Need inspirational messages for your Secret Santa? Here is a collection of 50 Secret Santa messages for your next office Secret Santa exchange.
Looking for some fun Secret Santa messages for the holidays? We've got you!
Do you hear the Christmas bells already? It’s that time of year again! That special time when spirits and festivities are at its peak. Christmas is more than plum cake, fuzzy socks, snow and Christmas lights. It's a celebration of love and joy, coming together with the people you love and it is infused with gestures and affection. It truly is the most magical time of the year.
Christmas cheer is contagious and infectious, and so it's no surprise if the workplace commemorates this holiday in all its glory!
There are a few different ways of celebrating Christmas at work, decorating the workplace, having an office party, and even indulging in games and contests. But the most important piece is to not miss out on traditions. And what's the biggest tradition around Christmas if not gifts?
Secret Santa is a great way of adding gifts to this year’s office festivities. You can make your Secret Santa tradition at work even more fun with some Secret Santa messages! Here are some fun Secret Santa messages that you can use at work.
Secret Santa happens to be a gift exchange that is practiced all over the world, especially in the USA and is a great Christmas icebreaker for work. It is also a great way to get multicultural teams in the spirit of Christmas. Even if you’ve never heard of it before, the core idea is simple - in a random ticketing system, you have to get an appropriate gift for a person in your office, could be from your team or from another department altogether. Your identity remains anonymous up until the end when the person would attempt to discover the identity of their Secret Santa. And you will be picked by someone else who would do the same for you!
This tradition is one that is steeped in history and this article helps to answer all questions pertaining to the lovely game of Secret Santa. In detail, you’ll be informed of how you can successfully play this game at your workplace, regardless if it's at the office or remotely. What types of gifts will be appropriate for your coworkers and the christmas messages and clues you can leave.
If you don’t know where to start when creating your messages, read and learn how you can make your first one an awesome experience. All you really need is a willing participant, a letter with your names on it, and imagination. Here are a few Secret Santa message ideas to get you going.
Who doesn't love rhymes? From children to adults, everyone enjoys the secret and mysteriousness of a riddle. Although it might not work for everyone, a rhyming Secret Santa message can be a great way to liven things up at your office holiday party.
Moreover, it’s a great way of declaring your feelings to your office crush!
Creating small messages and clever little notes to clue them in on your identity is a cheeky idea and the essence of secret santa and why it's the most enjoyable tradition.
And even if you never use this idea yourself, don’t rule out the possibility that you might be on the receiving end of one in the future—so now you can be prepared.
“It’s not a house, a car, or a boat.
It’s a Secret Santa gift with a silly little note.”
“Your secret Santa
Your secret pal
A festive, friendly guy or gal
Look forward to some holiday fun
With light-hearted presents
Before the season is done
watch for gifts In this location
before we leave for Christmas vacation.”
“The Christmas tree Isn’t the only thing getting lit this year.”
“An awesome gift, especially for you. It’s from Secret Santa, Bet you can’t guess who!”
“Accept this gift with a smile on your face,
And expect another one soon In its place.”
“I am giggling and shouting, and laughing with glee. I’ve left you a gift but you still haven’t seen me”
“What to my wandering eyes did appear, an opportunity to drop this gift for someone dear”
“What could your santa be?
A he or she!
Open you gift
And you shall see”
“I’d tell you my name, but it’s a Secret I fear…
But do not fret, for the answer is near!
Open the gift, and remember to smile,
I hope it sparks joy for the next little while.”
“It’s not a house or a boat.
It’s just a small secret Santa note.
Have a wonderful year ahead. Merry Christmas!”
“Ho! Ho! Ho! These are the winter days,
Ho! Ho! Ho! These are the secret Santa days”
“However, the weather outside is quite disturbing,
but the gift that your secret Santa left is that much interesting”.
“Roses Are Red,
Violets Are Blue,
I’m Your Secret Santa,
And This Gift Is For You.”
"Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh. Dropped by a package under your tree, it must be your Secret Santa hurrying on his way, trace his name if you may!"
There’s someone thinking about you and wishing you the best Christmas ever. It’s me, your Secret Pal! Merry Christmas!
"In through the door I flew like a flash set down your gift, I hope it's a smash!"
“A mystery item, right under the tree…It says “Secret Santa” but who could that be? Open me up and take a quick guess…When you see the new gift that you now possess!”
“You're now a Secret Santa with plenty to do,
Choose gifts wisely for whose name that you drew.
Be covert and very sneaky too,
So that you're not discovered a moment too soon.”
