Secret Santa Theme Ideas

While Christmas is over, you may still have one or two holiday parties left and odds are, you have participated or will participate in a Secret Santa exchange this season. I've have done SS for many years and while it is very fun, it can be challenging to pick out gifts sometimes. This year, I heard a fabulous new idea: themed Secret Santa exchanges!

You know your group dynamics best, but here are a few ideas that I have heard of and though up for fun themes for your Secret Santa gift exchange!

• Book Exchange. I heard of two fun ways to do this. You can either pick a great book you read during the past year OR pick one of your favorite books of all time and then everyone gets a new book to start the year off! I love this because books are one of my favorite pastimes and you could find a new favorite book out of it, while getting to share one you love with someone else. This idea is great for a group that includes men and women.
• Spa Day. Soaps, lotions, bath bombs, facial masks, nail polish... there are so many ways to give someone a nice little spa experience at home! Just think soothing and relaxing. This is probably best with a group of just women :)
• Food Theme. You can really go wild with this one. From ethic food themes to flavor themes (think spicy or chocolate), the options are pretty much endless! A bonus of this kind of gift is that it is consumable and doesn't add items to people's houses. You'd have to know that there were no allergies in the group for this one to work.
• Cozy Theme. Some items in this category could also be in the spa group, and vice versa, but I'm thinking warm hats, fuzzy socks, candles, a blanket... Probably best for a group of women who live somewhere cold.
• Game Theme. My family loves playing games and we have gotten some great ones as gifts in the past. If you are a part of a group that loves playing games, what better way to introduce them to your favorites than by giving them the game? More than any other category, you'd probably have to set a limit on how much people can spend because games can get pricey.
• Crafting. Does your group love to make things? Are they and artistic bunch? Giving craft kits as a gift is a fun way to provide an activity for your friend. Maybe you give them something new to try and get them interested in a whole new craft. This can easily be adapted to guys by making it more like building kits. Model planes and cars and things like that rather than painting or cross stitch.
• Movie Night. This is another category where a budget might be helpful. The idea with this theme is to share your favorite movies with one another and your favorite movie snack. A DVD and a box of candy or some other snack will make a nice treat for the other person to enjoy a night in.

I hope you get excited for your next Secret Santa, whether it's this season or next Christmas!

Do you do Secret Santa exchanges? Do you do themes? What ideas do you have for other themes we could do? Leave your ideas in the comments!