# Is anyone interested in a Secret Santa this year 2025? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998 "2025-09-12T23:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![FMera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fmera/32/9857_2.png) [@FMera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FMera)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/121 "2025-12-17T02:04:44Z")
Sending tomorrow. Will send tracking # to you @Nayna ! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/122 "2025-12-17T06:08:36Z")
Mine arrived! Our cat received a gift from a wonderful person with terrible handwriting šŸ˜† While we were still trying to decode the card, the cat had already claimed the rest of it: [![](https://fightingignorance.org/2fb93c16-5ed8-4590-bb6d-73f51a80aea3-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-54-15-pm-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/2fb93c16-5ed8-4590-bb6d-73f51a80aea3-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-54-15-pm-2x.jpg) I wanted to find out what else was in there, but he wouldnā€™t let us touch HIS stuff: [![](https://fightingignorance.org/3651bd5d-1320-49bc-9ba7-ff0c0bd4983c-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-56-35-pm-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/3651bd5d-1320-49bc-9ba7-ff0c0bd4983c-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-56-35-pm-2x.jpg) He did eventually make friends with the stuffed reindeer(?) or moose (are there meese in Philly?) [![](https://fightingignorance.org/4cafb019-8f7b-436e-b0e2-0bdbb96e8673-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-57-26-pm-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/4cafb019-8f7b-436e-b0e2-0bdbb96e8673-photo-google-photos-december-16-09-57-26-pm-2x.jpg) Only then were we able to see the rest of the gifts. There was a cache of Philadelphia-themed swag (I know nothing about the city and this actually made me want to visit!) along with two very interesting-seeming books about Italy, and four punny Christmas bookmarks. I canā€™t wait to start reading! [![](https://fightingignorance.org/b1484bc2-4e73-4aae-a62c-2d10aa886056-photo-google-photos-december-16-10-04-40-pm-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/b1484bc2-4e73-4aae-a62c-2d10aa886056-photo-google-photos-december-16-10-04-40-pm-2x.jpg) Thank you, truly! Who wants to own up to it? I have no idea who sent it, but this person evidently spent a lot of time crawling through my post history and finding cool and relevant things to send. This is one of the most fun and thoughtful Christmas gifts Iā€™ve ever received šŸ˜ Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/123 "2025-12-17T13:29:13Z")
~~Bombs~~ Gifts Away! Very late but likely to reach the recipient 23rd December. Sent expidited via DHL, as there is no way I trust our local postal service. Man, the petty shit I had with dealing with what and what is not allowed by US customs. No fridge magnets??? No wooden items?? I had to go shopping twice! On the positive side, the things I tried to include and were denied can go to my mum as part of her present. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/124 "2025-12-17T14:07:58Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Man, the petty shit I had with dealing with what and what is not allowed by US customs. > > No fridge magnets??? No wooden items?? I had to go shopping twice! What, really? Thatā€™s pretty ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Nayna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ebca7d/32.png) [@Nayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nayna)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/125 "2025-12-17T14:10:58Z")
@Reply - thatā€™s funny. I once did the same thing (wrote a SS note that my recipient couldnā€™t read). Iā€™ll give you a hint if your SS doesnā€™t speak up soon! @scudsucker - your SS has asked me to let you know that by now you should have recieved three separate items plus a postcard, and youā€™ll receive one more item on December 23. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/126 "2025-12-17T14:11:08Z")
~~Bombs~~ Gifts Away! Very late but likely to reach the recipient 23rd December. Sent expidited via DHL, as there is no way I trust our local postal service. Man, the petty shit I had with dealing with what and what is not allowed by US customs. No fridge magnets??? No wooden items?? No food? I had to go shopping twice! On the positive side, the things I tried to include and were denied can go to my mum as part of her present. I left the fridge magnet as urban graffiti attached to a metal structure in a bar I frequent. It fits the decor. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/127 "2025-12-17T15:01:11Z")
if you squint at the signature, it may resemble a piece of furnitureā€¦ iā€™m so glad you enjoyed everything. the books came from a huge estate sale that had over 100 thousand books! perfect timing for the secret santa. phil the reindeer is the mascot for the christmas village, which is where i got most of the items. lots of things you donā€™t see anywhere else. looks like the box is a bit hit with someone! enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/128 "2025-12-17T15:13:09Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > if you squint at the signature, it may resemble a piece of furnitureā€¦ Hah, so THATā€™s what it is! Hereā€™s the original note, for anyone wonderingā€¦ [![](https://fightingignorance.org/c4f31185-4536-49d4-be6c-c93d0ffbeecf-photo-google-photos-december-17-07-03-40-am-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/c4f31185-4536-49d4-be6c-c93d0ffbeecf-photo-google-photos-december-17-07-03-40-am-2x.jpg) I