Kris Kringle generator
Sort out the office or family Kris Kringle in a minute: add names, set who can’t draw whom, add wish lists and a budget in Australian dollars, then send each person a private link by text or WhatsApp.
Do your Kris Kringle draw
How the Kris Kringle draw works
- List everyone taking part. Type names one by one or paste the list from an email or chat.
- Add the rules. Partners can’t draw each other, and you can rule out any other pairing, such as last year’s match or two people who sit side by side.
- Choose A$ and enter the limit. Add the exchange date and, if you like, a note for everyone, such as the venue of the Christmas lunch.
- Draw. Pairs are hidden from you as the organizer, so you can join the Kris Kringle too.
- Send each private link by SMS, WhatsApp, Teams or Slack. Each person taps Reveal and sees only their own match, with that person’s wish list.
Kris Kringle or Secret Santa?
Same game, different name. The Macquarie Dictionary describes Secret Santa as a ritual in which each person gives a present to one other randomly selected member of the group, within a price limit, and notes that it is also known as Kris Kringle. Australian recruiter Employment Plus calls Secret Santa or Kris Kringle “a popular gift giving tradition” in workplaces across the country, often shortened to “K.K.”.
The name travelled a long way to get there. It comes from the German Christkindl, “Christ child”, and in the United States Kris Kringle became another name for Santa Claus himself. In Australia it stuck to the gift exchange instead.
Macquarie also mentions a second version some groups play under the same name: everyone brings a gift, draws a number and picks presents in order, with stealing allowed. That’s what most of the world calls a white elephant. If your team means that one, see the white elephant rules and use the turn-order generator there instead.
A summer Kris Kringle
Christmas in Australia falls in summer, which can shape the exchange. The swap might happen at a barbecue, a picnic, a beach day or the end-of-year work lunch rather than around a fire. Gifts that suit the season make sense:
- A good beach or picnic towel, or an insulated bottle or cooler bag.
- Sunscreen, a sun hat or polarised sunglasses (if sizes and tastes are known).
- Outdoor games: a frisbee, beach cricket set or a deck of waterproof cards.
- Treats that cope with heat: think twice about chocolate that has to sit in a hot car.
- Plants, seeds or garden tools for anyone with a balcony or backyard.
The gift ideas pages list A$ equivalents for each budget.
Office Kris Kringle tips
Employment Plus warns that because KK gifts are anonymous, a joke can fall flat or be used to send a message the giver wouldn’t say face to face, which can hurt team morale. A few simple rules prevent most of that:
| Rule | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Opt in privately | Nobody is put on the spot |
| One A$ limit for everyone | Gifts feel equal, whatever people earn |
| No gag or personal gifts | Avoids awkward moments and complaints |
| Check allergies | Food is a popular gift |
| Plan for absences | Leave and rosters mean someone is always away |
The office guide has an announcement template and timeline, and the questionnaire helps people who don’t know their match.
Other names for Secret Santa
Frequently asked questions
Is Kris Kringle the same as Secret Santa?
Yes. In Australia, Kris Kringle (or KK) is a common name for the same draw: each person picks one name and buys that person one gift within a budget. The name comes from German Christkindl, “Christ child”.
Any tips for a summer Kris Kringle?
Christmas falls in summer in Australia, so the exchange might happen at a barbecue, a picnic or the end-of-year work lunch. Gifts that suit the season go down well: a beach towel, an insulated bottle, sunscreen, or treats that won’t melt in a hot car.
Do I need email addresses?
No. Names are enough. You share each person’s private link however you like: WhatsApp, a text message, a chat app or by copying it. If you add an email address, it’s only used to open a pre-filled message in your own email app when you press Email; the site itself never sends anything.
Can the organizer see who has whom?
Not by accident. The pairs are hidden after the draw, and seeing them takes a deliberate click on “Show all pairs” plus a confirmation. Be aware that the organizer creates every link and could open them, because the details are scrambled inside the link rather than truly encrypted. If the organizer wants to stay fully in the dark, they shouldn’t open other people’s links, or the group can draw paper slips instead.
How do I keep couples from drawing each other?
Open Details next to one partner’s name and choose the other person under “Partner”. Partners can’t draw each other in either direction. For other rules, tick names under “Who can’t … draw?”, for example to stop someone drawing the same person as last year. If the rules leave no possible draw, the generator tells you which people are blocking it.
How much should Secret Santa gifts cost?
Whatever your group agrees on; the most important thing is that everyone knows the same number before shopping. Many groups pick a modest, round amount so nobody feels pressure, often lower at work than among close friends or family. Put the amount in the Budget field and it appears on every reveal.
What if we have an odd number of people?
That’s fine. Secret Santa doesn’t need pairs: each person gives one gift and receives one gift, and the gifts form loops (Alex buys for Sam, Sam buys for Jo, Jo buys for Alex). Any group of 3 or more works, odd or even.
Can I redo the draw?
Yes. Press Redraw (or change the people or exclusions and press “Draw again”). Links you already sent will still open the old result, so send everyone their new link and ask them to ignore the old one.
Can I use it for non-Christmas exchanges (Eid, Hanukkah, birthdays, Galentine’s)?
Yes. Nothing about the draw is tied to Christmas: it works for any gift exchange where each person buys for one other person, at any time of year. Use the group name and note to describe your occasion.
Sources
- Macquarie Dictionary, Word of the Week: “Secret Santa” (also known as Kris Kringle): www.macquariedictionary.com.au/secret-santa/
- Employment Plus (Australia), “Tips to make your office Kris Kringle a success”: www.employmentplus.com.au/news/tips-to-make-your-office-kris-kringle-a-success
- Merriam-Webster, “Kriss Kringle” (etymology: German Christkindl): www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kriss%20Kringle
Updated · Written by the GiftShuffle team