The holiday season has quickly approached, and a popular tradition among PMHS students is a gift exchange. However, there has been a longstanding debate over whether secret santa or white elephant is the best option. I will run down the pros and cons of each one and select my favorite.

First, I will discuss secret santa. Personally, I am doing many secret santa’s with a friend group, my chamber chorus class, my print journalism class, and my extended family. When done correctly, secret santas are filled with suspense and make for a terrific group bonding experience. These are particularly enjoyable with groups of close friends. You can select the perfectly tailored gift according to your friends interests.. 

On the flip side, secret santas can get risky if you are doing them with a less close group. You run the risk of picking something that the person won’t like, which often leads to people picking the same basic gifts such as fuzzy socks, gift cards, or candy. Additionally, the fun can be taken away with the risk of the surprise being spoiled if people tell each other who they picked. 

Now, I will discuss white elephant. For those unfamiliar, in a white elephant, everyone brings in a similarly priced item and wraps it, so that you do not know what you’re picking. Everyone draws numbers and selects a gift, and you can either keep your gift or steal someone else’s. White Elephants are always exciting, no matter what group you do it with. I do one every year with my extended family, and it definitely unites us like nothing else.

A flaw with white elephants is that someone will always come out unsatisfied. If you draw a lower number, you are almost sure to get stuck with a lower tier gift. While some people may enjoy this, it is definitely not for everyone. Who wants to be stuck with a lame gift during a gift exchange?

All in all, I favor white elephants. They are easier to coordinate and often lead to a more exciting gift swapping experience. However, if you tend to prefer a more traditional gift swap, a secret santa is not a bad choice to go. In fact, a mix of the two is sure to make your holiday season bright!