Can I invite someone after the start?

No. Joining closes once the game starts so the draw stays fair. Add everyone before you press start.

Can some pairs be excluded?

Yes. Before the game starts the organizer adds exclusions: two people who will never draw each other (spouses, siblings, a couple at work). Only the organizer sees them. If the exclusions leave no valid draw, Bazhanka says so.

Can we play at school or with children?

Yes, if the children can choose a gift themselves and enjoy the game. For younger children it is simpler to keep ordinary gifts. Taking part needs an account, so agree which adult helps with signing up.

Should I sign the gift?

The giver stays secret, so sign it “From your Secret Santa” and do not reveal yourself even after the exchange.

How do we hand over gifts if we live in different cities?

Members agree on the handover themselves, outside Bazhanka: a gift can be sent by post or be a digital one. The app collects no addresses or phone numbers, and the budget can be set in hryvnias, euros or dollars.

Secret Santa

Secret Santa or Secret Saint Nicholas: what is the difference and which name to choose

Some say “Secret Santa”, others “Secret Saint Nicholas”, others simply “a gift exchange”. Here is whether these are different games, where the names come from and what really matters.

October 12, 2026 · 2 min read

In this article

The short answer
Where the names come from
Which name to choose
Do the rules differ
When it is best to play

The short answer

It is one and the same game. Each participant randomly gets one person, prepares a gift for them within an agreed budget and does not reveal themselves until the exchange day. The difference is only in the name and the festive look.

Where the names come from

Santa Claus comes from the image of Saint Nicholas, so “Secret Santa” and “Secret Saint Nicholas” share a root. In English-speaking countries the game is usually called Secret Santa and played before Christmas. In Ukraine Saint Nicholas is traditionally honoured on 6 December, so “Secret Saint Nicholas” sounds more natural and sets the right mood at once.

Which name to choose

For a Ukrainian team and friends: “Secret Saint Nicholas” (in Ukrainian, “Taiemnyi Mykolai”). Everyone understands it and it suits the December holidays.
For an international team: “Secret Santa”, if your colleagues speak English.
If the date is outside Saint Nicholas Day and Christmas (a colleague’s birthday, the end of a project): simply “a secret gift exchange”.

Do the rules differ

No, the basis is the same. Only the arrangements of a particular group may differ: the budget, the way of handing over, whether to reveal yourself after the exchange. The basic rules are:

one giver, one recipient, nobody draws themselves;
the budget and the exchange date are the same for everyone;
the pairs stay secret until the gift is handed over;
at least four participants, so the pairs are harder to guess.

More about the rules: Secret Santa rules.

When it is best to play

The most common dates are before Saint Nicholas Day, before New Year or Christmas. Invite people three or four weeks before the exchange so everyone has time to buy a gift and does not buy in a rush.

Everything about Secret Santa in one place: Secret Santa in Bazhanka.

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Play Secret Santa

Answers about Secret Santa

Frequently asked questions

What is Secret Santa?

It is a gift exchange inside a group: everyone secretly prepares a gift for one other person and stays anonymous until the gift is handed over. The organizer takes part like everyone else.

Is it Secret Santa or Secret Saint Nicholas?

It is the same game with different names. “Secret Santa” is the common English name and “Secret Saint Nicholas” (Таємний Миколай) suits the Ukrainian December holidays. In Bazhanka the mode is called Secret Santa and the rules are the same.

Can I run Secret Santa online for free?

Yes. Create a group in Bazhanka, invite members by email or by link and start the draw: playing is free. Members create an account, then buy and hand over the gifts themselves.

How many people do we need?

At least four, including the organizer. With fewer people the matches are too easy to guess.

Does the organizer see who gives to whom?

No. Everyone, the organizer included, sees only the person they give to. Nobody sees the whole draw.

What happens if someone leaves the game?

Before the start the person simply leaves the roster. After the draw Bazhanka repeats it automatically for the rest if at least three members remain. If only two are left, the game is canceled.

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