Many games are played with friends and family around the holidays, bringing people together throughout December. Secret Santa is one of the most prominent Christmas games and is well-loved by many. For anyone unfamiliar, it involves getting together with a group, throwing names in a hat to draw from, and then getting a gift for whoever you pull. Hence the name, you become their ‘secret Santa’. 

This beloved game is overrated. Secret Santa may have begun as an intimate game, reserved for close friend groups and family gatherings. Still, in recent years it has become a normalized activity of any social group during the holidays. Some people do Secret Santa with classmates or friends-of-friends, which causes some problems to arise like not knowing someone or their interests, making purchasing their gift extremely difficult. Vice versa, when you receive your gift, the care and personal touch are gone, and you could end up with a bad gift. 

It is important to cherish any kindness sent your way. Giving and receiving gifts during the holidays is a product of generosity; additionally, appreciation for gifts can go a long way. The meaning of the holidays is to come together and share joyful moments. While all of this is true, the enjoyment of participating in a game where your giver is disinterested can ruin the mood of the holiday. 

White Elephant, another activity involving gifts, is a superior holiday game. It entails everyone in the group bringing a neutral gift. Then, through a process of drawing numbers for an arrangement, everyone gets to pick a gift and trade it with others. It becomes a fun game, and while it is less personal, everyone can enjoy it without the pressure of getting a good gift. It is common to play with unserious gifts. 

Both Secret Santa and White Elephant are holiday games meant to connect the people around us and to make celebrations even more enjoyable. Therefore, they should be free of unnecessary stress and disappointment, making White Elephant the perfect choice.