elements. 
6. Make paper snowflakes with a summer twist. Cut out palm trees, pineapples, or suns instead of regular winter shapes. 
7. Add centerpieces using seashells, sand, miniature Christmas trees, and battery-operated candles. 
8. Prepare a themed playlist and snacks, for example, fresh fruit salads, cucumber sandwiches, juice, and veggie sticks with hummus. 

Plan a fun reveal 

On the party day, all guests bring wrapped presents and put them on the table or under the Christmas tree. Players unwrap their presents and try to guess who got it for them. This is always accompanied by laughter and a lot of fun! 

You can plan riddles, puzzles, and Christmas trivia to make guessing more fun and intriguing. Here are some ideas to liven up your Secret Santa reveal: 

1. Add clues. Each player adds a note with a clue or riddle about their identity. The recipient reads the clue and guesses the giver based on it. 
2. This gift made me think of… Each Secret Santa writes three reasons why they’ve chosen this gift for the recipient. This will add an interactive element to the reveal and help people know each other better. 
3. Photo guessing reveal. Have each guest submit their baby picture or a silly photo (in Santa’s or any other costume). As the recipient unwraps their gift, display the picture of the giver so they can guess. 
4. Secret Santa with trivia. Before unwrapping their present, each guest has to answer a trivia question. If they don’t answer correctly, they get a funny punishment and only then they can get their present. 

If you believe that a competitive White Elephant gift exchange will work better for your group, here’s our guide to organizing it. 

Also Read:

White Elephant Gift Exchange Ideas & Game Rules

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Best Summer-Friendly Gift Ideas Under $20

Not sure what to give to your assigned friend or coworker? Here are the quick ideas for Summer Secret Santa gifts:

1. Reusable Water Bottle
2. Mini Portable Fan
3. Sunscreen with Fun Scent
4. Beach Towel
5. Fun Socks
6. Coconut-Scented Candles
7. Citrus-Scented Hand Lotion
8. Small Succulent
9. Gift Card to an Ice Cream Shop
10. Gourmet Gummies
11. Portable Bluetooth Speaker
12. Pair of Sunglasses
13. Waterproof Phone Case
14. Seed Packets
15. Tote Bag
16. Board Game
17. Set of Sauces
18. Gourmet Tea

Planning a Summer Secret Santa gift exchange is a great way to celebrate the joy of giving in the middle of the summer. While Christmas in July is a light-hearted holiday, you can recreate a Christmas atmosphere and enrich it with summer touches. Plan fun activities, spend time with your loved ones, and prepare personalized gifts to create lasting memories for years ahead. 

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