Secret Santa: Another Boarding School Story
Every year at my boarding school, we had a Secret Santa. Everyone, including faculty, picked names out of a hat. Secret Santa was not a typical affair—things tended to be done in a unique way at this school. Instead of just one gift, we had to give five gifts throughout the school week. While this may seem expensive, there was a guideline to not spend more than one week's allowance, which was $15, divided between $7 received on Tuesday and $8 on Friday. We were encouraged to be creative rather than purchasing five $3 gifts. The $15 limit was essentially a way of saying, "Make everything." Secret Santa week was incredible. During lunch, there would be a bunch of skits or scenes prepared specifically for the designated person.
Sometimes, you knew nothing about the person whose name you chose, but they would write down three interests. People would also interview friends and plan cool gifts. At the end of the week, the biggest gift was exchanged communally at the end of the Christmas party. A surprise faculty member dressed as Santa and called names one by one based on the gift chosen out of the bag. The final gift would be accompanied by a poem, riddle, or hint about the identity of the Secret Santa. The recipient would guess, followed by some sort of hug or celebration.
The best gift I ever received—and I received many thoughtful gifts—was from a computer tech guy at the school. He was socially awkward but brilliant, hilarious, and interesting.
When it was time to guess my Secret Santa, I had no clue and had to be told. The gift he gave me was incredible; he had cut down some trees from campus as part of regular maintenance tasks he helped with—everyone at the school participated in maintaining the school. Proficient with a chainsaw, he used wood from these tasks to make me an incredible bowl and two chopsticks. They were absolute works of art and impressively executed.
I wish I could be a Secret Santa today, as I am a much more thoughtful gift-giver than I have historically been. I also see it in a new light. One time, I knew a lady liked Spaghettios and a band that sings a song called "Hella Nervous." So during lunch, we played that song out loud and had a whole line of people dance-walk up to her and hand her a can of Spaghettios.
I loved this tradition because it inspired thoughtfulness, creativity, and generosity of time and spirit as opposed to a more traditional, consumer-based way of doing Secret Santa. “Fuckin’ hippie school.”
Quintessential Christmas Mash Up
