Six Secret Santa Rules to Make This Year's Secret Santa the Best Ever

Make sure this year's Secret Santa gift exchange is the best ever by following four cardinal rules of gift exchanges.

Whether you call it Secret Santa, Kris Kringle, White Elephant or just plain old 'gift exchange,' there's no doubt that holiday season anonymous gift exchanges are a favorite holiday tradition. Why? Simply because they are a sure-fire way to spice up holiday parties and bring groups together around gift giving.

While known by the name Secret Santa in the U.S. and Great Britain, the ritual is also known under Kris Kindle and Kris Kringle in Australia and New Zealand. The phrase 'Secret Santa' can refer both to the game or to any of the people participating. White Elephant is a very popular variation on the game.

Whether for office or home, church or school, here are four cardinal rules to make sure this year's Secret Santa a happy boost to your group's holiday spirit:

Start early. Don't set up your Secret Santa group and game at the last minute. Give people time to find thoughtful gifts. The first week after Thanksgiving is a great time to set your group up – this is a time when thoughts are already turning to Christmas.

Get people excited! Announce the Secret Santa program with enthusiasm and salesmanship... remind people that the whole point is to get laughs when the gifts are opened.

Make participation optional. Especially in workplace settings, give folks a pep talk to sign up, but also give them the room to opt out. Not every one is comfortable with this holiday ritual.

Be clear on cash limits. The whole idea is to give gifts that spark fun, not that cost a lot. Dollar limits on gift giving are almost always a good idea – not only do they make sure everyone can afford their role as Secret Santa, but they help inspire creativity – usually, the lower the dollar amount, the higher the creativity index!

Ensure gifts are appropriate. Find a way to gently remind folks that all gifts must be appropriate to your group. A common faux pas at many office Christmas parties is the secret santa gift that's a sexy lingerie or sex item that causes embarrassment to the recipient. If necessary, have a 'referee' who knows the identity of every Secret Santa so there is accountability on this score.

Consider White Elephant. Stir up enthusiasm by changing the format a bit this year! White Elephant, also known as Thieving Secret Santa, in this variation the gifts brought should be suitable for anyone in the group, and they should be wrapped in a fashion to disguise what they might be. Gift giver identities should be anonymous as well. Players take turns choosing and opening a gift, or, instead of opening one, they can 'steal' a previously opened gift.

Start planning now and have a great Secret Santa this year!