How to play the Dirty Santa game?

Dirty Santa (or White Elephant) rules involve guests bringing wrapped, anonymous gifts, drawing numbers for turn order, and then taking turns to either open a new gift or steal one already opened by someone else, with common rules limiting how many times a gift can be stolen before it's locked. The first player (number 1) gets the first choice, and the last player often gets a final chance to swap, keeping the game fun and chaotic until everyone settles on their final gift.

What are the rules of playing Dirty Santa?

How does a White Elephant gift exchange work? Dirty Santa rules

• Count your players and write numbers on cards. ...
• Set a limit for the number of times a gift can be stolen.
• One by one, each player will pick a gift. ...
• If your gift is stolen, you can choose a new gift to open or steal another one from a different player.

How to play the bad Santa game?

Bad Santa is a game where everyone buys a single gift designed to be wanted by everyone. You wrap the gift anonymously and don't address it to anyone. All players put their names in a hat, and then draw the names and each person has to decide if they open a present or steal a gift off someone that has a gift.

How to end the Dirty Santa game?

When all the gifts have been opened, the person who drew #1 has the option to steal a gift (since they did not have any gifts to steal initially). If they choose not to steal and keep the gift they have, the game is over. If they decide to steal, then the game continues until someone decides to keep their gift.

What is the #1 rule in Dirty Santa?

Whoever drew #1 selects a gift from the mysterious pile of gifts, opens it, and reveals what it is to everyone. Whoever drew #2 can either select a gift from the pile or choose to steal #1's gift (this is where the dirty in "Dirty Santa" comes in). If #1's gift is stolen, they must choose a new gift.

Lets Play Dirty Santa

Do you open gifts on the 24th or 25th?

You open gifts on the 24th or 25th depending on family tradition, with many in the US, Canada, and UK opening them Christmas morning (25th), while many in Europe (like Germany, Nordic countries) open them Christmas Eve (24th) after dinner or at midnight, with some families splitting presents between both days or even opening some on Boxing Day. 

What kind of gifts do you buy for Dirty Santa?

Booze, wine, beer, and drinking-related gifts always seem to go over well, in part because they're also the easiest gifts to regift. But remember, just because it's called “dirty Santa” doesn't mean your gift should be dirty.

How to play Dirty Santa with unwrapped gifts?

When all gifts have been unwrapped, usually the person who drew #1 is allowed one more turn to make the final steal or choose to keep what they already have. If #1 is satisfied and keeps their gift, the game ends. If they choose to steal, the game continues until someone chooses to keep their gift.

What is the White Elephant Dirty Santa game?

A white elephant gift exchange, Yankee swap or Dirty Santa is a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during Christmas festivities. The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to give or acquire a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item.

How to play Dirty Santa with dice?

In this version, we still roll play Dirty Santa with dice – rolling for a double. Once a student has a double, he may choose a gift or steal a gift. The same rule applies – the gift permanently belongs to the third person who takes/steals it (taken for the first time, stolen once, stolen twice = three possessions).

What is another name for Dirty Santa?

Exploring The Different Names For White Elephant Gift Exchanges

• Yankee Swap. ...
• Dirty Santa. ...
• Chinese Gift Exchange. ...
• Thieving Secret Santa. ...
• Kris Kringle. ...
• Pollyanna Gift Exchange. ...
• Rob Your Neighbor. ...
• Thieves' Christmas.

Why is the game called Dirty Santa?

Southern U.S. Regionalism: The name is most common in the American South and specifically refers to the game's competitive, "cutthroat" nature and the act of participants (the "Santas") stealing desirable gifts from each other.

How to play dirty 30 dice game?

For every die they roll with the face value being the number of points over 30 they had rolled, the die is set aside and the player to their left gets those points subtracted. This continues until for as long as they continue to roll dice of the correct number. Play then continues to the left.

How to play white elephant gift?

Official White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules

1. Each player brings one wrapped gift to contribute to a common pool. ...
2. Players draw numbers to determine what order they will go in. ...
3. Players sit in a circle or line where they can see the gift pile. ...
4. The first player selects a gift from the pool and opens it.

What are the rules for Dirty Santa?

🎲 The Rules of Dirty Secret Santa

Everyone draws a number to decide turn order. Player 1 picks and unwraps a gift from the pile. Player 2 can either steal that gift or pick a new one to unwrap. If your gift is stolen, you can steal from someone else or pick from the pile.

How do you end Dirty Santa?

Once all of the gifts are unwrapped, give person #1 one last chance to steal a gift. If they choose to keep their gift, the game is over. If they choose to steal one last time, the game continues until someone decides to keep their gift.

What is the 4 gift rule?

The 4 Gift Rule is a popular, simplified approach to gift-giving, especially for holidays like Christmas, limiting each person to four thoughtfully chosen presents: Something they WANT, something they NEED, something to WEAR, and something to READ. This method reduces clutter, promotes mindfulness, and keeps spending in check by focusing on meaningful items rather than excessive consumerism. 

What is an example of an inappropriate gift?

Religious or Political Gifts are nearly always inappropriate gifts. Avoid giving presents that contain messages or themes that could offend the political or personal beliefs of professional peers. Sending such gifts could result in offense among colleagues in your professional environment.

What are the 5 rules of Christmas gifts?

The 5 Gift Rule for Christmas is a popular, simplified approach to gift-giving, limiting each person to five presents based on categories: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and something to do/experience, with variations like "something to share" or "something to use". This tradition helps reduce holiday stress, clutter, and overspending by encouraging more thoughtful, purposeful, and experience-focused gifts rather than excessive materialism, promoting gratitude and mindfulness. 

What time should you open your Christmas Eve box?

Open in the morning: If you decide to include chocolate and sweet treats, you might want to consider opening their Christmas Eve box together in the morning rather than saving it for just before bedtime.

Should you say "Merry Christmas" on 24 or 25?

It's safe, easy to use, and doesn't create confusion. So regardless of your celebration style or religious orientation, if someone wishes you a Merry Christmas on December 23rd, 24th, and 25th please do not be offended.