Top 10 secret santa riddle ideas With Example

This post is a collection of the best secret Santa messages for any situation or group.
(Also includes riddles and notes for scavenger hunt-style gift exchanges).

The holidays are nearly here, and you know what that means…it’s time for Secret Santa to make sure that everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Some families and friend groups have a holiday tradition of exchanging secret Santa gifts, and many workplaces have a secret Santa gift exchange to help their employees get into the Christmas spirit.

Or maybe you have a secret crush and are trying to reveal your feelings by leaving a special gift under their Christmas tree 😉😉.

No matter where you are playing secret Santa, part of the fun is leaving clever little messages and quotes to make them wonder who you are.

If you’re searching for the best messages to leave your secret pal, search no more!

This is a list of the best secret Santa messages, and even if you don’t find exactly what you need, I guarantee that you’ll be inspired to come up with your own catchy rhyme or clever note. 

The classic way to deliver a message from secret Santa is to come up with a few sentences that rhyme. Rhyming just has a way of making a simple message festive and fun!

But, if it doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t you worry. I’ve got a bunch of good ideas for you right here:

“Secret Santa has come to town, to turn your frown upside down.
In order to lift your spirits high, I’ve left you a gift close nearby.”

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, your Secret Santa sure is jolly.
I giddily leave a gift for you, I hope it makes you jolly too.” 

“The season has come, no need to be glum. Your present is near, and no it’s not gum!”

“Yummy yummy jingling tummy, a tasty tempting treat.
Won’t you be surprised when we finally meet?” 

“Although you may not know my name, you are special to me just the same!”

“Your Santa’s a secret, but you can now cheer because the time to open gifts is finally here!”

“Who’s your Secret Santa? You may never find out!
So you better not pry & you better not pout!”

“Who could it be? One day you will see.
But for now, I will just say it’s me.
Happy Holidays from your Secret Santa!” 

“In through the door, I flew like a flash,
Sat down your gift, I hope it’s a smash!
Then with a twinkle and gleam in my eye,
I disappeared quickly before you could spy.
I can’t let you see me, I have to be quick.
You can’t know my name, I’m your secret Saint Nick”! 

Secret Santa Riddles

Sometimes, secret Santa is combined with a scavenger hunt. And when that is the case, you will need to use secret Santa riddles instead.

The difference between a regular secret Santa message and a secret Santa riddle is that the riddle gives a clue of where to find a gift (or where to find another clue).
Here are some clever riddles that lead to some of the most common places to hide a gift or clue.

-a clue for the fridge

“Here’s a message from your Secret Santa,
Your next gift is where we keep the Fanta”

-another clue for the fridge

“Your next clue isn’t far,
It can be found in a place that rhymes with bridge.”

-a clue for the kitchen

“Ho Ho Ho & Merry Christmas.
Your next clue is where we eat breakfast.”

-a clue for the bed

“When you’ve had so much fun and the day is done,
A gift can be found where sleep abounds”

-a clue for the car

“When it goes vroom vroom, you go zoom zoom.
Your gift is in the space that takes you from place to place.”

-a clue for the washing machine

“Go to the place where clothes get cleaned. Not the dryer, but the ______ ______”

-a secret Santa riddle for the copy machine (great for coworkers)

“Could your next gift be rocks? Or socks? Or blocks?
Find the box where the brand name is Xerox.”

Secret Santa Messages for Coworkers 

Having a secret Santa gift exchange at work can make those last few days before the Christmas break go by a little faster. It also give everyone a little something to look forward to!

Here are some coworker-appropriate secret Santa messages that you might like to use. 

“To a colleague who brightens my day, here’s a gift that I hope will brighten yours.
Best wishes from your Secret Santa.” 

“Co-workers like you make work less of a chore, I hope that you don’t find this gift too big of a bore”. 

“Play the drum, Christmas has come.
Play the drums, sing from your lungs.
Cheers to the fun, Secret Santa has begun!” 

“Everyone loves a holiday surprise. And after all of our hard work this year, no one deserves one more than you! Merry Christmas and enjoy your gift!”

“Your secret Santa your secret pal, a festive friendly guy or gal, looks forward to having some holiday fun with lighthearted presents before the season is done.
Watch for gifts in this location before we leave for Christmas vacation”. 

“A mystery item, right under the tree…It says “Secret Santa” but who could that be?
Open me up and take a quick guess…When you see the new gift that you now possess!” 

“This is a gift especially for you, I’m your secret Santa, but I’ll bet you can’t guess who! Accept this gift with a smile on your face, and look for another one soon in its place.” 

