15 Clever Responses To Secret Santa At Work

Whether you’re ready or not, the Christmas festive season is upon us. This is when you can expect people at your place of work to give you cheap, fun anonymous presents as part of the Christmas party - Secret Santa!However, it’s never easy to put the perfect words together when appreciating this gesture, especially if this is your first Secret Santa experience. The key idea is to be gracious and thank your Secret Santa for their thoughtful Christmas gift. And who knows, maybe they'll reveal themselves to you in the end! If you’re stuck, here are my top 20 recommended clever responses to say when an anonymous do you Secret Santa at work:

• I'm so excited to have an anonymous Secret Santa! I wonder who it could be...
• Not sure who my Secret Santa is, but they have great taste!
• I'm so grateful to have a Secret Santa who took the time to get me something thoughtful.
• I'm not sure what to say, but I love my gift! Thank you, Secret Santa!
• I'm so curious to know who my Secret Santa is! I'll have to keep guessing until the big reveal.
• I'm happy that I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been so much fun.
• I'm excited to see what my Secret Santa gets me next year!
• It’s a delight to have such thoughtful coworkers!
• How wonderful it is that we have a Secret Santa tradition at work!
• I'm so glad I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been a lot of fun.
• It seems my Secret Santa knows me so well!
• This year, I got a creative Secret Santa 
• This is so generous!
• I'm so glad that my Secret Santa is so thoughtful!
• Whoever did this, I’m super grateful. 

In the rest of this article, I’ll explain how you can use each of these responses when appreciating Secret Santa at your place of work.

15 Clever Responses To Secret Santa At Work

1. I'm so excited to have a Secret Santa! I wonder who it could be...

“I’m so excited to have an anonymous gifter, I wonder who it could be” is an example of how to reply to a Secret Santa activity. It’s a simple yet practical expression of excitement. It also gives your gifter a sense of fulfillment that you cherish their gift idea. For example:

• I’m so excited to have an anonymous gifter; I wonder who it could be. This is so lovely.
• This gift item made my Christmas. I’m so excited to have had an anonymous gifter here at work; I wonder who it could be. 

2. Not sure who my Secret Santa is, but they have great taste!

The whole idea behind Secret Santa's activity is that the person who gifts you an item remains anonymous because it’s obtained from a draw. That doesn’t mean you can’t express appreciation when you receive the gift. By saying ‘they have great taste,” you compliment the co-worker and appreciate their effort. Look at this example to help you:

• I’m unsure who my Secret Santa is, but they taste great. This is a luxury item. 

3. I'm so grateful to have a Secret Santa who took the time to get me something thoughtful.

Try replying with “I’m so grateful to have a Secret Santa who took the time to get me something thoughtful” when your office conducts the Secret Santa exercise next. It’s a genuine way to show you’re pleased with whatever was given. In some workplaces, you must write what you wish to have as a Christmas gift. If the person provided precisely that, this response is a perfect thank-you reply. If you’re still unsure about using this response, check these examples:

• I did not expect to receive the exact wish I had written down. I’m so grateful to have a Secret Santa who took the time to get me something thoughtful.
• I’m so grateful to have a Secret Santa who took the time to get me something thoughtful. I’ve always known I’m working with the best team.

4. I'm unsure what to say, but I love my gift! Thank you, Secret Santa!

It’s okay to be speechless when you are astounded by the present a co-worker gives you during the Secret Santa activity. You can express this by saying, “I’m not sure what to say, but I love my gift.”“Thank you” is added to show a sense of gratitude even though you don’t have any prior personal relationship with the co-worker who gifted you. This example can serve as a guide to help you use this response:

• I’m not sure what to say, but I love my gift. Thank you, John, and seasons greetings. 

5. I'm so curious to know who my Secret Santa is! I'll have to keep guessing until the big reveal

You should try “I'm so curious to know who my Secret Santa is! I'll have to keep guessing until the big reveal” when responding to Secret Santa at work since it sounds genuine and appreciative. It also has an undertone of excitement, giving your gifter a reason to smile for honoring your Christmas wish. Also, here’s an example to show you how it works:

• I wish I were able to tell how I chose my wish. I'm so curious to know who my Secret Santa is! I'll have to keep guessing until the big reveal.

6. I'm so glad that I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been so much fun.

When you say, “I'm so glad that I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been so much fun,” your other colleagues feel more excited.You should use this reply when you wish to spark a conversation about the experience, fostering a sense of camaraderie and encouraging future engagement.For example:

• I'm glad I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been so much fun. I had a great time selecting gifts and anticipating the big reveal. Did you participate?

7. I'm excited to see what my Secret Santa gets me next year!

Another very clever response you can say during Secret Santa at work is, “I'm so excited to see what my Secret Santa gets me next year!.” It’s a simple way to establish anticipation and humor.I love using this particular statement because it can spark curiosity and intrigue among colleagues who wonder what you might receive in the following year's exchange. It adds an element of mystery and keeps the excitement at the workplace alive for future events.

