Title image: @ronyahmononoke
In short: Good Secret Santa gifts for fans are small, useful and come with a wink from someone's favourite universe. Up to 10 euros, mystery figures, keyrings and quirky kitchen gadgets work best. Up to 20 euros, go for notebooks, mugs, hot water bottles and socks in a gift box. Here are 12 ideas from The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, One Piece, Demon Slayer and more.
Same story every year: names have been drawn, there is one on your slip of paper and suddenly all you know about this person is that they like "something Star Wars". Don't panic. That is exactly what Secret Santa gifts are for: they look like more than they cost and still show you put some thought into it.
I have picked twelve favourites from our Secret Santa gifts, sorted by budget. You will also find tips for the office, for fun groups and for White Elephant swaps. And if you turn up to the gift exchange in the Christmas Grinch knitted jumper, the festive mood is already taken care of.
What is Secret Santa?
In Secret Santa, everyone in a group secretly draws a name and gives a present to exactly that person. Who gives to whom usually stays a secret until the presents are opened, sometimes forever. In German it is called Wichteln, after the Wichtel: little house spirits from old folk tales who secretly do good deeds at night.
To keep things fair, the group agrees on a budget beforehand. 10 or 20 euros are common. That takes the pressure off and makes the search more fun, because a good Secret Santa gift is about the idea, not the price.
Secret Santa gifts up to 10 euros
Small budget, big impact: up to 10 euros, mystery figures, bag charms and little desk treasures are the safest bets.
1. A mystery figure from Middle-earth. The The Lord of the Rings Mystery Funko Bitty Pop figure is a surprise inside a surprise. Only the pack reveals which figure is inside. That means suspense at the party and trading afterwards.
2. A katana for your desk. With the Demon Slayer Tanjiro katana pen with stand, every to-do list becomes a mission. It sits on its stand like a real sword and still only writes notes.
3. Something sweet for your bag. The Hello Kitty & Friends Sweet Treats mystery bag charm fits on a backpack, keys or pencil case. The figure is a surprise here too, and it is calorie-free either way.
4. The hat that sorts the salt. The Salting Hat salt shaker for Harry Potter fans brings the Sorting Hat to the dinner table. It does not decide on houses, but it does decide on seasoning.
5. Gear 5 on your keyring. The One Piece Monkey D. Luffy Gear 5 Funko Pop keyring shows Luffy at his happiest. Perfect for anyone who wants to be in a good mood at least while looking for their keys.
Secret Santa gifts up to 20 euros
With a bit more budget, things get practical: notebooks, mugs and socks do not end up in a drawer, they actually get used.
6. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. The Harry Potter Marauder's Map notebook is my favourite for the office. It looks classy, it is useful and only those in the know will recognise what it really stands for.
7. Coasters from a galaxy far, far away. The Star Wars spaceship coaster set protects the desk from coffee rings. Every mug lands safely, even without landing clearance.
8. Pizza in less than twelve parsecs. The Millennium Falcon pizza cutter is the gift for anyone who takes pizza night seriously. Han Solo would be proud, Chewie would be hungry.
9. Coffee for hunters. The Supernatural Sam & Dean in Jail mug shows the Winchester brothers in a place they have visited more often than they would like. Just the right mood for Monday morning.
10. Tea with Maomao. The Maomao mug for The Apothecary Diaries fans is ideal for anyone who likes to know what is in their tea. Maomao would probably taste it first.
11. Warm wishes from Grogu. The Grogu hot water bottle from The Mandalorian is the cosiest gift on the list. It reliably helps against cold offices, but not against cuteness.
12. Socks for the road to Mordor. The Middle-earth socks 3-pack in a gift box come ready-packed, which saves you a step in the busy run-up to Christmas. Hobbits may go barefoot, but you don't have to.
Secret Santa gifts for colleagues
Secret Santa gifts for colleagues should be useful and never too personal. At work you often only know someone's favourite fandom, not their favourite colour, and that is plenty.
The safest choices are things that end up on a desk: the Marauder's Map notebook, the coasters or the katana pen. Mugs always work, as long as the office kitchen isn't already bursting at the seams. My tip: listen a little more closely at the coffee machine in December. Anyone talking about the new season of a show has just done half the work for you.
Funny Secret Santa gifts and White Elephant
Funny Secret Santa gifts work best when they tell a joke from the fandom and still get used. The salt shaker with a hat, the spaceship pizza cutter or the mug with the Winchesters behind bars make the group laugh and do not disappear into the basement afterwards.
White Elephant, known in Germany as Schrottwichteln or "junk Secret Santa", is a different game. Everyone brings something they have lying around at home that is as odd as possible: the third salad bowl, a calendar from 2019, Aunt Erika's porcelain angel. Often people take turns rolling dice and swapping until nobody knows what belongs to whom. Fan merch is actually too good for it. But anyone who secretly sneaks something lovely into a White Elephant swap becomes a legend.
Frequently asked questions about Secret Santa gifts
What do you give for Secret Santa?
For Secret Santa, people usually give small, personal things within the agreed budget. Mugs, notebooks, socks, keyrings and figures are popular. A link to someone's favourite film, show or game turns a small gift into a personal one.
How much do you spend on Secret Santa?
The group agrees on the budget together beforehand. 10 or 20 euros are common, sometimes more in families. The only important thing is that everyone sticks to it.
What is White Elephant?
White Elephant is a variant where everyone brings something unloved or odd from home. The presents are often swapped in a dice game. It is about the fun, not the value.
What should I give for Secret Santa if I barely know the person?
If you barely know the person, useful little things with a well-known motif are the safest choice. Almost everyone knows Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. A notebook or a coaster set also suits any desk.
What Secret Santa gifts are there for anime fans?
For anime fans, figures, keyrings and mugs from their current favourite shows are a good fit. This list includes One Piece, Demon Slayer and The Apothecary Diaries. Mystery figures are especially popular because they invite swapping.
And now: draw names, find a gift
Names in the hat, draw, no cheating. If you need more ideas, have a look at my post on Harry Potter gifts.
You will find all the little joys for your next gift exchange in our Secret Santa gifts.
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