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Secret Santa card messages

A short note makes even a small gift feel personal. The trick with Secret Santa is writing something warm without giving away who you are. Here are message ideas for every kind of group, plus how to sign off anonymously and how to thank your Secret Santa afterwards.

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How to sign a Secret Santa card

If your group keeps Secret Santas anonymous, sign off with something that isn't your name, and avoid your usual handwriting or print the tag. Some sign-offs:

• From your Secret Santa
• Love, your Secret Santa
• From someone who knows you have great taste
• Your not-so-secret admirer (best for friends, not the office)
• Signed, S. Claus
• From your elf on the inside

Short and simple

• Happy holidays! Hope this makes your December a little brighter.
• A small something for someone who deserves it. Enjoy!
• Wishing you a cozy, restful holiday season.
• I hope I got this right. Merry everything!
• Here's to a great end of the year and an even better start to the next.

For coworkers

Keep it friendly and professional, with no in-jokes your giftee might not get.

• Thanks for making this team a better place to work. Happy holidays!
• For the person who always has the answer. Enjoy a well-earned break.
• May your inbox be quiet and your coffee stay hot.
• Wishing you a holiday with zero meetings.
• A little thank-you for all the help this year.

More on keeping things work-appropriate in our office Secret Santa guide.

For remote teammates

• Sending holiday cheer across the miles (and the time zones).
• For the best face on my video calls this year.
• Unmute yourself and enjoy your gift!
• Here's something for your home office. You've earned it.

Funny messages

• I was told to stay under budget. I'm a rule follower, mostly.
• I checked your wishlist twice.
• No reindeer were harmed in the making of this gift.
• Try to act surprised.
• Santa was busy, so you got me instead.
• If you don't like it, remember: you don't know who to blame.

For family

• So glad we're all together this year. Merry Christmas!
• For my favorite person in this family. (Don't tell the others.)
• Wishing you a season full of good food and better company.
• From one of your many relatives. Good luck guessing which.

For friends

• To many more years of friendship and questionable decisions.
• Thanks for being you. Here's a little something to prove it.
• For the friend who has everything, except this.

Clue messages for "guess your Santa"

If your group plays a guessing game, leave a clue or three. Keep them fair: tricky, but solvable.

• Clue 1: I sit within ten steps of you.
• Clue 2: I've been here longer than you.
• Clue 3: I never take the last cookie.
• My favorite color is on this wrapping paper.
• We've shared at least one lunch this year.
• I'm the one who laughs the loudest at your jokes.

Find more ways to make the exchange fun in gift exchange games.

Thank-you notes for your Secret Santa

If you don't know who your Santa was, post a thank-you in your group chat or say it at the party:

• To my Secret Santa: thank you, I love it. You clearly read my wishlist!
• Whoever drew my name, you nailed it. Thank you!
• Thank you, Secret Santa. This is going straight on my desk.

Tips for writing your card

• Look at your giftee's wishlist and reference something they mentioned.
• Keep it to one or two lines; the gift does the rest.
• Check the spelling of their name.
• If you can't be anonymous in handwriting, type the message and print it.

Frequently asked questions

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