What to Write in a Letter from Secret Santa
Receiving not only a gift from Secret Santa but also a letter filled with kind words and warm wishes is doubly delightful. It adds even more magic and wonder to the game. Here’s what to say in the letter and some simple templates to get you started.
If You Know Your Recipient
If you know your recipient well, writing the letter will be a breeze. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Celebrate their successes. Everyone appreciates when their hard work and achievements are recognized by others. For example, if you're the Secret Santa for a colleague who landed a new role this year or won an important professional award, congratulate them on these accomplishments. Share your thoughts on how challenging it can be to achieve such goals and the importance of not stopping there.
Talk about the qualities you admire in them. Maybe you admire your colleague's resilience under pressure or their punctuality, or perhaps you’re gifting a classmate who made algebra class manageable. If you're Secret Santa to a close friend, you’ll surely know which qualities to highlight in your letter.
Wish for what they dream of. If you know about your recipient's plans and dreams, mention them in your letter. Let your kind words empower them to reach their desired goals.
If You Don’t Know Your Recipient
You don’t need to write a long letter if you’re not acquainted well with your recipient. Include a heartfelt note with the gift. This small gesture is sure to delight anyone.
We've gathered 12 kind wishes that can be addressed to anyone. Pick the ones you like best.
12 Wishes from Secret Santa
- May the new year bring more love and more wonders.
- Welcome the new year with a smile and an open heart.
- Let the new year be the start of new opportunities and adventures.
- Believe in miracles, and they will surely happen.
- Happy New Year: may your happiness be large and your bills small.
- Eat, drink, love, and be merry! Happy New Year!
- I hope the magical holiday spirit fills every corner of your heart and home — now and forever!
- Enjoy a peaceful holiday season and find time to relax!
- May the new year bring you new opportunities!
- The new year is an unpainted picture, a path yet to be walked, wings waiting to spread. These are events yet to occur! Before the clock strikes midnight, remember that you can change your life!
- On New Year's Eve, all wishes have a special power. Make your biggest wish, and may it come true.
- New Year's Eve is when we dot the i's, turn a page, and start anew. May everything you wish for on this festive night come true. Never stop believing in miracles!
Other Ideas for a Secret Santa Letter
Here are a few more ideas for what to include in a Secret Santa letter.
Write a mystery letter to reveal the Secret Santa's identity. You could keep the fun and interaction going with your recipient even after exchanging gifts. Create riddles about yourself or briefly describe your appearance, how you spend your time, and your interests. It’s sure to intrigue your recipient to solve the Santa mystery.
Share how you chose the gift. Why you selected the specific gift, the meaning behind it, and what you thought about when picking the surprise are all interesting and vital details. Don’t hesitate to tell your recipient about this, and also describe possible uses for your present.
Examples of Great Letters in the Secret Santa Game
The Secret Santa game gained immense popularity thanks to the online platform Reddit. In 2009, a Reddit user known as Dan McComas pitched the idea of exchanging holiday gifts on a forum and launched RedditGifts.com. Everyone who signed up was given an address of a participant to send a gift to, and in return, the gift giver also received a present from a third participant. Players shared photos of gifts, notes, and letters they received from their Santas in their Reddit blogs.
Example #1: The Explanation Letter
If a letter hadn't accompanied the gift, the recipient might have wondered what Santa gave them. But the letter made it clear what treasure they now possessed.
Example #2: The Wish Letter
The recipient of this gift joked in their blog about having a tiny room, so they would appreciate any gift except one of those giant inflatable advertising figures. Secret Santa gave them a mini-version of an inflatable figure and wrote a kind letter explaining the joke and extending holiday greetings.
Example #3: The Photographic Journey Letter
This was when Secret Santa went the extra mile by not only writing a letter but also capturing the entire gift-making process on camera.
Example #4: The Confirmation Letter
One Reddit user received a portrait of her favorite cat from Secret Santa. The gift included a letter with a picture showing Arnold Schwarzenegger in the process of painting.
How to Format a Letter from Secret Santa
Your letter should be clear, and the handwriting legible. That’s all there is to know about crafting a Secret Santa message. It would be lovely if you could print a pretty template or write on a themed card or craft paper.