YOUR GROUP, YOUR RULES
Dirty Santa and Secret Santa rules for your group.
What counts as a quirky gift? When do you unwrap it? And who can draw whom? Agree on these things beforehand so everyone can look forward to the exchange.
1. Agree on the gifts
The classic choice is something you already own and no longer need. Decide together whether your gifts should be unusual, funny or still useful. “Junk” can have charm: a broken device or a dirty object rarely makes a good gift.
You can set specific limits: no food, nothing fragile, or only things that fit into a shoebox. Consider what the people in your group will be comfortable with.
2. Set the budget and theme
Decide whether to give only things you already own or allow a small purchase. If you set a budget, it applies to everyone. A theme such as “The oddest attic find”, “Kitsch with a story” or “Everything from the kitchen” makes the search even more fun.
3. Make the participant list
The organiser lists everyone’s name and shares one invitation link. Each person opens the link, selects their name and signs in or creates an account. You do not need invitation emails for this.
Check the name list before releasing the draw. In a private name-list round, listed people can still join afterwards. Using “Finish drawing”, the organiser closes invitations and adjusts assignments to the people actually taking part. A recipient you have already drawn may change as a result.
4. Draw names secretly
Each person gives exactly one gift and receives exactly one gift. No one draws themselves. Set any pairing exclusions before the draw. When you create a new round from an existing group, existing exclusions and last year’s pairings carry over as exclusions. The app checks that a complete draw is possible.
The agreed rules are fixed when the draw is released. Before the event day, you can only see your own result. From midnight Austrian time on the event day, the organiser can see all assignments to account for absences.
5. Plan the date and unwrapping
Note when and where you will meet. Save the address or location of your party so everyone can open directions. Unwrapping together works particularly well when the gifts are wrapped similarly and labelled with the recipient’s name. Decide beforehand whether the giver stays anonymous or can be guessed while unwrapping.
6. Share your memories
After the exchange, share photos of your quirky gifts in the private group gallery. Add a short description explaining where the item came from or why it suits its recipient.
7. Set your DirtySantaChamp rules
If you want to use DirtySantaChamp, the organiser sets challenges in a bingo grid. A completed square needs photo or document proof. A complete line wins. Agree in advance on the DirtySantaChamp’s role next year, such as choosing the theme or opening the gift exchange.
A short rules template to get you started
We give a clean item we already own. Our theme is “Kitsch with a story”. Please wrap it anonymously and write your recipient’s name on it. There is no need to buy anything new. We will unwrap our gifts together at the party.
This template is a starting point. Add it as your group’s rules and adjust it to suit your wishes.
Still looking? Find quirky gift ideas here →
Secret Santa, Dirty Santa or White Elephant?
Choose the format before you invite people. In Secret Santa, everyone draws a recipient before the party and prepares a gift for that person. In Dirty Santa or White Elephant, everyone brings a wrapped gift for the group and players open or steal gifts during the party. House rules vary.
The app supports the secret recipient draw. It does not run live stealing turns or dice rounds. If you prefer a Dirty Santa or White Elephant party, you can use the following suggested rules at the table without drawing recipients online.
How to play Dirty Santa: a suggested set of rules
Agree on a budget and whether gifts should be new, pre-owned or a mix. Each person brings one wrapped gift. This version uses neither recipient labels on the packages nor a secret assignment.
- Draw numbered slips to decide the turn order. Player 1 chooses a gift from the pile and unwraps it.
- On each following turn, choose either to open a new gift or to take an unwrapped gift from another player.
- If your gift is taken, open a new one or take a different unwrapped gift. You cannot immediately take back the gift you just lost.
- In this suggested version, each gift can be stolen no more than three times in total, then it stays with its current holder. After three steals within a single turn, the person without a gift must open a new one.
- The game ends when the last gift is unwrapped and everyone has one. This simple version has no extra final swap.
These limits are suggested house rules. Write them down before you begin so everyone knows the agreement when a popular gift changes hands.