It may be controversial but I have to declare I’m not a fan of the workplace tradition of Secret Santa. There I’ve said it out loud. Many of my colleagues past and present are aware of this and know not to grace my desk when it comes to anonymously picking a recipient.
Too many times my husband James has come home declaring he needs to sort a Secret Santa Gift. His team used to be so large he wasn’t particularly well acquainted with his selected recipient. For me this is what’s fundamentally wrong with ‘SS’- the concept of buying a gift for someone you don’t know. Surely the whole idea is that the recipient doesn’t have an idea who their gift is from, not that you don’t have a flipping clue who the person is you’re buying for! Many a time I have found myself in a well-known department store inspecting the ‘novelty’ section (or as I like to call it ‘the-soon-to-be-landfill’ section) looking to buy John from Accounts his Secret Santa gift. Last year was a particular highlight; due to pre-festive illness Manjit’s Christmas mug with its own festive jumper was actually opened on the first week in January. Landfill right there.
It’s hard to get my point across about Secret Santa without sounding ungrateful and offending the person who has been lumbered with buying me a gift. Let’s just say my first experience of SS was rather memorable as I think my gift was ‘purchased’ from the sender’s own home. I’ve actually received some really lovely anonymous gifts but in this particularly instance I felt there had been a distinct lack of effort and it left a really sour taste. Don’t even get me started on telling you about the year I had to buy a £5 gift for my Director. Potential career suicide all thanks to a ‘bit of fun’.
Some would tell me to get over myself. Christmas is for giving isn’t it, not receiving? Too true but I think there must be another way to get in to the festive spirit.
A couple of years ago my sister’s work introduced the idea of a Christmas Fairy. Like Secret Santa each colleague was randomly assigned, however rather than buy a gift they anonymously spread goodwill. Whether it was a sachet of deluxe hot chocolate left on their desk or motivational notes left in lunch boxes, the month of December was spent being an anonymous little guardian angel. I love this idea, it’s far more thoughtful than buying a plastic reindeer complete with chocolate droppings. (I can say that because I’ve bought one).
So am I mean scrooge or does anyone else feel the same way? What’s the best gift you’ve given for Secret Santa and the most random person you’ve had to shop for?
With you on this Lauren! I hate it! In one of my previous jobs I was given a children’s writing set (non-ironically) at 23… Straight to the charity shop! Other places I’ve worked for have given money to charity which I much prefer. Where I work now does SS but I’ve decided to make it very clear I’d prefer my gift-er (is that a term?!) to give to charity on my behalf. Easier for them & no tat for me – winner.
Giving to charity is a much better idea Lynsey and much more thoughtful.
The children’s writing set was an interesting choice….
Totally agree. I’ve ended up getting into our Secret Santa this year because I felt ‘I should’ and I’ve ended up with somebody I rarely interact with. The Christmas Fairy idea sounds so much better!
Oh no, it’s so hard isn’t it? Hopefully next year you can get them onboard with the Christmas Fairy idea instead.
For the last few years my team of 5 have just done it between us, rather than on a company wide scale. Which was nice, we could have some fun, and no one would end up with tat as we’ve known each other for years.
This year though the team has merged with about 4 more teams, only the 2 teams based in this office are participating but I’ve just had a nightmare lunch hour trying to find a present for someone I’ve known 5 weeks. I don’t do tat really and wanted something nice within the set theme, but what do you go for when you don’t know them?! (I went for a bodywash gift set in the end but feel like I could have done MUCH better).
A beauty gift set is always a safe bet Sarah. I’m sure it will go down well.
Secret Santa should be banned in the workplace, it just stresses people out and means money is wasted. I have no idea what to get my work person at all. I used to do SS with my housemates at uni – we had a big Christmas lunch the Sunday before we all went back home and gave gifts. It kept the cost down and we all actually knew each other so got nice gifts. You’re definitely not a Scrooge Lauren! x
Ahh thanks Sian I was a bit worried how I would come across.