”This special gift is just for you,
I hope you'll enjoy it the whole year through.
As Christmas approaches you'll find out who
Your Secret Santa is and who's fond of you.”
" Who's your Secret Santa? You'll probably never find out!
So you better not pry & you better not pout!"
"Secret pal, although you may not know my name, you are special to me just the same!"
"Your gift is Lit, your boss ain't. Don't blurt out my name, and spoil the game!"
“Santa Has Visited Early This Year
To Bring Some Christmas Cheer
Go Check Under The Tree
I Guarantee You Will Smile With Glee.”
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, your Secret Santa sure is jolly. I giddily leave a gift for you, I hope it makes you jolly too.”
“The season has come, no need to be glum. Your present is near, and no it’s not gum!”
“To a colleague who brightens my day, here’s a gift that I hope will brighten yours. Best wishes from your Secret Santa.”
“Who could it be? One day you will see. But for now, I will just say it's me. Happy holidays from your secret santa!”
“Play the drums, Christmas has come. Play the drums, sing from your lungs. Cheers to your fun, secret santa has begun”
Sometimes you just want to flex your comedy skills a bit, if that’s even possible. This is a great way to get you through the last few days of work before Christmas break! The following funny and witty Secret Santa messages are perfect for your work colleagues, friends or family:
“You’ll know I am your secret if you don’t get anything”
“I ran out of coal so I actually had to get you a real gift. Happy Holidays.”
“This gift sleighs the competition”
“With that I’ll say my shopping’s done
And my binge-watching shall begin
Though the holiday is close at hand
How long till my gifts arrive?”
“This gift is so well wrapped because I’m a gangsta wrapper”.
“Please pretend you like this gift. Merry Christmas!”
The idea behind the game of Secret Santa is essentially quite simple — your identity remains hidden to the person you are giving the gift to, and you need to uncover the identity of your Secret Santa.
While the premise sounds easy enough, the execution, hosting and organization behind the game can be a little complicated. To make the game more enjoyable, some rules have to be established and followed.
Who says that where fun is, rules can’t be? Rules are foundational to having a magical and grand time. Let's look at the Secret Santa rules and steps one must take when endeavoring to host the game.
When you are playing this game in an office setting, it's important to set a price limit on the gifts. Keeping everyone’s comfort in mind, a limit should be set which no employee can surpass. This makes the whole gift-giving and receiving bit more budget friendly and not to mention, creative!
Take for instance, that any employee cant exceed $50 when buying a gift. It makes for a gala time to come up with gift ideas you can buy for under $50. This also doesn't add any financial stress on anyone and receiving a more expensive gift does not have to elicit feelings of guilt either.
To find out more about a limit that suits everyone, the easiest way is to take an anonymous survey asking all participants on their budgetary preferences for the game.
After all, the whole point of hosting a Secret Santa at work is not to give and receive expensive presents but to add to the Christmas cheer in the air. Plus, giving thoughtful gifts is always better than gifting a ridiculously expensive item.
Read this thread to get more Secret Santa ideas about inexpensive gifts:
Even though it's the holiday season, one should be mindful about the fact that it is still a professional space. Giving a gift that can be deemed inappropriate should be strongly discouraged.
Make it clear to all those involved in the game that no personal gifts and items are to be exchanged. Take for instance, if you have an office crush, you can't gift them anything romantic. That is just not professional and not to mention testing the boundaries of appropriateness. The whole point of this tradition is to help make office relationships stronger and not to offend anyone.
Stick to chocolates, stationary and other relatively normal and work appropriate ideas for presents.
Clues are an important factor that can't be missed out on. Sprinkle in the clues seamlessly and make sure that this process is fun. Adding and mixing impossible clues will only add to the frustration and take away from the fun of guessing. Make sure that the clues are simple to guess.
One can be creative on how many and the way they want to present the clues. Read on to find ways that you can add a sprinkle of fun to your clues.
Now that we have covered what all to keep in mind while playing the game, let's break down the steps on how to effectively host a traditional Secret Santa.
Gather everyone around and make them write their names in capital letters (to make sure that legibility isn't an issue) and drop them in a hat (for theatrics of course).
If you want to host multiple secret santas for different teams and departments, you can do so. However, this can be an exceptional opportunity for some inter-team and inter-department bonding. Not to mention that the hassle of organizing one company wide secret santa would be easier.
It is very important that if you are hosting a company-wide secret santa that the players write down two or three gift ideas that they would like to receive. You can do so by sending a secret santa questionnaire to all participants. But the main goal here should be that the gift idea should be vague and not super-specific so that creativity can enter the process.
