Ho! Ho! Ho! It's that time of year again—the season of giving, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than with our annual Reef2Reef Secret Santa Gift Exchange!
Forget socks and fruitcakes! As reefers, we know that nothing beats the joy of giving and receiving gifts that truly connect with who we are and what we love! Who else but a fellow reefer understands the excitement of getting that perfect frag or a gadget you’ve had your eye on? This exchange isn’t just about the gifts, though—it’s a chance to grow as a community, get to know one another better, and share in the holiday spirit!
So, let’s come together to spread some Christmas magic, make new reefing friends, and add a splash of joy to someone’s tank—or life! Dive into the fun and make this year’s exchange the most festive one yet!
We've made a few changes this year, so be sure to read the info below.
HOW IT WORKS
- Requirements to participate:
- At least 18 years of age
- At least 14 days as a member of R2R
- At least 10 posts on R2R
- Members from all over the world may participate (Please see below regarding international participation).
- Gift requirement: AT LEAST $25 value and a splash of Christmas joy! (Suggested gift range is $25-$50. More on this below.)
- How we'll match you up: Once you sign up, you'll receive a link to Elfster, the website/app we use to organize the gift exchange. Just follow the link to register so we can match you with your Secret Santa.
- The first matchup will take place on November 1st. After this, matches will happen every Monday (at least 25 people per match) until December 2nd.
- Sign up will be open through December 1st.
- Buy or make gifts and ship them by December 15th.
- Delivery tracking is mandatory and will need to be sent to @Santa Claus and/or updated in Elfster.
- Be sure to say THANK YOU when your gift is received (it's a requirement, so see below).
- Global Inclusion: We’re excited to include reefers from all over the world! However, while we wish that we had enough international participation to allow all participants to only send to members within their own country, that simply isn't feasible. So, please be aware of the possibility that you may need to ship internationally if you join the international group.
- Shipping Considerations: Keep in mind potential international shipping costs and timeframes when signing up.
- USA Participants in the International Group: USA participants can join the international group, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be matched with someone outside the U.S.—it depends on the number of participants and the luck of the draw.
To sign up, you will need to do these 3 things (PLEASE DO ALL 3):
- STEP 1: PM @Santa Claus with the following 3 things: YOUR NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS (the one you'll be using with Elfster is helpful), and WHETHER YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE US GROUP OR INTERNATIONAL GROUP (members located outside the US are required to participate in the international group). Once I have this info, I will PM you the link to sign up on Elfster and join the gift exchange).
- STEP 2: Sign up for this year's gift exchange on Elfster. I will send you the link for the group you are signing up for.
- Please, PLEASE, be sure your R2R username is entered on your Elfster profile (include it maybe after your First Name so it appears like a "middle name." This really does help your Secret Santa to find you on Reef2Reef and get better gift giving ideas.
- STEP 3: Post in this thread with your answers to the questionnaire (see below) IN THIS THREAD (this is our official registration thread).
IMPORTANT DATES
- Registration opens: October 15th
- First Match-Up: November 1st
- Subsequent Match-Ups: Every Monday until December 2nd.
- Deadline to Sign Up: December 1st.
- Gifts Must Ship: No later than December 15th.
- Gift Value must meet or exceed $25. (Suggested gift range is $25-$50)
- Rule About Regifting: Regifting toward the minimum value is not allowed. While you can include items you already have in your gift, those items won’t count toward the $25 minimum value. Make sure any regifted items are thoughtful and suitable for the recipient.
- Shipping costs are NOT included in the gift value requirement.
- Thoughtful Gifts Wanted! Let’s make it special for your recipient! Everyone’s idea of the perfect gift is different, but please try to include something personal and thoughtful. We also ask that a $25 e-gift card not be the only thing you send—get creative!
- Your gift MUST be sent by December 15th. Now, we realize things can happen, and we're always willing to work with participants. However, if your gift has not been shipped and confirmation/tracking info sent to Santa by the deadline, you may be banned from participating in future Secret Santa exchanges on Reef2Reef.
- Participate with Goodwill. Secret Santa is about spreading joy and participating in good faith. We ask that all participants engage with this spirit of giving in mind and contribute to making this exchange a fun, positive experience for everyone!
- Communication is Key! If something unexpected happens and you’re unable to ship your gift on time, please reach out to @Santa Claus as soon as possible so we can work together to make arrangements. Life happens, and we understand!
- Gift expectations. Remember, while you’re welcome to go above the suggested gift range, the spirit of this exchange is about spreading joy rather than focusing on the dollar amount. So, feel free to go above and beyond to share the reefing love in your own way, but don’t worry if what you receive falls within the suggested $25–$50 range.
- Don't Forget to Say THANK YOU! Saying 'Thank You!' is part of the fun and community spirit of Secret Santa! Once you’ve received your gift, be sure to make a post or send a message to let your Secret Santa know it arrived safely and share your appreciation. Most of you do this anyway, but just to be clear, this a requirement for participating. We’ll have a dedicated "Thank You" thread where you can spread the cheer!
- Making a wishlist on Elfster may help your Santa with ideas. This is not required (if you fill out the questions listed here, you should be giving some good ideas to your Secret Santa anyhow), but we know some of you like this feature a lot. So feel free to make a wish list, but please remember that the suggested gift amount is $25-$50 (so be sure to have some good gift ideas available to your Secret Santa in that range).
SECRET SANTA QUESTIONNAIRE
- What country are you located in?
- What is one thing you always need more of?
- What are your other hobbies/interests?
- How do you like to spend your free time, whether it's relaxing after work or on the weekends?
- Do you have any dietary restrictions or preferences if your Santa wants to send a treat?
- What’s your favorite candy or snack, either from your childhood or something you love to munch on now?
- What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
- Do you collect anything?
- What's your favorite color?
- What size t-shirt/hoodie/socks do you wear?
- What's one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again?
- What type of music do you listen to?
- Do you enjoy reading? If so, what types of books do you like?
- Do you play any games (board games, video games, card games, etc.)? If yes, what are your favorites?
- Are you a fan of any sports teams?
- What’s something interesting about you that most people on R2R don’t know?
- If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
- What’s one item on your bucket list?
- Do you have any pets besides your reef tank? Tell us about them!
- What's your favorite fish?
- Favorite coral?
- Favorite invert?
- Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
- Do you have any planned upgrades or tweaks you’d like to make to your tank(s)?
- What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
- Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
- What are some good gift ideas for you? (Some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)
- If you had to choose, would you rather receive something handmade or something store-bought?
- Are there any specific brands or reef products you love or prefer?
- Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock
- Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)
Also, notice that we have a special Secret Santa forum going on! Feel free to start other threads in here to talk about everything Secret Santa related, holiday related, or just anything you want to talk with all of us other SS peeps!
Looking forward to spreading some holiday reefing cheer with you all! Happy reefing and happy holidays!
#R2RSecretSanta
