Dirty Santa rules

The basic rules

1. Each guest brings one wrapped gift in the price range.
2. Everyone draws a number from a bowl.
3. Player 1 opens a gift. Player 2 can open a new gift or steal player 1's.
4. Each later player does the same: open or steal.
5. A stolen gift's owner gets another turn right away.
6. Gifts freeze after being stolen a set number of times, often three.
7. When all players have gone, the game ends, or player 1 gets a final swap.

Hollyhush has a Dirty Santa friendly game tool with turn order, steal limit and a live board for the TV. Run a game night

Why is it called Dirty Santa?

People use the name because stealing feels a bit naughty. It is not a rude game, and most Dirty Santa parties are family friendly. Some adult groups lean into a naughtier version with gag gifts, so say in the invite whether gifts should be clean. Other names include white elephant, Yankee swap, Christmas swap and Thieving Santa. For a name comparison, see Yankee swap rules.

Dirty Santa vs. Secret Santa

House rules to pick

• Steal limit: three is the classic number. Use two for groups over 20.
• Steal-back: ban the immediate steal-back so nobody trades the same gift twice in a row.
• Frozen gifts: decide whether frozen gifts can be swapped at the final round. Most rules say no.
• Gift type: clean, funny, useful or no theme. See white elephant themes.
• Dice option: play with a left-right dice game if the group is large. See the white elephant dice game.

Hosting tips

Keep the game moving by setting a thirty second timer for each turn. Put all open gifts on one table where people can see them. Have a plan for people who bring a non-gift, such as a poorly wrapped bag of candy: either accept it or set a minimum price. If the game drags, lower the steal limit mid-game and tell everyone. For the full rule set, use white elephant rules, and for a walkthrough of the event, see how to host a white elephant party.