It’s finally that time of year again: the first two weeks in December when every college student fights the urge to dive into the holiday season while studying for those dreaded semester finals. That means MicroFridge hot cocoa made in the cheesy snowflake mug mom sent you, gingerbread cookies from the GSU Starbucks, and maybe even illegally lit fake Christmas trees that we all secretly hope will not burn down any on-campus residences!
But what’s the best part about pre-winter break holiday celebrations? Secret Santa (or secret-gift giving for all types of celebrations)! Nothing is better than receiving gifts from the people who now know you best: your college friends and roommates. We all know Secret Santa with any group can get a little hectic, but have no fear because HCBU is here to help! Here are some tips for a smooth and successful Secret Santa while you’re still in school.
1. Gather the group in one “place”
Make sure you have a substantial number of people involved. To keep it interesting and ensure an exciting present reveal, try to get around 8-16 people to participate. Create a secret Facebook group with a cheerful, fun cover photo and invite all those participating. This is a great communication spot for how names will be given out, when and where the gift giving will be, and various other details such as price limits and good places to shop.
2. Make giftee name selection simple
Normally, in a traditional Secret Santa, each person selects his or her giftee out of a Santa hat. However, with finals approaching and group meetings every hour, it is difficult to gather the group for in-person name picking. Thank goodness for modern day technology. Simply Google “Secret Santa name selector” and you will find various links (like the one below) to make name selection super simple for your group. Make sure to have everyone post his or her emails in the Facebook group so you can go to the site and insert everyone’s name and email. Once everyone has accepted the invitation and joined the group page on the site, everyone will be emailed his or her giftee’s name.
3. Set a gift theme and price maximum
Secret Santa brings on the inevitable question: do you really know your friends? Well, to avoid the awkwardness of purchasing your giftee something they won’t like, set a gift theme to your Secret Santa. Maybe your group is in need of comfy onesies. Your shopping just got a whole lot easier; as now you are only in the market for a onesie your coffee-loving friend will enjoy (take a look at the girl in the coffee cup covered onesie on the top right!) Make sure to set the gift price first and post in the Facebook group. With a set price and theme, everyone will be on an even playing field.
4. Throw a reveal a party
No one enjoys a boring gift exchange, so make sure you have everyone over to bask in holiday cheer and gifts. A smart time for the reveal would be the last day of classes, when studying can wait for a few hours, and everyone has their sight set on holiday spirit. So go ahead and decorate the room with tinsel and lights, buy a few gingerbread house kits, make some eggnog and hot cocoa with candy canes, and personalize some Santa hats for the best collegiate Secret Santa reveal party to hit the beantown.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures with your gifts and spread the holiday cheer!