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‘Tis the season to celebrate National Start a Secret Santa Day! Run, run, Rudolph over to Elfster to easily organize your free Secret Santa extravaganza!
Ready to spread some festive cheer? November 25 is the official day to start planning for one of the most cherished holiday traditions: a Secret Santa gift exchange. Secret Santa, the beloved game of giving anonymous gifts, originated from the Scandinavian tradition of Juklapp, where presents were thrown inside an open door, followed by a quick getaway by the gift-giver.
Celebrate National Start Your Secret Santa Day with Elfster , the world’s #1 Secret Santa website and app. Elfster is free, fun, and easy, making it a snap to send invites, draw names, make personalized Wishlists, and dive into the magic of anonymous gift exchanges. So, whether you’re organizing a Secret Santa with family, friends, or coworkers–near or far–let the surprise, laughter, and spirit of generosity set the tone for the festive season!
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Secret Santa can be traced back to the 18th century in Northern Europe, originating with Sweden's Julklapp tradition, or "Christmas knocking." First documented in 1741, Julklapp involved knocking on a neighbor's door, tossing a gift inside, and then running away to stay anonymous, often with a humorous message or rhyme. This playful ritual, blending surprise with goodwill, set the stage for the spirit of Secret Santa as we know it.
The modern American Secret Santa tradition began in 1979 when Kansas City philanthropist Larry Dean Stewart began anonymously gifting money to strangers in need, often in the form of $20, $50, or $100 bills. His selfless act of generosity laid the foundation for today's Secret Santa. Before his passing, he established the Society of Secret Santas, an organization dedicated to spreading anonymous gift-giving worldwide and encouraging generosity without expectation of recognition.
The next evolution of Secret Santa occurred in December 2000, when Elfster's founder, Peter Imberg, saw firsthand the challenges of organizing a family gift exchange. Watching his wife, Kelly, and her sister-in-law struggle to assign names manually, he realized that technology could simplify this process. In 2004, he launched Elfster, a free online website that allows people to easily send invitations, draw names, track Wishlists, and organize their Secret Santa exchanges. Today, Elfster connects over 33 million users across more than 50 countries, enabling seamless participation in Secret Santa worldwide.
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In 2024, Elfster officially declared November 25 as National Start a Secret Santa Day, encouraging people to kick off their holiday gift exchanges early. The day celebrates the spirit of anonymous giving, bringing together family, friends, and communities through the joy of gift-giving.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1741</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Early Origins of Secret Santa</div><div class='timeline-text'>The earliest record of a tradition similar to Secret Santa, known as Julklapp, emerged in Sweden, involving anonymous gift-giving during Christmas.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>18th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Spread to other European Countries</div><div class='timeline-text'>Secret Santa spreads to Northern Europe, including Germany and Scandinavia, where the Germanic witchel, a secret helper to Santa, became part of the tradition.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1979</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Secret Santa Philanthropist Emerges</div><div class='timeline-text'>Larry Dean Stewart began anonymously donating money to the needy during Christmas, laying the foundation for the modern version of Secret Santa.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1984</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Formation of Secret Santa Society</div><div class='timeline-text'>Stewart founded the Society of Secret Santas, an international organization that encourages anonymous gift-giving around the world.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2004</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Secret Santa Goes Digital</div><div class='timeline-text'>Elfster, the world’s #1 Secret Santa website and app was founded, significantly contributing to the organizing and participating in Secret Santa gift exchanges.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Secret Santa Goes Global</div><div class='timeline-text'>With the rise of digital platforms, Secret Santa celebrations become globalized, allowing people from distant parts of the world to participate.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2024</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Start a Secret Santa Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Elfster announces November 25th as National Start a Secret Santa Day, encouraging people globally to kick-start the cherished tradition of a Secret Santa gift exchange.</div></div></div>
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<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Throw a Secret Santa Kickoff Party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Host a get-together to officially invite your friends, family, or coworkers to join the Secret Santa Gift Exchange. Use this time to explain the rules and create your gift wishlists, making it easier for everyone to shop for each other and find the perfect gift.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Decide on a Secret Santa theme</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>To add a fun twist to your Secret Santa, choose a theme for the gifts! It could be something fun like "Homemade Crafts," "Books," "Travel Essentials," or something more unusual like "Weird and Wonderful". A theme can make the gift-giving process even more exciting and unpredictable.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Introduce new friends to the tradition</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>National Start a Secret Santa Day is the perfect opportunity to introduce new friends, colleagues, or distant family members to this fun tradition. Extend an invitation to anyone who has never participated before and show them the joy of giving (and receiving) in secret!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Plan a gift exchange party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Decide on a specific date for the gift exchange to ensure everyone is prepared and has time to buy their gifts before the day arrives. This could be planned around a Christmas party at the office, a gathering at your house, or even an online event via video call if your participants are spread out geographically.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Reconnect with old friends and family</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Use this day to reconnect with loved ones you haven't spoken to in a while. Not only will you be spreading some holiday cheer, but you'll also be reviving relationships that may have dipped due to busy schedules and diverging life paths.</p></div></div>
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<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a tradition that brings fun and mystery</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Secret Santa not only brings us joy through gifting, but it also adds an element of fun and mystery. Everyone enjoys the suspense and surprise of seeing who their Secret Santa is and what gift they have chosen for them. It's a tradition that makes the holiday season even more special.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages creativity and thoughtfulness</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Secret Santa encourages us to be creative and thoughtful when choosing gifts for others. With themes and wishlists, it can be a fun challenge to find the perfect gift that shows we've put thought into finding something our recipient will love. Plus, it's a great way to get to know the likes and dislikes of friends or colleagues better.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It connects people in a unique way</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Secret Santa has the power to connect people in a way few other traditions can. Whether it's among friends, family, coworkers, or even online communities, Secret Santa brings people together across the globe. It's a festive tradition that promotes bonding, cheerfulness, and caring amongst groups, adding warmth to the holiday season.</p></div></div>
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