Kris Kringle, Pollyanna and Secret Santa: Same Game, Different Names
Kris Kringle, Pollyanna, Secret Santa and Amigo Secreto are one gift exchange with regional names. Where each name comes from and how small details differ.
Short answer: Kris Kringle, Pollyanna and Secret Santa are the same game. Everyone draws one name in secret, buys one gift within a set budget and stays anonymous until the gifts are opened. The name changes with region and family habit: Pollyanna is common around Philadelphia, Kris Kindle in Ireland and Australia, and Amigo Secreto across Latin America.
If your new in-laws invite you to "Pollyanna" and you nod politely without knowing what it means, you are not alone. The rules are almost identical everywhere. What changes is the name, the budget people expect and sometimes how long the secret lasts.
One game, many names
Here is a quick map of the names you might hear and where they are most common.
| Name | Where you hear it | Same as Secret Santa? |
|---|---|---|
| Secret Santa | Most of the US, UK and Canada | The standard version |
| Kris Kringle | Parts of the US, often older relatives | Yes |
| Kris Kindle | Ireland and Australia | Yes |
| Pollyanna | Philadelphia area and nearby | Yes |
| Secret Snowflake | Schools and offices that want a neutral name | Yes |
| Amigo Secreto or Amigo Invisible | Latin America, Spain, Portugal | Yes, often with clues |
| Wichteln | Germany and Austria | Yes, sometimes with a stealing twist |
| Secret Elf | Some offices and kids' groups | Yes |
White Elephant, Yankee Swap and Dirty Santa are not on this list. They are stealing games where gifts are not assigned to anyone. If that is what your group means, see White Elephant vs Secret Santa.
Where Kris Kringle comes from
Kris Kringle is usually traced to Christkindl, a German word for the Christ child, who brought gifts in parts of German-speaking Europe. As German immigrants settled in the US, the word drifted into English as Kris Kringle and became another name for Santa himself. The gift exchange borrowed the name later, so when an older relative says "let's do Kris Kringle," they simply mean drawing names.
In Ireland and Australia the version is often Kris Kindle, and it is the everyday term for an office or family exchange.
Where Pollyanna comes from
Pollyanna is a regional name centered on Philadelphia and the surrounding area. It is usually linked to the cheerful heroine of an early twentieth century children's novel, who found something to be glad about in everything. How her name became attached to a gift exchange is not clearly documented, but families in the region have used it for generations. If you grew up there, "Pollyanna" may be the only name you know for it.
How Secret Santa works, whatever you call it
The rules are the same under every name. Here is the default version.
- Everyone who wants to play joins before a deadline.
- The group agrees on one budget.
- Names are drawn in secret, and nobody gets their own.
- Each person buys a gift for the name they drew.
- Gifts are labeled with the receiver's name only.
- Everyone opens gifts on the agreed day, and the givers reveal themselves or stay hidden.
For the long version with fixes for dropouts and latecomers, read how Secret Santa works.
Small differences between versions
The core is shared, but local habits add twists.
- Amigo Secreto often includes a guessing game at the party. Each person describes their secret friend with hints until someone guesses, then hands over the gift.
- Kris Kindle in some Irish offices runs for a week of small anonymous treats before the main gift.
- Pollyanna families often keep the same budget for years and draw on Thanksgiving, when everyone is in one room.
- Wichteln sometimes ends with a dice game where gifts can be swapped, borrowing a little from stealing games.
- Secret Snowflake is used when a school or office wants to keep the exchange separate from any single holiday.
None of these changes the basic deal: one name, one gift, a secret giver.
Running it today, under any name
Whatever your group calls it, the draw is where most of the friction lives. Paper slips work when everyone is in one room. Families spread over several states, and offices with people working from home, usually draw online.
GiftX Secret Santa works for any version of the game. It is free in the browser or the app. The organizer creates a group and can call it anything, such as "Pollyanna" or "Kris Kindle", sets a budget everyone in the group sees, adds an optional cover photo and shares one invite link. People join in one tap and add a wish or keep a GiftX wish list.
Once at least two people have joined, the organizer starts the draw. It is random, it happens once, and each person sees only the name they drew. The organizer does not see the other pairs, so they can play too. When someone is unsure what to buy, GiftX can suggest gift ideas within the budget.
One tip for groups that mix traditions: put the house rules in the invite next to the link. If your Amigo Secreto includes a guessing round, or your Pollyanna draws at Thanksgiving every year, say so in a line. Newcomers then know what to expect, and the regulars do not have to explain the same thing ten times in the group chat.
Which name should your group use
Use the name your group already says. It feels like tradition, and people respond faster to a word they know. A few practical tips:
- Mixed families: say both in the invite, like "Pollyanna (Secret Santa)," so in-laws are not confused.
- Offices: Secret Santa is the most recognized name in the US. Secret Snowflake suits teams that want something neutral.
- International teams: Secret Santa is understood almost everywhere, and locals can still call it what they like.
- Kids' groups: Secret Elf or Secret Snowflake avoids any debate about Santa at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kris Kringle the same as Secret Santa?
Yes. Kris Kringle, Kris Kindle and Secret Santa all describe the same exchange: each person draws one name in secret and buys one gift for that person within a set budget. The name Kris Kringle comes from the German Christkindl and is more common with older relatives or in certain regions.
What does Pollyanna mean in a gift exchange?
Pollyanna is a regional name for Secret Santa, used mostly around Philadelphia. Everyone draws a name, buys one gift and keeps the giver a secret until the exchange. The rules are the same. Only the word is different, so if you are invited to a Pollyanna, treat it exactly like Secret Santa.
Is Secret Santa the same as White Elephant?
No. In Secret Santa each gift is bought for one specific person, and the giver stays secret. In White Elephant, gifts are not assigned, players pick wrapped gifts in turn and can steal from each other. Secret Santa is more personal, White Elephant is more of a party game.
What is Amigo Secreto?
Amigo Secreto, or Amigo Invisible, is the Spanish and Portuguese name for Secret Santa, popular across Latin America, Spain and Portugal. It often includes a guessing round at the party, where each giver describes their secret friend with clues before handing over the gift.
Related reading
Want the stealing game instead? See White Elephant rules. Hosting the draw? Use our free Secret Santa generator guide, or browse all our gift exchange guides.