I’m very close friends with a gang of four girls and we do Secret Santa. I love doing it for them because we all have similar tastes and interests so it’s very easy. We actually buy the gift first and then randomly pick who it will go to on the evening. x
Totally agree!!
In past jobs my manager, who was on the large size, received an edible bikini! It was made from small sweet, totally inappropriate. She was actually really offended and rightly so. Still have no idea who it was!!
Much prefer to give to charity 🙂
Oh my goodness! She must have been mortified!
Couldn’t agree more Lauren. We are doing SS again at work this year and last year (as the first time) I was really put off the experience as someone bought me a terrible present. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an ungrateful person but its really frustrating if you do actually put some thought/consideration into the gift you are buying for someone’s SS. Sadly I am going to spend part of my weekend this weekend trying to find some sort of suitable SS gift. grr! Sorry, rant now over!
Oh no, good luck and hopefully you’ll find something quickly.
My first office job made SS mandatory – it was a small office and we all knew each other so it worked out well. We also had to open the presents at the (again mandatory) Christmas party and guess who our SS was. As fun as it was, the price limit of £5 was never stuck to so some people got far more valuable presents than others (some people were left feeling slightly guilty).
Since then I’ve tried to avoid SS wherever possible. I wasn’t particularly happy to come back from holiday in one job to find that someone had already opted me in. Luckily I had been picked someone I worked with closely.
In my current job, SS is optional – they send round an email asking who wants in and there’s no pressure. Needless to say I don’t partake.
I know lots of people love SS but I don’t think anyone should be forced into it if they don’t want to.
Absolutely Jo. Glad to hear it’s not compulsory in your office.
I know there are mixed feelings in my office about Secret Santa and decided to suggest we do something for a local charity collecting presents for vulnerable children up to 18. (I have only just realised that I haven’t even registered our company to do this – am doing it now…!!).
Anyhoo – everyone was up for it because over the last few years some people have dropped out and it’s not quite the same if we’re not all involved. I’ve been pretty lucky with presents – only just finished some lovely Sanctuary products I got last year. I did get a “pinny” or apron as they are known in the English language which I never used and my hubbie gave to my sister in law! A lot of people get “joke” gifts though – an inflatable sheep for the colleague in Aberdeen (I didn’t buy it – I just buy wine or something I know the person will like but I have been lucky with who I’ve picked).
I love the Christmas fairy idea…!
I think collecting for a charity is so much more worthwhile. Glad we’ve spurred you on to register!
Totally agree Lauren!! Last year for secret Santa I was given a pair of tights with glittery bits all over them. Totally seriously I might add, they weren’t novelty tights or anything! (They actually looked like someone had just dotted PVA glue over a pair of tights and sprinkled some glitter on top, you could see the glue and everything!) I didn’t even send them to charity shop, they were so bad they went straight in the bin. They were also size XL – I’m a size 12. Obviously not the best present I have ever received haha! X
Hmmm, I’m just intrigued if people go to a special shop to buy some of these Secret Santa gifts. Those tights sound very unique indeed 😉
They were from sainsburys according to the packet! They were awful! X
Boooo grinches! I like SS and think it’s just a bit of fun. Last year instead of buying for specific people all presents were put in a sack to pick at random. I got a geography card game which has been fun to get out a few times. I admit that I don’t go to a big effort but I get things I would be happy to receive such as a bottle of mulled wine, a nice bubble bath or the poshest chocs I can find on a budget
I agree with you Claire! It’s not that hard to find a decent pressie – what’s wrong with you all? How about M&S chocs (they often have offers on), wine, craft beer, gloves or socks (TK Maxx for both) or the aforementioned bubble bath. You may all be used to giving / receiving ridiculously expensive limited edition make up, artisan gin, hand hewn chopping boards or whatever hipster present is deemed most suitable but come on, show a bit of Christmas cheer. It’s just for fun!!
I do like the charity idea but Christmas fairy??! Surely that’s even harder if you don’t know your colleagues – leaving anonymous notes for people is just creepy and weird.
