Christmas in July is a free Elfster Secret Santa gift exchange held in the middle of summer — popular in Australia, where July falls during winter. Elfster draws names, sends invitations, and manages wishlists automatically, at no cost.

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Celebrate Christmas in July with a Secret Santa

Start a Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Send invitations
Invite friends, family, or coworkers via email or text message.
Draw names
We draw names for you, plus take care of the rest.
Exchange gifts
Celebrate in person or virtually and share the joy of giving!
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On the Nice List
5 star rating
I have found Elfster to be the best gift-giving website I have ever used. Its user-friendly interface and easy-to-navigate app are wonderful. I especially appreciate that my family and friends can participate in gift exchanges regardless of our locations.
LaWanna M.
5 star rating
Love it! No better way to do a virtual exchange. Use it every year.
Tiffany B.
5 star rating
It's incredibly easy and replaced hours of mental wrangling with a complete and accurate exchange! As our family grows the politics of these things require finessing — Elfster took the guesswork out of the process.
David S.

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Gift givers

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100%

Free forever

Christmas in July FAQs

What is Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is a mid-year celebration of holiday traditions — gift exchanges, festive parties, and cold-weather themes — held in the middle of summer, a popular Australian tradition since it falls during the real winter down under.

Is Elfster's Christmas in July gift exchange free?

Yes — completely free. Elfster draws names, sends invitations, and manages wishlists at no cost, the same way it does for a December Secret Santa exchange.

Can I run a Christmas in July exchange virtually?

Yes. Elfster works for remote groups and long-distance families — everyone gets notified online and can ship gifts directly to each other's address.

How is a Christmas in July exchange different from a regular Secret Santa?

The mechanics are identical — Elfster draws names and keeps pairings anonymous either way. The only difference is timing and theme: a Christmas in July exchange usually leans into summer-meets-winter gift ideas.