Stupid (secret) Santa

I'm not at all a grump when it comes to Christmas but it's not my favourite time of year. I guess that's for a couple of reasons being I don't have children, have no family within thousands of kilometres and I'm not religiously linked to the event. I'm not without beliefs of course, just that they're not what a person could describe religious beliefs; I find direction, solace and comfort elsewhere through nature. Anyway, Christmas is a day on which I relax, cook, eat and generally just relax - It's a quiet time in the G-dog's kennel. _{original im src}

The Christmas present thing isn't much of a priority. I get what I need during the year and occasionally something I don't need as well and I'm content with that. Not having to buy Christmas presents relieves any possible pressure from the time of year and I'm free to focus on festive foods including my signature dish, potato salad. That's right folks: World's best hugger and world's best potato salad maker. I know right? #blessed

But alas, there is a Christmas concept that exerts pressure, and it has raised its ugly head this year at my new company.

Secret Santa

If you're not familiar with the concept it goes like this - Someone, usually the receptionist, writes out the names of the employees or smaller team-units if it's a very large company, onto a little piece of paper and each employee must pull a name from a container and subsequently buy a Christmas gift, anonymously, for the person they have drawn. It's all done secretly and usually has a nominal dollar-value limit; in my companies' case, $20.

What a heinous concept! I promise you, I'm not a grump, it's just such a dumb concept.

So, I drew the name of a factory worker and whilst I say hello to him each day and engage in a little conversation, I know next to nothing about him. He is not the talkative type and try as I might I haven't been able to get a good read on what sort of gift I might get him. My problem is that I don't like to buy people things they don't like or don't suit. Having a $20 budget doesn't help very much either as it doesn't give a very wide scope to select the right thing. It's all rather limiting and annoying.

I decided, after a little pondering and many discarded ideas, to play it safe and secured some alcoholic beverages for the fellow...I have no clue what he drinks but went with a craft beer from a local micro-brewer that seems popular, and I managed to exceed the $20 limit by only $5; I think I did well. I've been told the Director of the company likes to work out who had who in the secret Santa draw and so it's bound to come out that I had this chap and I'm hoping the gift is deemed acceptable. Too bad if it isn't, but still, I hope it is.

I don't agree with the secret Santa scenario as it puts undue pressure on people. Sure, it can be funny sometimes, the joke gifts and all, but joke gifts can offend and that feeling often endures possibly causing issues down the track. I don't see it as overly productive or healthy for the culture despite that being the very reason it is done. It's usually just awkward. I always get something legit for the person I select meaning, not a joke gift - I try to work out what might be right...In this case, this year, I have no clue. I hope it's close to the mark though.

Our Christmas function is next Friday, a legit catered barbeque thing held on-site. They'll close a little early that day and the festivities will commence - including the awkwardness of secret Santa gift-giving - and whilst I'm all for a barbeque the rest of it doesn't fill me with joy. Not in the least little bit.

How about you? Have you ever had a secret Santa scenario at your workplace? Has it gone well or badly, and did you ever get or give anything that wasn't well-received? Feel free to share a funny, or totally terrible story which is likely still to be somewhat funny.