Kris Kringle generator

Kris Kringle is a name used in Australia, Canada and some other countries for what many places call Secret Santa. Everyone in the group is given one person to buy a gift for, and the giver stays secret until the gifts are opened. Other names for the same game include Kris Kindle in Ireland, Wichteln in parts of Austria and Germany, and Amigo Secreto in Spain, Portugal and much of Latin America.

The rules are the same wherever you live: one gift each, one agreed budget, and no giving to yourself.

Type the names above, one per line. If two people share a first name, add a surname or initial. Add any rules, such as a couple who should not draw each other, under “Add rules”. Then pass the phone round or print slips. For a workplace Kris Kringle, printed slips handed out by someone who is not playing keep it fair.

• Set a firm budget and say whether it includes wrapping.
• Allow people to opt out without having to explain.
• Agree when and where gifts are given so remote or part-time colleagues are not left out.
• Keep it light: homemade, funny or consumable gifts are often the best ones.

More in our guide to organising a Secret Santa.

When you have drawn a colleague or a distant relative, aim for something useful and easy to like: a good coffee, tea or chocolate, a notebook or desk plant, a small game or a book in a genre they have mentioned. Consumables are safe because nobody has to find room for them. Avoid anything that assumes a diet, a drink or a belief, and stay under the agreed budget rather than over it.

If the group shares wish lists, use them. A line or two about likes and dislikes is the difference between a thoughtful gift and a guess.

For more to choose from, see Secret Santa gift ideas by budget, grouped as small, medium and generous. To agree a limit first, read how to choose a budget.

• Keep your person secret until the gifts are opened, and do not hint.
• Stick to the budget, including wrapping.
• If you cannot take part, say so early so the draw can be redone before anyone buys.
• Thank your Kris Kringle in person or by message, whoever it was.

If your group wants a game where gifts can be stolen, use the white elephant turn order generator. For the full step-by-step plan, see how to organise a Secret Santa.