How I participated in the Secret Santa on Reddit

Reddit Secret Santa is one of the largest projects where people from all over the world exchange gifts for Christmas. Since 2009, celebrities (not just ordinary users) have been involved in this project. At the end of last year, I also wanted to take a chance and became a participant in the project Secret Santa 10th Annual Extravaganza. I've never played Secret Santa with strangers before, I used to play with my co-workers I know well. So it was interesting to try it. In this story, I will tell you about the pros and cons of such a gift exchange.

Magic fairy
inspirer

6 years ago

Participation in the project is free of charge. More than 100,000 people from 43 countries took part this Christmas.

Registration

On November 1, 2018, I registered and filled out a form so that my Secret Santa would have an idea of what I like. There were 15 questions on different topics and even this question:

Have you ever been abducted by space aliens?

The draw

On November 24, a draw was held on Reddit Gifts. I got a girl from the USA, and I carefully studied her profile. She wrote that she loves chocolate and would like to get something related to my country.

I sent her a package with a small warm blanket and Kazakhstan branded dark chocolate. I wanted to put a postcard with a personal message in the parcel, but for some reason they didn't allow it at the post office, so I had to send my letter separately.

The total cost of the gifts is 10 dollars.
Sending a parcel from Kazakhstan to the USA - 18 dollars.

I was very worried that the package would not arrive by Christmas. For my mail items, I received a tracking code and entered it on the website to confirm that I had sent my gift to the giftee. I got some points for this on Reddit.

I think, Rachel received the gift only after the New Year, in early January 2019. But I was immensely happy that it reached her, and that she published a post about it on the website!

My Secret Santa

Unfortunately, I was unlucky with my own Secret Santa, - I didn't receive any gift as part of the project.

At first, everything went well: after the draw, I received a message from the person who became my Secret Santa. Of course, it was anonymous, and I didn't know who he or she was. I filled out my questionnaire on the website in detail, but they also asked me what my zodiac sign was and some other information. I answered their questions, waited 2 months for a gift and did not get it... I entered my details and mailing address on the website correctly. I don't know what the reason is.

Reddit is aware that not all registered users faithfully fulfill their obligations. There is a button on the website for those who didn't receive a gift; I also checked in there. For such people, Reddit offers to arrange a charity rematch, so that everyone can choose a person without a gift and send them a consolation prize. For this, Reddit promises to give them an incentive badge. Despite the fact that the holidays are already over, more than 7,000 altruists took part in the rematch (see the screenshot at the beginning of the article). I didn't get anything this time either.

What is the result? It was a bit disappointing to be left without a gift, but it was still an interesting experience for me. After that, I had no desire to play with strangers, I exchange gifts only with my friends.

Reddit Gifts screenshots

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