The Secret Santa tradition comes from the United States and Quebec. In French, it’s sometimes called Père Noël secret, a literal translation of the English name. Some sources trace its roots back to the Netherlands and its Sinterklaas celebrations.
It’s a bit like a surprise Christmas: The idea is to exchange gifts on a set, often modest budget. It’s especially popular among groups of friends, students, work colleagues and flatmates, and the main aim is to enjoy some time together.
Secret Santa is based on a draw, and there are several ways to play. Usually, you draw the name of the person you’ll be buying a present for. In other versions, the draw happens on the spot, as the presents are handed out.
