• Oh, I love it! Thanks so much! I'm excited to see what my Secret Santa gets me next year!

8. It’s a delight to have such thoughtful coworkers!

During Secret Santa at work, there’s no harm in acknowledging your gift and expressing gratitude cleverly. By saying, "It's a delight to have such thoughtful coworkers," you show appreciation for the gift and indirectly compliment your colleagues for their considerate and caring nature.The response cleverly reinforces the positive workplace culture and fosters a sense of camaraderie among coworkers.Here’s how you can use it:

• Oh, you're welcome! I'm glad you liked the gift. It's a delight to have such thoughtful coworkers!

9. It is beautiful that we have a Secret Santa tradition at work!

Another clever way to respond to Secret Santa at work is to acknowledge the presence of the Secret Santa tradition at your workplace. By saying, “How wonderful it is that we have a Secret Santa tradition at work,” you convey an understanding that such activities contribute to a more festive and joyful work environment, making the workplace more enjoyable and fostering a positive culture.If you’re stuck, here’s how this response works:

• Oh, that's great! How wonderful it is that we have a Secret Santa tradition at work! It's always a fantastic opportunity to spread holiday cheer and get to know each other better.

10. I'm so glad I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been a lot of fun.

Instead of showing appreciation which every other co-worker will probably be doing during Secret Santa, you can do things differently by expressing satisfaction and enjoyment, thereby indirectly encouraging others to participate in future Secret Santa events. You can say, “I'm so glad that I got to participate in Secret Santa this year” as a response. Their positive feedback can endorse the activity and motivate others to enjoy the fun.Here’s an example to help you use this response:

•  I'm so glad I participated in Secret Santa this year! It's been a lot of fun. I loved picking out gifts and seeing the excitement on everyone's faces. How about you?

11. Seems my Secret Santa knows me so well!

The phrase "seems my Secret Santa knows me so well" is another clever response to Secret Santa at work. It implies that the gift received from the anonymous Secret Santa aligns perfectly with your personal preferences or interests. By using this phrase, you show surprise and delight while also acknowledging the thoughtfulness and attentiveness of your Secret Santa at work.If you want to use this response, here’s an example to put you through:

• Yes, I just opened my gift! And it seems my Secret Santa knows me so well.
• This gift is outstanding! It's great to know my Secret Santa paid attention to my interests.

12. This year, I got a creative Secret Santa 

You may have received an unconventional or imaginative gift during the Secret Santa exchange at work. You can respond to express that your donation was unique, interesting, or out-of-the-box, thereby making the experience more enjoyable and memorable. It adds a playful and light-hearted tone to the conversation, sparking curiosity and encouraging others to share their experiences.For example: 

• Instead of the usual office supplies or generic items, my Secret Santa went all out and gave me a DIY kit to build my miniature cityscape. This year, I got a creative Secret Santa.

13. This is so generous!

Even when you wish to sound clever when responding to Secret Santa at work, all you probably need to say is, “this is so generous,” with a sincere appreciative mind. I also recommend using this response to maintain an element of mystery and anonymity. By saying, “this is so generous,” you acknowledge the generosity of the gift without revealing who your Secret Santa is. It adds a touch of intrigue and keeps the spirit of the Secret Santa tradition alive at the workplace. This example can serve as a guidance:

• Wow, this is so generous! Thank you! It's adorable.

14. I'm so glad that my Secret Santa is so thoughtful!

A gracious way to respond to a present given to you is to encourage others to be thoughtful and considerate in their Secret Santa gift-giving, as it sets a positive example. When you say, “I’m so glad that my Secret Santa is so thoughtful,” it shows that you value the effort and thought put into the gift, which can motivate others to put more thought and action into their skills.

• Yes, I have just opened my gift. I'm so glad that my Secret Santa is so thoughtful!

15. Whosoever did this, I’m super grateful

Secret Santa brings out the holiday spirit and creates a sense of colleague connection. When responding to this activity, you can say, “Whosoever did this, I’m super grateful,” to encourage a positive vibe and build positive relationships in the workplace.Your response will also contribute to camaraderie and goodwill among colleagues. For example:

• My Secret Santa goes me a beautiful journal and some pens. It's perfect because I love writing. Whosoever did this, I’m super grateful and touched by their consideration. 

Before You Go

During Christmas, your colleagues organize these gift-exchanging games in your workplace. It is generally not always easy to respond to an anonymous present. However, the suggestions in the above article can help. Meanwhile, communication in the working place is not always as comfortable as how it flows at home. For example, during this festive period, you’ll likely hear many co-workers tell you ‘sharing is caring’ and other similar expressions. You may want to check out my recent article, where I have suggested some of the best funny responses you can give when someone tells you “sharing is caring” at work.