“Oh the weather outside is frightful, but this gift you’ll find delightful. I’ll leave it quickly now and go because who I am, you cannot know”. 

pro-tip : If your office’s secret Santa game doesn’t include a wish list or your secret pal has very different interests and hobbies than you, then here are some cost-effective gift ideas for HER as well as gift ideas for HIM. 

Secret Santa Sayings For Family

Here are a few Secret Santa messages that would be appropriate for a secret Santa gift exchange within your family. 

“I’ll bet you can’t guess my name right away, oh how exciting is this game that we play! I’ve left you a gift that I think you will love, if you know who it’s from, come give me a hug!” 

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way!
Secret Santa has a gift for you, to make your Christmas day!

“Santa is busy so he sent me instead. You can’t know my name, that’s part of the game, but I’ve left you a gift under the tree to give your spirit a lift.” 

“What to my wondering eyes did appear? An opportunity to give this this gift to someone I hold dear.” 

“I may be a Secret, but I know all of yours… Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa. Can you guess who?”

“Naughty or Nice, do you have to think twice? The decision is in and should make you grin, presents under the tree are here for the win”! 

“Your Santa’s true name is one you don’t know, but open the gift, and the clues will show, exactly who got you, and then you shall know! So what are you waiting for? Open it, go!”

“A little present for you! I bet you can’t guess who! Just call me secret Santa.”

“I’ve hunted and hunted. For the perfect gift. I think this is the one. Now open it with swift!

“I hope that you love this gift as much as I loved being your secret Santa”.

Secret Santa Messages For Crush

Are you playing the secret Santa game with your special someone, or someone who you wish was your special someone?

If so, you might enjoy some of these flirty, cute secret Santa messages to let them know how you feel. 

“Your priceless smile is all I want to see, and so I leave your gift under the Christmas tree.” 

“Merry Christmas…. or should I say Merry Kissmass 😉
Open your gift and meet me under the mistletoe”.

“Bows’es are red, snowflakes are blue, I’m your secret Santa and this gift is for you!”

“This Christmas gift is unforgettable because our chemis-tree is undeniable”

“Have I ever mistletold you…how much I want to kiss you?”

“There is someone who dearly loves you and thinks about you every second. It’s me, your Secret buddy! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!”

“Like a snowflake, you make me melt. Merry Christmas from your secret Santa”. 

“As your secret Santa, I know that you’ve been naughty and nice this year. That’s why I’m giving you my Christmas package… Enjoy 😉“

“Can you guess who got this gift for you? Because yes it is true…I love you, I do!”

Funny Secret Santa Messages 

Here are a few funny and cute secret Santa messages that will give your friends, family, or co-workers a chuckle.

“A little antidote for your resting Grinch face. Hope you enjoy your gift! Much love from your Secret Santa.” 

“I looked everywhere for the perfect Christmas gift, then I remembered that you already have me.
Can’t top that, so I just got you this”.

“Being someone’s secret Santa is the longest relationship I have been in all year”. 

“I ran out of coal so I actually had to get you a real gift. Happy Holidays.”

“It’s not a house, a car, or a boat. It’s a secret Santa gift with a funny note!”

“Please pretend you like this gift. Merry Christmas!”

“I hope you love this Christmas present that you basically told me to buy for you”.

“If I’m your secret Santa, where are my milk and cookies? Just something to think about.
Enjoy your gift… Merry Christmas!”

“It’s hard to shop for someone that already has me in their life. I mean, what’s better than that?”

“May your Christmas lights stay bright, and the snow stay white.
I am your Kris Kringle, here to make your Jingle Bells jingle”

psst… Still looking for more gift ideas?
Try some of these Christmas Eve gift ideas for your secret Santa gift exchange. 

Pun-Intended Secret Santa Notes

When you wish to give a little gift with a clever little note, these witty one-liners will make everyone laugh and say “ahhh I see what you did there“.

“I got you these presents because I like your presence”.

“This gift is so well wrapped because I’m a gangsta wrapper”.

“Are you Christmas? Because I’d like to merry you”.

“I got you the most purrr-fect Christmas gift”.

“I love you from your head to your mistle-toes”.

“This Christmas party is lit….up with Christmas lights”.

“Have your elf a merry little Christmas”.

“This gift sleighs the competition”.

“Happy Holidays to a friend that sleighs all day, everyday”.

“I got you something to take elfies with” .

“I got you something to put your elfies in”.

“You’ve been Kris-Kringled!“.

Playing secret Santa shouldn’t have to be stressful, in fact, it can be a lot of fun and bring extra holiday joy to both you and your secret buddy. So what are you waiting for?

Jump on in and start working on your secret Santa exchange today.

Do you have any more great secret Santa messages to share?