Kris Kringle is another name for Secret Santa: everyone in the group is secretly given one person to buy a gift for. GiftMyCrew draws the names for you. Add everyone, block any pairs, and share one link, and each person sees only their own Kris Kringle. It's free, with no account or email needed.
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Start a draw and call it whatever your group does, for example "Office Kris Kringle 2026". Add the budget and the date.
Paste everyone taking part, one per line or separated by commas, anywhere from 2 to 100 people.
Keep partners, or anyone else, from drawing each other. Blocks work both ways unless you choose one direction.
Share one link with the group. Each person taps their name, sets a PIN and sees who they're buying for.
Kris Kringle comes from Christkindl, the Christ Child gift-bringer of Austrian Christmas tradition. "Kris Kringle" and "Chris Kindle" are both English-speaking versions of that name.
As the name for a gift exchange, it means exactly what Secret Santa means: names are drawn, each person is assigned someone to buy for, and the giver stays anonymous, at least until the exchange.
It's a common name in Australia, Canada and the Philippines, used alongside Secret Santa. In Ireland you'll often hear Kris Kindle. The way the draw works is the same everywhere, so pick the name your group uses, whether that's the office, the family or a group of friends from school.
Only in name. Some groups keep the giver secret for good, and others reveal everyone when the gifts are exchanged, but that's a house rule rather than a difference between the two.
White elephant is the one that's genuinely different. It has no draw: everyone brings a wrapped gift to a shared pile and players take turns to unwrap or steal.
The rules are the same as Secret Santa's, and most groups settle them before the draw.
That's a house rule, and GiftMyCrew leaves it to you: the draw never reveals who had whom. Some groups guess their giver as each gift is opened, some have givers own up at the end, and some never tell. Agree on it before the draw so nobody spoils it for everyone else.
Yes. For work, post the link in your team channel and set a budget everyone can see. For family, block couples so they don't draw each other and consider a separate draw for the kids. Either way, nobody has to hand over an email address, and each person can add up to 20 gift ideas for their Kris Kringle.
Yes, within your rules. Nobody can draw themselves, every pair you block is respected, and the rest is left to chance.
Yes, just add your own name. The organizer does hold everyone's private links, so if keeping the whole draw secret matters, have someone outside the group set it up.
Yes. Themes like "something handmade" or "a book and a snack" are a house rule, so put the theme in the exchange name or mention it when you share the link. People can reflect it in their wishlist notes too.
No. The draw happens online the moment you create it, and each person reveals their Kris Kringle on their own phone whenever they open the link.
Whatever your group agrees. Set the limit when you create the draw and it shows on everyone's page, so nobody has to guess.
Ready when you are. It takes about a minute.
Want to see the result first? See a finished example exchange and wishlist, or browse all guides.