For example, an employee can write they want to receive a good book or chocolates. This will help the secret santa choose a gift of their liking but it will also leave room for them to surprise the other person. The secret santa could choose to buy them a fiction book, or an autobiography or maybe even a bestseller in personal finance. The room for an unexpected surprise is plenty.
This part of the process might seem pretty straightforward but a mistake made at this stage will not be easy to rectify.
Ask participants to choose a chit containing a name from the hat and to keep the information anonymous. The host will have to make a master list wherein they can keep track of who is assigned to whom and the rest is sorted!
Pick a date where the gift exchange can take place. It could be the day of the Christmas office party or even a random Monday before christmas. The clues can either be attached to the gift with the recipient’s name or could be sent before the exchange gift to increase the suspense. Either way, pick a date that suits everyone and exchange goodies that are sure to bring a smile on everyone’s face!
Now that the exchange is over, it's important to recognise and pay due credit to the person who picked your christmas present. Let everyone take a guess based on the gift and the clue on who their secret santa could be.
Hosting a secret santa game is quite easy when it takes place at the office and everyone is present. It's a whole different ball game when remote companies want to engage their employees in a simple yet effective game of secret santa. How to bring people together from all over the world? How to send out gifts and learn their gift preferences and host an exchange party?
Send out emails to your team and ask them to RSVP to the introductory event for secret santa if they wish to play the game. The host can check the RSVP list to count the number of employees joining in and maintain a clear ledger for the same. Make sure that you have their addresses on hand and their contact information if something were to go remiss.
Since the participants are not living in one area, and are instead spread across the country or even the world, it becomes imperative to ask everyone to prepare a wish list. They can do so by either mentioning a vague idea of what they would like or compiling the same on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, Etsy etc.
This might be the easiest thing ever. All a host has to do is fill in everyone's name on a digital secret santa generator and watch as the AI randomly assigns and pairs participants up.
Participants can either ship gifts directly to the recipient's address from their wish lists or wrap and send goodies with handcrafted and thoughtful messages!
Hosting a virtual exchange party can be the best way of ensuring that the participants can see the look on each other’s faces as they unwrap their presents. Set a time and pick a date.
All there is left to do is take a guess on who your secret santa is. Watch as the magic of thoughtful gifts and playing the guessing game makes your team members feel closer to each other and strengthens the unity of the company.
Read more: https://www.ricotta.team/blog/never-have-i-ever-questions
Choosing and picking out a gift might not be your cup of tea. What then? What do you give your co-worker? Well, do not fret. Read on to find good ideas on how and what to gift people at your office.
The number one thing to remember is that the gift should be useful, thoughtful and affordable.
Let's dissect each of the features in detail to help you choose better.
The most important feature that your gift should have is the utility your co-worker can derive from it. Give them something you know will add to their life and be useful in their everyday life. Giving your colleague office stationary is a useful gift, especially if you know they like their documents to be color coded or their binders have to be sorted a particular way.
There is nothing like gifting someone an item that you put thought behind. Your thoughtfulness shines through and makes the person feel cared and understood for. Take for instance, that you know your co-worker is a coffee-addict and before they’ve had their morning cup of coffee, they are a force to be reckoned with. Gifting them a travel mug or a Starbucks gift card makes the most sense. Plus, you know they would appreciate the gift and feel understood.
This might be the most important consideration for someone when choosing a gift for someone at work. You can't splurge on a Secret Santa gift, especially if there is a budget set for all participants. So while you know that giving your coworker that fitbit they’ve been eying for a while will make for a useful and thoughtful present, it isn't the most affordable gift out there.
Consider things that aren't expensive, and won't burn a hole in your pocket. This also saves you from feeling resentful if you gift someone something expensive and receive a cheap gift.
Are you still feeling restless with what would make for a great gift for your co-worker? Below are some items that you can consider that make for a thoughtful, useful and affordable gift.
Personalized gifts are all the rage and for a good reason. They are affordable and a thoughtful pick for anyone, but especially for people at work. Depending on the person, you can pretty much customize anything. Diary, t-shirt, mug, planner or even a laptop cover.
There are many sellers on sites like Etsy that you can consider or if you are feeling creative then you can hand make the gifts too!
You can personalize the items with their favorite color, their initials or even an inside joke. The reason it is considered to be a thoughtful option is because it would be unique to the person, a one of a kind gift only for them. The options with this idea are endless, and you creatively make someone’s day.
