We're not sure where the name "Dirty Santa" originated, but it's meant to refer to game participants, the "Santas," stealing desirable gifts from each other. As opposed to Secret Santa, where participants are trying to guess who their personalized gifts are from, Dirty Santa adds a fun, competitive twist.
It is called dirty because game participants steal gifts from each other in the attempt to end up with the best possible gift. Gifts for Dirty Santa are typically something fun, new, unique, and in good taste. Unlike the White Elephant gift exchange, Dirty Santa gifts are usually items the recipients will want and use.
The phrase is said to come from a perspective about the historic practice of the King of Siam (now Thailand) giving rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the animals' upkeep costs.
Dirty Santa is a common name for the game in the South, while Yankee Swap is particularly popular in the northeast & New England.
Typically, a Dirty Santa gift is something silly, funny, or just downright ridiculous. Hosts can choose a theme for the gifts such as DIY only, gag gifts, gifts inspired by a popular show, etc. Before the party, guests should wrap or bag their gift without a name or tag. The goal is to stay anonymous.
A White Elephant gift exchange is also known as a Yankee swap or a Dirty Santa gift exchange. It's a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged.
Kris Kringle (or K.K.) starts by putting the names of all employees in a hat. Each person draws out the name of a colleague and that is the person that they need to buy a gift for. K.K. is also referred to as “Secret Santa” and the idea is to not tell anyone whose name they have drawn.
The name for this type of gift exchange comes from an old tale from the Kingdom of Siam, known today as Thailand. The story goes that the king would give a rare albino elephant to other rulers that he did not like.
I'm going to share with you some expert tips, tested through mathematical modelling, on how to win one of the most popular games: Bad Santa – also known as Dirty Santa, White Elephant, Grab Bag, Yankee Swap, Thieving Secret Santa, or simply “that present-stealing game”.
'Bad Santa' Kris Kringle
Once you're all ready, place the gifts in the middle of your group and pick a number. Whoever gets number one gets to pick a present and unwrap it, and so on. The catch is that anyone who unwraps a present can steal a gift from the person before them.
Although Nast had gotten the paraphernalia of reindeer, sleigh, etc down to a tee, the famous red suit was still yet to be set. Over the decades Santa would be depicted in a variety of colours such as blue, green and the yellow as pictured in this 1864 edition of Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas".
The exchange is a popular holiday tradition that originated in China. Families celebrate by exchanging small gifts with each other. The tradition is believed to have originated from an old story in which a man had to choose between three different gifts-a book, a painting or a sword.
These include Saint Nicholas, a 4th Century Greek bishop - who famously wore red robes while giving gifts to the poor, especially children - and the English folk figure "Father Christmas", whose original green robes turned red over time.
According to tradition, the original Saint Nicholas put gold coins in the stockings of three poor sisters. One night, the girls left their stockings drying over the fireplace. Saint Nicholas knew the family was very poor, so he threw three bags of gold coins down the chimney. The money landed in the sisters' stockings.
Pollyanna is a somewhat general term, and is used for both Secret Santas and white elephant style exchanges and also exchanges where who gets what gift is decided after all the gifts are bought and wrapped.
"The leaving of cookies for Santa or St. Nicholas is a tradition that started during the Feast of St. Nicholas that the Dutch held each year," said Smith. "They would bring cookies to honor the saint, and to give travelers a snack for when they arrived from all over the country to praise the saint."
Dr. Lamminen says that for typically developing children, the years between age 7 and 11 mark a big change in thinking. Younger children are more imaginative, but not very logical, making it easy to believe in Santa. By age 7, believing starts to become more difficult.
Therefore fantasy and mythical beings, such as Santa, the tooth fairy and even Disney princesses can be very real to young children. Allowing your child to believe, even though they eventually will find out the truth, will not be traumatizing or harmful to their development.
The Age Most Kids Figure It Out
According to psychologists, believing in Santa can be beneficial to children because it teaches selflessness and service to others.
Yankee Swap is more popular in New England and is a reference to the swapping of prisoners of war during the American Civil War. Some claim that generals made a game out of these swaps, and they even assigned different values to each prisoner, kind of like a brute barter system.
Number 1 gets to choose first. She chooses the biggest, or shiniest, or most interesting-looking gift, and opens it in front of everyone. Number 2 then has two options: he can either “steal” that gift, or select a new one from the pile and open it. So on and so forth, until everyone has a gift.
Gift exchange games are certainly a popular pastime at many holiday gatherings. In a Pollyanna Gift Exchange, participants anonymously purchase a gift for a randomly-selected person in the group. The best gifts are inexpensive, personalized, and, of course, funny!
The identity of the gift giver is to remain a secret until revealed at the end. Look out for websites online to pair with your Secret Santa buddy. Secret Santa: a game that keeps the mystery, thrill and surprise of holiday gifting alive!
Kris Kringle is a synonym of Secret Santa, a gift exchange tradition that has its roots in early Christmas traditions. Originally, Kris Kringle was derived from 'Christkindl', the German word for Christ Child.
Origins Of The Game
Some believe the gift exchange stems from Siam (now Thailand) where a very annoyed King of Siam gave albino elephants to courtiers who had upset him.