Welcome to the 2023 Secret Santa gift exchange, running for the 17th consecutive year! You are cordially invited to join fellow QT3 members in the annual tradition of gift-giving. If this is your first time, welcome!
QT3 Secret Santa is a non-denominational gift-giving game in which you are tasked with sending a gift to another participant. We celebrate the winter holidays by opening our gifts in the same week, called Opening Week, and posting photos of ourselves and our gifts.
This is the link to sign up by Sunday, October 29, 2023:
→ SIGN UP HERE ←
Assuming we have critical mass of at least 10 participants, let’s play!
Rules:
Deadline : The cutoff date for participation is listed below. After this date, I (fire) will post all of the participants’ handles and begin matching Santas with Santees (secretly, of course).
Personal information : Please note that the exchange of personal information with any other QT3 members is not required, and that any information you send to me (the organizer) will remain strictly private. I will not disclose personal information to anyone other than your Santee unless you expressly give me permission. In previous years, there were some QT3 members who were asking for other people’s addresses to surprise them with gifts. Please understand that in order to protect people’s privacy I simply can’t do this.
‘ In !’: To participate, fill out the Google Form and post in this thread to indicate you’re in! Participation includes a) being a Secret Santa for someone, and also b) being someone’s Santee.
Here is what I’ll need from you (the form linked above will ask you for these things):
- Your mailing address . You can use your QT3 handle or a pen name if you prefer, but please add “QT3”, “Secret Santa”, or both as package identifiers.
- Your shipping preference . The choices are: Domestic (to your home country), Continental (in your continent); International (anywhere in the world). If you have no preference or don’t mention your preference, you will be placed in whichever bucket I find most convenient for me.
- (Optional) Your wishlist , if you have one, or want to share one with your Santa. You can also post your wishlist in the thread (publicly) if you like. Having (and sharing) a wishlist is not required.
- (Optional) Any special requests to Santa or to the organizer – such as relatives, roommates, allergies, etc.
Getting a Santee : After the deadline, I will send you (by e-mail) your Santee’s address and wishlist, if provided. You will be responsible for getting a gift to your Santee. If you are shipping internationally, plan ahead, and get your gift out at least three weeks early. International shipping (especially around the holidays) can take extra time. Your gift should arrive in time for Opening Week . No freeloaders! If you don’t give a gift, we’ll know.
Giving a gift : There is a $20 minimum gift value; no maximum. You can send gifts directly from a retailer, or from your home.
Receiving a gift : When you receive a gift from your Secret Santa, it’s helpful to post in the thread saying you got it – it puts your Santa’s mind at ease. Or you can e-mail or PM me, and I’ll do it for you.
Requesting a gift : You can subtly or not-so-subtly talk about things you’d like to get in this thread, although that in no way means you’ll get what you ask for. Some folks post various wishlists. You can e-mail me and ask to have your wishlist forwarded privately, if you forgot to add it to the form.
Keeping track : We’ll keep track of who is participating in this thread. Once sign-ups close, the list will be in alphabetical order. After the exchange, the organizer will post a summary of the Santa to Santee pairings, and links to the opening posts.
Opening Week !: Begin opening gifts as early as the first day of Opening Week. Have a camera ready so you can snap a picture and get it in the thread!
Problems : If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail the organizer: fire.qt3 at gmail, or PM fire. As always, I’m happy to relay communication between you and your Santa/Santee.
Checklist:
____ Post in the thread!
____ Sign up with your information (by Sunday, October 29, 2023)
____ Receive Secret Santee information (on Monday, November 13)
____ Send gift to Secret Santee to arrive Opening Week (week of December 25). DO NOT POST IN THE THREAD THAT YOU’VE MAILED!
____ Send fire.qt3 at gmail shipping confirmation (optional)
____ Receive Secret Santee gift
____ Post in the thread about gift received (optional)
____ Take pictures of opening gift, and post them (Opening week)
____ Have fun!
For reference, here are the previous years’ compilations of Secret Santa:
2007 The Qt3 Secret Santa Thread
2008 Qt3 Secret Santa: The Return (deadline to register: October 15th)
2009 QT3 Secret Santa Part III: Better Than the Last Sequel
2010 QT3 Secret Santa: Episode IV: A New Hope
2011 QT3 Secret Santa: Episode V: Santa Strikes Back
2012 QT3 Secret Santa: Episode VI: Regift of the Jedi
2013 QT3 Secret Santa: Episode VII: What’s in the box?
2014 QT3 Secret Santa: Episode VIII: Eight Crazy Years
2015 9th Annual QT3 Secret Santa Gift Exchange
2016 10th Annual QT3 Secret Santa Gift Exchange
2017 11th Annual QT3 Secret Santa Gift Exchange
2018 12th Annual QT3 Secret Santa Gift Exchange
2019 Secret Santa Turns 13
2020 Secret Santa 2020 Speed Edition
2021 What’s in your stocking? It’s the 15th annual
2022 Ho ho ho (that’s interesting)! Secret Santa 2022 for the sixteenth straight year
