Secret Santa is a favourite pre-holiday game in offices, groups of friends and big families. Everyone anonymously gives a gift to one participant, usually on a small budget. The hardest part is finding something nice for someone you may not know well and staying within the limit. Here are the rules, Secret Santa gift ideas under 300, 500 and 1000 UAH, options for colleagues, friends and family, and what not to give.
Approximate amounts in hryvnias; stick to the limit your group agreed on.
Secret Santa rules
Participants write down their names and each anonymously draws the name of the person they will give a gift to. The draw can be done by hand, through an online service or a messenger bot. The group agrees on the budget, date and place of the exchange in advance. The golden rule: tell no one whose Santa you are until the gifts are handed out.
To avoid flops, ask each participant for a short wishlist: favourite colour, hobbies, definite dislikes, allergies. It saves every Santa time and stress.
Ideas for colleagues
For an office Secret Santa, pick neutral gifts useful at work or home: a travel mug, a nice planner, a desk organiser, a wireless charger, a desk plant, coffee or tea, a scented candle or treats. More workplace ideas are in gifts for a colleague.
Ideas for friends and family
Among friends you can add more humour and personal touches: a meme T-shirt, a board game, a cocktail kit, a puzzle, a photo book of shared pictures, a silly Christmas jumper. In the family, cosy gifts work well: a throw, warm socks, a mulled wine kit, Christmas ornaments or soft toys for children.
Wrapping and presenting the gift
Even a modest gift looks more expensive in nice wrapping: kraft paper, ribbon, a fir sprig or a dried orange slice. Write only the recipient's name, never your own. A small bouquet or an arrangement with cones and fir is a lovely addition that sets a festive mood. And flowers for no reason are always welcome; see flowers for no reason.
What not to give as Secret Santa
Don't exceed the budget, as an expensive gift makes others feel awkward. Avoid perfume, cosmetics, toiletries, clothes without a size, alcohol at work, jokes about weight, age or habits, and regifted items from your cupboard. Ideas for any occasion are in our gift ideas section.
Secret Santa gifts delivered
No time for shopping? Our catalogue has soft toys, sweet baskets and small arrangements that are easy to deliver to an office or home in Kyiv.
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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Hydrangeas