Secret Santa is a popular holiday tradition where a group of people, usually friends or family, exchange gifts anonymously. The participants draw names to determine who they will buy a gift for, but the identity of the gift-giver remains a secret until the gift is opened. Although it is intended to be fun to enhance the holiday, the activity can become stressful because Secret Santa often comes from the pressure to pick the right gift while staying within a set budget.
The excitement of picking out a gift for someone and seeing their reaction adds to the holiday spirit. Another big aspect of Secret Santa is setting a budget. The budget could be any price range and it’s up to the Secret Santa hosts to decide whether a budget exists. When Secret Santa is done at school everyone lists the things they enjoy to help get to know each other and the budgets for these can commonly range from $10-$20. The challenge is finding a gift that feels personal and affordable while staying within the budget. While the set limit is meant to make things fair and manageable, it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Senior Johana Gomez enjoys participating in Secret Santa because she thinks it’s a fun way to get to know her classmates better, especially in large classes where she doesn’t interact with everyone. She also believes this game strengthens friendships because the act of choosing a meaningful gift, shows that the person has put thought into what they might appreciate. This year Gomez is participating in two secret Santas, one for her dance class and another for her Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) class.
“I feel like it’s a lot of more just, like picking out what they might like,” said Gomez.
One of the more stressful parts about participating in Secret Santa is picking out the perfect gift. With only limited information about the person, it can be difficult to find something they will truly like. The fear of them not liking the gift can make the process feel more like a task than a fun holiday game.
Sophomore Isabella Mejorado believes Secret Santa is enjoyable, but also stressful when she doesn’t know the person’s gift preference. Mejorado participated in two secret Santas this year, one with friends and one with the Associated Student Body (ASB). She feels proud when she finds a gift she thinks will please the person, but worries it will be met with a negative reaction. Participating in multiple secret Santa’s can be challenging because it requires time management for deadlines and a considerate gift selection.
“I feel like, if I don’t get them a good enough gift, then they’re gonna hate me forever,” said Mejorado.
Although Secret Santa can be a fun experience, the pressure of finding the right gift for someone while keeping it a secret can be nerve-wracking. An adequate gift may include something useful and thoughtful within a budget. The secret aspect adds another layer of complexity, while still making it personal. Along with this, fitting in the time to shop and wrap the present can feel like an added stress. These factors can turn what’s meant to be a fun holiday tradition into a stressful task.