You can gift them something that can be an addition to their work desk. You can pick items like a new mousepad, a set of high quality ink and pens, binders, plants and other work accessories. This has to be something you know the person either will appreciate or they’ve been cribbing about adding but haven’t gotten around to making the addition.
For example, if a colleague goes on and on about their pet and shows the cat pictures to any unsuspecting person who walks in, they obviously love them. Gifting them a photo frame is a great way of showing them that you know how much their cat means to them and gives them the opportunity of showcasing the pet picture on their desk.
A safe option when you can't think of a good gift to give is to give them edibles. Who doesn't love food? And Christmas is a perfect time for good treats!
Pick out a chocolate box, plum cake or other tasty sweets. Moreover, you can also give them a bottle of wine if they are a wine-enthusiast. If they love teas, then giving them an asserted tea set with a box of biscuits and cookies will definitely make their day!
Traditional Secret Santa usually doesn't have themes but who is to say you can't shake things up and change the game to suit yourself?
By adding a theme, you can up the level of fun and watch as the cogs turn. Theme ideas can include only giving gifts with a particular color, animated films, hampers or even only exchanging handmade stuff.
If you want to make the game even more interesting, you can only exchange gifts that are sweets. Every person can either bake something or buy a box of sweets, but all the gifts would have to be a treat.
Choose a riddle or a clue from the list and print it out on a foldable card and make it look nice. Either get the answers for your colleagues to fill in at the party, or have them try to guess the answer if you don’t want to give clues.
If you want to come up with your own riddles and clues, it can be a fun creative exercise. Partner with your colleagues and come up with clever, witty items and clues that they would not only enjoy, but have some fun with as well.
The trick to creating a good Secret Santa riddle is to think about your recipient. Think about their personality, interests, and passions and incorporate this information into your clues. Always try and think within the boundary of your Secret Santa group (and the personality of those involved), but if you’re stuck for ideas, follow the prompts mentioned below.
1. Think about your relationship with the receiver
2. Give a clue about your gender and age
3. Don’t make it too tough to crack, it’ll take away the fun
4. Add puns and rhyme schemes
5. Make it handwritten to add extra layer of mystery and intrigue
6. Add riddled descriptions about your work department, timing, etc.
“Tasty treat, your lips go smack
You’ve fixed yourselves a little snack
Filling your belly is not your goal
Be careful how much you fill in your __________”
“It’s cold outside
Put on your shoes and get some tied
Bundle up strong like a mother's love
Cover your hands with some ____________”
“Everyone loves to read a story,
Words alive in all their glory
Find a special little nook
And open the pages of a ___________”
“Singing along to let it go
Playing around in the snow
Such fun it is watching to show
Check the screen both high and _________”
“Roses are red
Leaves are green
I do have children
Atleast one of them is in their teen”
“Your stalking is hidden somewhere with care,
You will find your amazing gift there”
“Closer you are getting, to a stuffed stocking.
Find your next clue, where you often hear knocking.”
“No one is here, except me, your next clue.
Now go where cold milk is, you know what to do.”
“The milk is cold but you are warming up.
Yet another clue is where you put a dirty cup.”
“Yay! This is it, all the clues have been seen.
Find your stocking where you get clean.”
“Santa is known for being portly, and he likely has to squeeze into that red suit,
Maybe he should eat healthier, so look where you keep the veggies & __________”
“Rudolph was called upon to lead Santa's sleigh. Thankfully, he was willing & able
For your next clue, don't look high, look low. It's under the kitchen _____________”
“When you mail a letter to Santa, you have to use a stamp.
Shine a light on this hunt and look by a ______________”
“Santa's trip around the world each year always makes the news.
Now go look for a clue hidden where you keep your boots and _____________”
“To stay on Santa's nice list, you cannot be a grouch,
The next clue is under a cushion on your comfy ______________”
“You're not done yet! Keep going, still a few clues more.
The next place to look is by your front ___________________”
"Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" are favorite holiday tunes,
The next clue is hiding among the knives, forks, and _________________”
“The elves' workshop at the North Pole when full of toys is a treasure trove,
It's much warmer, though, at home in your kitchen near the oven or _____________”
“You've looked here and there, over ise. Where could your present be?
Of course, it's where most gifts are found, sitting under the Christmas______________”
“Don't you worry, don't you fear
This is not your gift this year
Clues will lead to something good
Look for a clue where we store food”
“Let the Storybook Scavenger Hunt begin!
Your next clue is where the chargers plug in.”
“Take a Sweet Selfie to celebrate the holidays.
Find your next clue where the stories stay.”
