If you've ever searched for "how to play Secret Santa" and found results for "Kris Kringle rules" or "Dirty Santa game" and wondered if they were the same thing — they mostly are. Gift exchange traditions have evolved independently in different countries and regions, leading to a cluster of names that all describe variations of the same core idea.
Here's what each name means, where it comes from, and how (if at all) the rules differ.
Secret Santa
The most widely used name globally. Each participant is randomly assigned one other person to buy a gift for, keeping their identity secret until a reveal event. No stealing — your gift goes to a specific person, and you receive one from someone else. Simple, personal, and scalable to any group size.
Where it's used: United States, Canada, UK, and internationally in corporate contexts. Full Secret Santa rules here →
Kris Kringle
Functionally identical to Secret Santa. The name comes from Christkind (the German/Austrian Christmas spirit figure), anglicised over time to "Kris Kringle."
Where it's used: Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the US Midwest. If you're in Dublin or Sydney and someone says "we're doing Kris Kringle," they mean Secret Santa — same rules, different name.
Pollyanna
Another name for the same anonymous gift draw format. The name comes from Eleanor H. Porter's 1913 novel about an optimistic orphan girl named Pollyanna. The association with cheerful, anonymous gift-giving led to the name being adopted for the exchange.
Where it's used: Northeastern United States, particularly among Italian-American communities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Rules are identical to Secret Santa.
Dirty Santa
This is where the rules diverge meaningfully. Dirty Santa is actually a White Elephant / Yankee Swap variant — not a Secret Santa variant. In Dirty Santa, participants bring a wrapped anonymous gift, draw numbers, and take turns either picking a new gift or stealing an already-opened one.
The "dirty" refers to the stealing mechanic — the mischief of taking someone else's gift. If someone tells you they're playing Dirty Santa, expect to have your gift stolen.
Where it's used: Southern United States. Rules: see our White Elephant guide.
Yankee Swap
Also a stealing game, functionally identical to White Elephant and Dirty Santa. Most common in New England and the US Northeast, and tends to involve nicer gifts than the gag-gift tradition of White Elephant. Yankee Swap rules here →
Wichteln (Germany & Austria)
The German equivalent of Secret Santa. Wichtel refers to a small helpful household spirit from Germanic folklore — the idea being that a secret gift-giver acts like a helpful sprite. Rules are identical to Secret Santa: random draw, anonymous gift, one person buys for one person.
Where it's used: Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Common in offices and schools.
Monito Monita (Philippines)
The Filipino name for Secret Santa, widely practiced during the Christmas season (Pasko). Monito refers to the male gift-giver, monita to the female — the name reflects the assigned pairing. Rules are the same as Secret Santa.
Where it's used: Philippines, and among Filipino communities worldwide.
The Simple Summary
- Assigned gift to one person (anonymous): Secret Santa = Kris Kringle = Pollyanna = Wichteln = Monito Monita
- Stealing game with anonymous group gifts: White Elephant = Yankee Swap = Dirty Santa
If you're not sure which format your group is expecting, ask whether gifts go to a specific person or into a communal pile. That's the key distinction.
Ready to run yours? Elfster's free generator works for any format — assigned draws or group exchanges.
More reading: how to play Secret Santa, White Elephant rules, and Yankee Swap rules.