How to plan a virtual Secret Santa

It’s that time of the year again. Decked-up workplace desks, frosted panes at shopping malls, and, of course, a hint of chill in the air. Yes, it’s almost Christmas. But with the festive cheer, you probably also have a nerve-wracking task at hand of picking something smart for a colleague, all the while staying within budget.

If circumstances have you working from home this season, planning a Secret Santa gift exchange sounds almost unthinkable. But what if we tell you there’s still a way to keep the spirits up this year? Here’s how you can plan a virtual Secret Santa, and a memorable one at that too.

What is Secret Santa?

Secret Santa is nothing but a fun gift exchange between friends (or strangers even) that is played on days leading up to the festival. Originally, it involved picking chits of names out of a hat and gifting the one whose name you drew. Only catch? You have to keep this a secret. On the designated day, you draw names and guess who your ‘Santa’ is. 

Of course, this was later adapted into various versions, and more often than not, these names absolutely do not remain a secret. But all of this adds to the fun of it, and there are no set rules to enjoy this game.

How to plan Secret Santa virtually

While the best part of the game is certainly the gift exchange, there’s no denying that the build-up is equally fun. So, if you’re wondering how to execute it online, we’re here to show you how to harness the right technology for it.

Step 1: Use a Secret Santa name picker

If you can’t draw names out of a hat, several websites today allow you to randomise names. Websites such as DrawNames and Elfster allow you to randomise names for you online. All you have to do is feed in all the email addresses of your group and click on generate. Those participating in the exchange will receive names in an email from the domain. 

Additionally, participants are allowed to update their wishlist, leave anonymous messages and even set a budget for their exchange. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the moderator or the admin will have access to everyone’s names. So, if you’re taking one for the team, ensure everyone plays fair!

Step 2: Set a budget for your group along with a date of exchange

Even if your group functions remotely, go ahead and set a date of exchange for everyone to begin working for it. You can even ensure a budget and keep a cap on the maximum expenditure. If you’re using a randomiser, you can still inform your group on an instant messaging smartphone app or email. 

Step 3: Ensure everyone has updated their wishlists

It is challenging to tell what your friend, acquaintance or colleague might like if they work remotely. So, ensure your group members fill up their virtual wishlists and are up to date with who they have to gift. 

Step 4: Ship those gifts

Sure, you don’t have a tree to sit around and open up your gifts, but you still have the option of online shipping what you’ve picked for your friend. It is crucial to get a headstart for your group to be able to open them up together. However, if you’re worried about the e-commerce parcel revealing your name, replace the billing address with the organiser’s and keep it uniform across the group. Apart from this, several portals also have the option of gift-wrapping your product. 

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Step 5: Set up a video call for the gift exchange

Once everyone in your group has received their parcels, all that’s left is to open those gifts. But since you’re not in the same place (and Christmas flight prices are certainly not a joy), you can set up a video call to facilitate the exchange. Several video conferencing apps for your laptops allow you to set a background of your choice and make sure everyone has their best festive backdrop in place. 

With this, you’re pretty much set to have a virtual party of your own. While it takes a little aligning of schedule and planning a couple of weeks in advance, we hope this guide gives you the headstart that you need. Happy planning!