The history of the Secret Santa tradition (and how to play today)
Many people play Secret Santa during holidays, but have you ever wondered where did this tradition come from? Today, we will explore the origins of Secret Santa and how the tradition evolved until today (Spoiler: it might be older than you think!).
‘Tis the season, and people play Secret Santa at workplace parties, family gatherings, and Christmas Day celebrations at school. This tradition is known as Kris Kringle in the United Kingdom, Kris Kindle in Ireland, and Wichteln in Germany. Despite the name variations, the game’s essence remains the same. Each participant brings a gift to the randomly assigned person without revealing themselves until the exchange day.
There are many versions of how the Secret Santa tradition appeared. Some give credit to a popular American philanthropist, while others believe it originated in Sweden hundreds of years ago. Here are the most popular ones.
Version #1. Larry Dean Stewart started it all
Back in 1971, Larry Dean Stewart was broke and homeless. He once came to the diner and thought about stealing the meal, but the owner handed a $20 bill to him. This act of kindness deeply impressed him, and the man vowed to return the favor if he has money.
Years later, Stewart became a millionaire and in 1979 started giving out money to random people across the US. He went out on the streets and gave out $100 bills to those in need. Over 26 years, he gave out $1.3 million, which made him the American folk figure. He also donated $25,000 to people in the streets of New York after 9/11.
Stewart only revealed himself after he was diagnosed with cancer to encourage others to continue the tradition and spread kindness during the holiday season.
Version #2. The first Secret Santa was the 4th-century bishop
The history of the holiday gift-giving can be traced back to the 4th century. Saint Nicholas, a bishop of the Lycian Greek town of Myra, was born in a wealthy family. He became renowned for his generosity and gave gifts to those in need secretly at night.
The popular story tells that he once helped a noble man who had a hard time. He could not afford a dowry for his three daughters. St. Nicholas secretly delivered a sack of gold coins, dropping them through the window. It helped their father pay the dowry and arrange for their marriages.
Version #3. The Secret Santa started in Sweden
According to some sources, Secret Santa originated in Scandinavia, where they have an old tradition of exchanging gifts secretly. The tradition is called Julklapp, where Jul means Christmas, and Klapp means to knock. It involves knocking at neighbor’s doors, leaving the gift at the doorsteps, and running away before anyone sees you. In addition to the element of secret and surprise, this game brought excitement as you have to run away before the neighbor understands who you are!
There is a similar tradition in German folklore. It is called Wichteln, and the name came from fairies that help Santa Claus deliver his gifts while maintaining secrecy.
Version #4. Reddit made it global
In 2009, a Reddit user Dan McComas suggested a global Christmas gift exchange. Many people were excited by this idea and the game gained popularity in the US and beyond. In 2013, nearly 90,000 people participated in the game, breaking the Guinness world record.
To make it happen, McComas built the website RedditGifts.com. People registered there and received the address of another player to whom they needed to send a gift. Many worldwide-known celebrities including Bill Gates, Alyssa Milano, Snoop Dogg, and others regularly participated in the Reddit exchanges.
Although the exchange shut down in 2021, it helped popularize the anonymous gift-giving tradition and showed that everyone can spread joy and kindness despite geographical limitations.
How is Secret Santa played today?
Today, people play Secret Santa at work, with family members, and even in online communities. Nobody should know who gives a present to whom, so keep the mystery until the exchange day! There are two ways to follow the tradition and organize your Secret Santa:
- In person with a hat. This is the old-fashioned way perfect for small gatherings. Players write their names on pieces of paper. Then, everybody draws names from the hat and prepares a gift for the assigned person.
- Using an online generator. Players sign up for the online platform, and when everyone joins the exchange, they draw names online. With an online generator, the draw results are saved, plus you can set exceptions and invite unlimited players. Moreover, players can create wishlists, making it easier for their Santa to choose a perfect present.
With the MySanta service, everyone can create a game, invite friends and coworkers, and decide how to exchange presents – in person or by mail. Our service has personalized wishlists and tools to track game progress, so your gift exchange will go smoothly.
Anonymous gift-giving has a long history. In 2024, exchanging gifts secretly adds a fun twist to the holiday and helps everyone involved save on Christmas gifts. Plan your gift exchange to share the joy of giving and make people around you a little happier this holiday season.
FAQ
Can you play Secret Santa with an odd number of people?
Yes, it doesn’t matter for Secret Santa if you have an even or odd number of players. Imagine all players sitting in a circle and passing the gift to a person on the left. As long as you have more than 3 players, Secret Santa works with an odd and even number of participants.
How do you organize a Secret Santa exchange at work with many participants?
For larger groups, it is best to use an online Secret Santa generator. Our MySanta organizer works for any number of players (100 or 500 participants is not a problem), making it a perfect solution for corporate gift exchanges. Moreover, the app automates email notifications, allows you to set exceptions, and has wishlists where everyone can share their gift preferences. Alternatively, you can break the participants into smaller groups and organize multiple gift exchanges.
What are the alternatives to a traditional Secret Santa game?
If the classical Secret Santa doesn’t spark your interest, there are multiple ways to exchange gifts with a twist. In the White Elephant exchange, people bring non-personalized gifts and then steal gifts from each other, which adds a competitive element to the game. In the Secret Santa Casino, participants exchange gifts and also compete for a money prize. You can also organize a themed gift exchange (i.e. everyone brings home décor, gag gifts, or self-care items) which adds a fun layer to the tradition.
