Gift exchange games
Secret Santa is just one way to swap gifts. These eight formats suit different group sizes, ages and levels of chaos. Pick the one that matches your party.
White elephant (Yankee swap)
Everyone brings a wrapped gift. Players take turns opening or stealing. Gifts freeze after three steals.
Tip: Set a steal limit and ban the immediate steal-back. Hollyhush tracks it for you.
Learn more →Secret Santa
Each person is assigned one other person to buy for, and gifts are exchanged on the day.
Tip: Add exclusions for couples and use wishlists so gifts land well.
Learn more →The dice game
Everyone brings a gift. Players roll dice in turn. Specific numbers mean swapping with the left or right, or opening a new gift. When the timer ends, you keep what you hold.
Tip: Great with kids, fast and full of laughs. Use a 15-minute timer.
Learn more →Pass-the-gift story
Read a story with "left" and "right" in it. Each time you hear one, pass the gift that way. The gift you hold at the end is yours.
Tip: Write the story yourself with your group's inside jokes.
Learn more →Reverse white elephant
All the gifts are open from the start. Players choose or steal from the table, then everyone gets a final swap.
Tip: It rewards the people who bring beautiful gifts.
Learn more →Guess the giver
Gifts are numbered, opened one at a time and the group guesses who brought each.
Tip: Add small clues on the tags. Everyone gets a gift and a game.
Learn more →Secret Santa with a reveal
Run a Secret Santa, but keep the names hidden until the party. People guess who had them before the reveal.
Tip: Hollyhush can hide names until a date you pick.
Learn more →Gift bingo
Each player gets a card of gift types ("something warm", "something edible"). When the gift you open matches a square, mark it. First to complete a line chooses a gift next.
Tip: Print cards from the group chat and make it a casual race.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Which gift exchange game is best for a large group?
White elephant with a steal limit of 1 or 2, or the dice game. Both keep play moving.
Which is best for kids?
The dice game or pass-the-gift story. They're quick and everyone gets a gift.
Which is best when people can't attend?
Secret Santa with a shipping deadline, plus a video call to open gifts.