Question 1

How does Elfster's Secret Santa Generator work?

Accepted Answer

No more drawing names out of a hat, Elfster can help you generate a Gift Exchange in no time!  With a few clicks you'll have a list of participants with a name randomly drawn for each person. You have the option for them to RSVP and have a draw date scheduled, or if you already know they all want to participate, draw names now and they can view their draw immediately! Once the Exchange is set up, you can communicate through our activity feed, create Wishlists for others to view, send secret messages to your draw person and have all sorts of fun!

Question 2

Can I exclude names from the Generator?

Accepted Answer

As the Organizer, the Exchange is all yours! You can invite and exclude any names you'd like. One  of our favorite features is to repeat a prior Gift Exchange with all the same friends!  Don't worry, you can always remove someone that is no longer part of the group or add a newbie!  Utilizing our option to use the same group helps keep track of who-drew-who from prior Exchanges and ensures they don't draw each other again any time soon.

Question 3

Will the names be picked randomly?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our Secret Santa Generator will randomly choose names for each participant.  If you know your participants would like to participate, you can choose to Draw Names Now.  If you'd like them to RSVP, simply choose a date for the draw to take place and all those that have RSVPed will be included in the draw.  If you need to adjust a name, or be sure one person draws another, the organizer can do that in the Organizer Settings once the Gift Exchange is all set up.

Question 4

Will people be able to see who drew their name?

Accepted Answer

With the Elves, your secret is safe!  We will never reveal who drew your name for the Gift Exchange, and we won't let anyone know who you drew either!  You can send anonymous messages to your person if you need to reach out. If you choose to reveal yourself after your Exchange is over, that is up to you.

Question 5

What is Secret Santa?

Accepted Answer

Secret Santa is a gift exchange tradition where each participant is randomly assigned one person in the group to give a gift to, while keeping their identity a secret. It is popular at office holiday parties, among friend groups, and within families as a fun way to exchange gifts without everyone buying for everyone else. The name is revealed — or kept secret — at the gift exchange event.

Question 6

How many people do you need for Secret Santa? Does it work with an odd number?

Accepted Answer

Secret Santa works with any group size of 3 or more people, and it works perfectly with an odd number of participants. Each person is assigned exactly one other person to give a gift to, so the math always works out — everyone gives one gift and receives one gift regardless of whether the group has an even or odd number of members.

Question 7

How do you organize Secret Santa at work?

Accepted Answer

Organizing Secret Santa at work is easy with Elfster. Simply create a free gift exchange, invite your colleagues by email, set a gift budget everyone is comfortable with, and let Elfster randomly draw names for each participant. Everyone receives an email with their assigned person and can view their coworker's wish list so they know exactly what to buy. No spreadsheets, no awkward hat draws — Elfster handles everything online.

Question 8

What are other names for Secret Santa?

Accepted Answer

Secret Santa goes by many names depending on the region and tradition: Kris Kringle (popular in Ireland and parts of the US), Pollyanna (common in the northeastern US), White Elephant (a variation with a gift-stealing twist), Yankee Swap, Gift Swap, Secret Gift Exchange, and Amigo Secreto in Spanish-speaking countries. All refer to the same core concept — a randomised gift exchange where each participant gives to and receives from one assigned person.