“A Sweet Storybook and holiday treat for you.
Find the baking ingredients, and your next clue.”
“Build a gingerbread house for Christmas fun.
But first a clue, where shaving is done.”
“Show off your Skittles Beard to your friends!
After finding your stocking, where dinner begins.”
“Finding the first clue will be a treat! Look for it where you get something to eat.”
“Now that you're fed, go and look for the clue where you lay your head.”
“The next place you'll need to look, is the place where you can find a book.”
“Have you heard the news? The next clue can be found where we keep our shoes!”
“Don't tear the room apart! Just take a look in 22 the stuff for art!”
“Look for the clues, but don't get stressed! You'll find another where you get dressed.”
“Looking for the missing link? Take a peek in the sink!”
“The next clue can be found on the box with a musical sound!”
“Wanting more? Why don't you check the front door?”
“Looking for the final prize? Go where you can look into your own eyes.”
"Whenever you give someone a present or sing a holiday song, you're helping Santa Claus. To me, that's what Christmas is all about. Helping Santa Claus!" - Louis Sachar.
"They err who think Santa Claus enters through the chimney. He enters through the heart." - Charles W. Howard.
“In this age of instant coffee, overnight rush deliveries, and 30-second media sound bites, it’s not surprising that children have discovered that their letters to Santa Claus can be sent by email.” — Patrick Flaherty
“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.” — Shirley Temple
“Here’s what we know about Santa. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. I think he’s with the NSA.” — David Letterman
“There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus.” — Bob Phillips
“It’s all fun and games until Santa checks the naughty list.” — Unknown
“You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.” — Robert Paul
"Personally, of course, I believe in Santa Claus; but it is the season of forgiveness, and I will forgive others for not doing so." - G. K. Chesterton.
"I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don't even try to tell me different." - Dolly Parton.
"Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year." - Victor Borge.
"Not everyone who sells Christmas trees believes in Santa Claus." - Matt Barr.
"Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That’s why Benny the Blue-nosed reindeer never got the gig." - Neil deGrasse Tyson.
I hope you all enjoyed reading these Secret Santa messages. You should have a lot to choose from now and I think that everyone will be able to find something for everyone and have fun at work or at a family gathering. Hopefully at least one of them will be just the thing you need to put a big smile on someone's face. Let your creativity shine bright and keep the holiday fun rolling with these great Secret Santa messages to share with your colleagues and loved ones this year.
And when you’re done sharing, don’t forget to say thank you, take a break and enjoy the holidays. So without further ado, we wish you a Merry Secret Santa and best wishes for the New Year!
Write something funny and make the tag interesting to look at! This will ensure your gift stands out amongst all the others. Make sure your message includes the name of the person you’re buying a gift for too. By doing that, Santa will know exactly who their Secret Santa gift is meant for. You can even put in some new, comical catchphrases, and we sure do hope the above-mentioned ideas will help you out.
The best Secret Santa messages are funny, cute and/or a bit sinister. They make the recipient laugh or at least smile, but even better if you can give them an early Xmas gift. Our usual suggestion is to keep things short and sweet. If you’re spending a ton of time thinking about the perfect Secret Santa message, maybe it’s time to reassess your priorities? Instead, focus on picking out an amazing gift for them.
Depending on your preferences, you can set up Secret Santa announcements through email, text, or even a physical letter. Just be sure to clearly communicate what rules and regulations you have for the activity, as well as how many people are participating. On Ricotta games and trivia, you can play Secret Santa within Slack with just a click of a button.
If you receive a Secret Santa gift, respond to the sender with an appropriate message. You can be friendly, thank them for the gift, or just simply state how you didn’t expect one. Remember that there is no right way to react to a gift. Just be creative with your messaging and have fun with it and appreciate the thought that someone put into choosing a gift for you—you might come away with a new favorite thing because of it!
A few prompts to help you out:
Add a salutation in the beginning: "Hope you are enjoying the holidays"
"This book will make a great weekend read for me, I will now have to cancel party plans :P"
"Love this shirt, it fits perfectly with my wardrobe style"
End the note with a "Thank you for this amazing gift"
Basically, the act of writing a thank you letter/mail/message to them is a chance to show how grateful you are and why they stood out above all others. It's also a chance to make your Secret Santa feel appreciated and acknowledged. You can go over the top with big gifts or small tokens in the end though it doesn't really matter what you give as long as it brings a smile to their face. The next step is to spend some time chatting with your Santa, so you can get a real sense for who they are. Secret Santa can serve as an icebreaker to get to know your colleagues better.
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