didnā€™t realize the Christmas Village was also selling the Voynich Manuscript šŸ˜‰ I originally thought this symbol: [![](https://fightingignorance.org/1ce558c5-ec27-4e56-83d4-15d95506edc1-photo-google-photos-december-17-07-04-53-am-2x.jpg) ](https://fightingignorance.org/1ce558c5-ec27-4e56-83d4-15d95506edc1-photo-google-photos-december-17-07-04-53-am-2x.jpg) Was just a smiley face, like `=)` Or maybe `ĶŸ1ĶŸ7ĶŸ`. Then I thought maybe it was a little game, and I tried to find a matching runic or Cyrillic or Greek or Arabic symbol matching that, but nopeā€¦ > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > phil the reindeer is the mascot for the christmas village, which is where i got most of the items. lots of things you donā€™t see anywhere else. > > looks like the box is a bit hit with someone! Again, thank you! We all loved it. What a great mix of thoughtful, eclectic, and funā€¦ not often do you get literature hidden in cat habitat. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/129 "2025-12-17T18:34:14Z")
Wait, no fridge magnetsā€¦? Tracking says mine made it throughā€¦ Most places are picky about wood cos of the risk of non-native wood-boring insects. Treated wood should be fine, but they have a tendency to be over cautious, especially if the origin country is known to have a potential invasive. Realistically this stuff comes in on pallet wood, not small items where youā€™d notice a big hole. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/130 "2025-12-17T18:47:22Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Wait, no fridge magnetsā€¦? I have no idea except, possibly, magnets could be used to trigger bombs in mid-flight. Otherwise, I got nothing. Americans are weird. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/131 "2025-12-17T20:41:52Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Wait, no fridge magnetsā€¦? > [@scudsucker](#): > > Americans are weird. Can you blame us? It was quite messy the first time we had a North vs South. Red vs Blue the subsequent times still wasnā€™t much better. Weā€™ve got just about as much polarization as we can handle, thank you very muchā€¦ OK, now back to merrier topicsā€¦ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![FMera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fmera/32/9857_2.png) [@FMera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FMera)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/132 "2025-12-17T23:37:25Z")
Remainder sent and should arrive by Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/133 "2025-12-18T03:10:27Z")
I received my box today from @Nayna Such wonderful pressies! A super adorable bat ornament (already on the tree!) A very pretty Christmas tree cross stitch with stand that is set up next to my nutcracker soldier. A delicious chocolate bar that says ā€œGo Pittsburghā€ which is a sentiment I can get behind as long as weā€™re not taking baseball or hockey Lovely lip balm, also made in Pittsburgh Very delicious cookies Thank you so much! ---
**Author:** ![Nayna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ebca7d/32.png) [@Nayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nayna)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/134 "2025-12-18T17:04:08Z")
Oh, exciting! I made the cross stitch ā˜ŗ Iā€™m glad you liked everything! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/135 "2025-12-18T19:49:28Z")
I wondered if you did. It is so pretty! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/136 "2025-12-18T20:20:42Z")
Need pics! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/137 "2025-12-19T00:25:32Z")
I received my box today! It has international stickers on it and Iā€™m looking forward to opening it after dinner. Thank you, Santa!! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/138 "2025-12-20T20:57:53Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > ā€¦if one of our fearless Mountaineers gets a box from Roseburg, Oregon then they should rest assured that itā€™s the SDMB Secret Santa goodies! It arrived today, woohoo! Just checking: Is everything inside wrapped, so I can open the box and put the goodies under the tree? Iā€™m saving everything until daylight on 12/25. > [@Lancia](#): > > Thereā€™s big craft fair filled with local homemade goodies the preceding weekend and I want to snoop the vendors for suitable Secret Santa gifts before finalizing my box. Eager to see! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/139 "2025-12-20T21:38:59Z")
Dangnabbit, I just saw this thread today, December 20 - far too late to participate. And after last year, I was really looking forward to coming up with a fun box of goodies, since it was so much fun. So sorry I missed it, especially to the ā€œSanteeā€ I never had. šŸ˜Ŗ ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998/140 "2025-12-20T22:10:21Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Just checking: Is everything inside wrapped No, unfortunately. I ran out of wrapping paper while putting it together so while a couple of the goodies are wrapped, several others are not. My apologies. I tried to pack everything with lots of crumpled newspaper as padding so I recommend unpacking it slowly and methodically as there are a couple of small things tucked away inside šŸ™‚. Edit: I would recommend keeping the box away from particularly warm places ā€“ no fireside storage or laying propped up against the radiator. Some items may not fare well if they get too hot. Room temp is fine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-interested-in-a-secret-santa-this-year-2025/1022998.md?page=8)