What to write in a Secret Santa card
Keep it to one or two lines that sound warm and give nothing away. Pick a message below by tone, then use the tips to stay anonymous.
How to pick the right Secret Santa card message
The card has one job: make the person feel noticed without revealing you. A good message is short, kind and a little specific to the gift. Two lines is plenty.
Match the tone to the person, not to you. For a coworker you barely know, go work safe. For a close friend, a joke is fine. For a boss, warm and brief. For a child, simple words and a drawing if you can.
- Say something about the gift: "I hope this keeps your coffee hot."
- Sign with a fake name or no name, never your real initials.
- Skip inside jokes that point to one person in the group.
- Do not mention the budget, however cheap or generous the gift is.
Match the message to the gift
The easiest way to write a good card is to read it back against the gift. A mug pairs with a line about mornings. A puzzle pairs with a line about slow evenings. A gift card pairs with a line about picking something for yourself. If the line could go with any gift, it is too generic, so add one word about the gift.
Pair the card with a clue if you want to be found, or a poem if you want something more playful. See Secret Santa poems and Secret Santa clues for ideas, and Secret Santa etiquette for what to leave out.
How to stay anonymous on the card
The card gives you away more often than the gift does. People recognize handwriting in seconds. Use one of these methods.
- Print the message. Type it, use a plain font and print it on ordinary paper, then cut it down to size.
- Write with your other hand, or in block capitals, if you handwrite. Do not mix cursive and print in a way you normally do.
- Ask a friend or family member to write it out for you.
- Use a pre-printed card from a store, add only a typed line, and skip a signature.
- Buy the card at a different store than you usually do, so the style does not give you away.
- Sign it with something silly like "Your Secret Santa", "The Elf in Accounting" or "A friend with good taste".
Handwriting is the number one giveaway. If you only do one thing, type it and print it.
Sweet card messages
For a friend, a relative or someone you like.
Funny card messages
For people who like a joke and a gift that fits.
Work safe card messages
For coworkers, mixed teams and anyone you do not know well.
Card messages for kids
Short words, warm tone, no big promises.
Card messages for a boss
Warm, brief and a touch of thanks.
Card messages for a stranger or someone you barely know
You drew a name you cannot place. Keep it kind and plain.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write in a Secret Santa card?
One or two lines that are warm and a little specific to the gift, signed with a fake name or nothing at all. Examples: "Hope this keeps your coffee hot" or "A small thank you for being a great teammate."
How do I keep my handwriting from giving me away?
Type the message and print it, write with your other hand, ask someone else to write it, or use block capitals. Typing it is the most reliable.
What do I write in a Secret Santa gift message for a colleague?
Something kind and work safe such as "Happy holidays. Thank you for everything you do for the team." Skip jokes about looks, age or personal life.
Should I sign a Secret Santa card?
Sign it with something like "Your Secret Santa" or a silly alias. Do not sign with your name or initials until the reveal.
What do I write on a Secret Santa gift tag?
Use "To: [name], From: Your Secret Santa" and add a short line. If you want a short rhyme, see the page of Secret Santa poems.
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