I’m sure I’ll get slated for this comment (if it’s even published) but I think some of you need to get over yourselves & have a bit of fun…..
Of course you’re published Sophie.
Your christmas fairy comment made me laugh. Luckily they all know each other well!
Great suggestions Claire B. I think a bottle of mulled wine would be well received by most.
I absolutely love the idea of the Christmas fairy! You could be really creative with that!
I absolutely love the idea of the Christmas fairy! You could be really creative with that!
However… I absolutely love secret Santa but not in the workplace! I do it with school friends and we have recently done the Chinese swap game. Needless to say, I become ridiculously competitive trying to get the best tat at the table!
What’s the Chinese Swap games Rebecca?!
Haha ha I love it… but as you said Lauren about your close group of 4…ours is very similar. I work with a small team of great girls and since our job involves creating gorgeous goodie bags full of fab stationary, cosmetics, jewellery and accessories for teenage girls we have a good grasp of what we all like because we are normally found drooling with jealousy over the latest freebies from benefit! We buy for ‘someone’ and then pick it out at random too. I hope we never have to employ a John to do the accounts… I might hide his Christmas party invite if we do.
Ha ha, John from Accounts is no fun and very tricky to buy for 😉
I bloody hate secret Santa I find Christmas stressful enough! As I am a director if two departments I do two different ones, so the pressure to find two different gifts is even worse. Also the secret part doesn’t stay secret as everyone ends up confessing so if you don’t buy the right gift it can be really embarrassing! I love the sound of gifting to charity
I have to admit that I really like SS. We do it at my work and I always think it is fun. This year I found a kitchen timer with a cute deer on it (from Tchibo) for just 4 pounds and I added a Lind chocolate to have the full 5 pounds. Last year, I bought something from H&M Home. H&M Home has many nice things for just 5 pounds. I think a nice tea or some special chocolates or a nice shower gel are all nice, small gifts which most people will like and don’t have to throw away.
In the past, I only had one bad SS experience. I received a really unfashionable scarf, which indeed ended at the charity shop 🙂
I think Secret Santa can be so hit and miss! I’m doing two this year: one with a small charity I volunteer for and one with a group of girlie mates as we’re going for a pre-xmas meal out and thought it’d be fun. I think it’s weird to do a company-wide one, why not just keep it within a team where people know each other?!
Hi guys, I remember reading this post a couple of weeks ago about Secret Santa presents and thought I would give you all something to giggle about! Today was my last day at work before the holidays, and I eagerly opened my Secret Santa present (supposedly worth £10) to find a plastic bowl and 6 sachets of microwave porridge. I kid you not. Santa had better bring me some nice presents next week to make up for that!
Oh my word. You must have been very bad this year Kayleigh! Although there’s nothing like a bowl of porridge to start of the day 😉 x
Very true Lauren! I am assuming it was meant to be funny but I have totally failed to see what the joke is haha! Oh well, I now have two weeks off, yippee!!! Xx
I am not a fan of Secret Santa but what can I say, this year was fab. I received a fabulous flamingo that stands 10 in tall and is amazing. I know I am doomed for another 10 years in the Secret Santa stacks but I love my flamingo and I also love your blog which I e-stumbled on last week.
Oh my goodness, your flamingo sounds flipping awesome Denise! You’re right though, you’re doomed now, as far as Secret Santa goes, obviously. Happy to hear you’re enjoying the blog!
My work decided a few years ago to ditch the traditional SS as it was just tat-fest, and changed to a bauble-swap. Everyone buys a bauble up to the value of £5 and then someone dresses up as Santa (probably not necessary, and as its hospital usually a woman!) and randomly hands out the baubles. I’ve ended up with a few really beautiful pieces for my Christmas tree. It’s the perfect price range to encourage people to buy something pretty,(there’s an unofficial “not out of a box-set” rule too) the odd “unusual” one pops up, but they’re the ones that usually take pride of place on the recipient’s tree!