The Sprightly Spud

Whether you consider yourself a gift buying extraordinaire, or rely heavily on Amazon vouchers, finding the perfect present for your family members is a pivotal part of yuletide preparations. Not only this, but choosing the wrong one could have dire consequences, and lead to frosty family circumstances for the 12 months that follow. The pressure to find items that your loved ones will appreciate can be somewhat overwhelming, particularly if you’re blessed with a large family – hence why we decided to adopt a new approach… Secret Santa.

As a small unit of three people, we often enjoy a ‘blended’ celebration with my godparents, and their daughters, who I grew up with like sisters, giving us a fairly sizeable tribe of seven people around the Christmas table. In 2021, we had the opportunity to spend the holidays in Jamaica, which was a fantastic experience for a whole number of reasons. It was also, however, a pricey one.

Being abroad for Christmas meant two things were tight; budgets and luggage space. Hence why all buying and transporting individual gifts for each member of our group would be inconvenient, and most likely lead to fairly pathetic pressies, chosen for their small size, and affordability, rather than suitability to the recipient. In order to overcome these challenges, we decided to turn to the office staple; an anonymous ballot.

It was at my birthday dinner on the 27th November that year, squeezed round a table in Frankie and Benny’s (classy, I know), when the time came to draw the names. Mum scavenged in her handbag for a pen, before scribbling each of our names on a napkin, and tearing it into pieces. There must have been a better way of conducting this ballot, but we clearly hadn’t thought of it at the time. We left the table clutching our shreds of serviette, ready to use our £10 spending limit to create as much chaos as possible.

Fast-forward four weeks, and we were all looking considerably more tanned, and sat round a table with a very different outlook. Our Caribbean Christmas breakfast was in full swing, and it was time to bring out the big guns…

The gifts did not fail to impress. Ranging from personalised T-shirts, to thoughtful jewellery, and a ‘Borat’ style lime green mankini (received by my father), we were all both grateful, and entertained by the £10 treats we received. Despite this, there was one small hitch in the proceedings: I did not receive a gift.

Thanks mum.

I was a little disappointed, but in reality the whole experience was so hilarious that I was satisfied enough.

I’d love to know what our fellow diners were thinking as my father paraded round in a fluorescent one-piece. Regardless, our new tradition was established.

The following year brought a very different type of Christmas for us. Firstly, our combined family had gained a member in the form of my god sister’s boyfriend, and secondly we were celebrating in Wrexham, not the West Indies. Unafraid to make radical decisions, we had chosen to have our turkey dinner on the 24th, in our local Premier Inn. With a three course meal costing around £50 per head on the actual big day, but just £17 each on Christmas Eve, it seemed silly to splash out the extra for the sake of a 24 hours. What’s more, with energy prices soaring, we deemed that dining out was probably more affordable than creating our own turkey feast.

This time round we had managed to successfully allocate givers and receivers so that no one was left empty handed, and we rolled home for the evening in fits of giggles after a delicious night of affordable food and humorous gifts.

So, what are the most important reasons why Secret Santa should not be confined to the office Christmas party?

1. It’s budget-friendly

We’re in a cost of living crisis! Not only does the mystery ballot reduce the number of presents you are expected to shell out on, but the £10 limit keeps expenditure to an achievable level. What’s more, no member of the party feels hard done to, as everyone receives something of equivalent value. A foolproof way to make Christmas fairer, and obviously the specific spending guidelines are flexible to your economic situation.

2. Good for grown-ups

Much to my surprise, I am officially an adult now, meaning our whole family group are (theoretically) mature, sensible and intelligent citizens. The net effect of this is that we appreciate each other’s company more than mountains of little presents, and know each other well enough to choose a festive treat that will inspire a smile.

We all have jobs, commitments and limited time, so reducing the pressure to scour the high street for a pressie that suits all our relatives is a lifesaver, meaning Secret Santa is the best option for keeping morale up, and manic buying to a minimum.

This said, our non-traditional system would not have worked when we were younger. Asking a three year old to choose one special thing for their great aunt, and allowing them to do it in secret, has a success rate of approximately zero.

3. It’s free entertainment

Cast your mind back to 3 pm last Christmas Day… nana is snoring gently, sherry still in hand, mum is desperately trying to repair the kitchen, dad is attempting to bring out the table trivia, and the cousins have decided they hate each other.

Secret Santa could be the solution.

Give nana a poke and bring out the pressies. The sense of mystery will lighten the mood of any fading festive scene.

4. You may actually get a better quality gift

Albeit a £10 budget does not provide huge flexibility for splashing out on the most treasured item you’re sister will ever own, but the fact that you only have to consider her gift will inevitably leave you with more time and brain power left to find something special. Unless you’re a self confessed materialist, which is perfectly ok, then Secret Santa may leave you feeling more seasonal satisfaction than ever before.

In conclusion, Secret Santa is not a Yuletide ritual that needs to be confined to the office. The myriad benefits of choosing, and receiving one special gift, could enhance the festive atmosphere of any, more mature, family, particularly large ones. It’s the definition of cheap and cheerful – what’s not to like.