Secret Santa
The rules of the game and the gift exchange in Bazhanka
From invitation to gift
- The organizer creates a group, turns on Secret Santa mode and picks the date and, if they like, a budget.
- At least three other members join through an email invitation or a link. Once the game starts, joining is closed.
- Everyone creates one group wishlist. The organizer presses “start game”.
- Everyone gets exactly one match (nobody can draw themselves) and opens that person’s list in the group.
- Members agree on how to hand over the gifts by the chosen date. Bazhanka does not arrange delivery.
Questions and answers
What is Secret Santa?
It is a gift exchange inside a group: everyone secretly prepares a gift for one other member. The organizer takes part too.
How do I start a game?
Create a group in Secret Santa mode, pick the date and, if you like, a budget. Invite members by email or by link. Joining the group confirms your participation, so there is no separate sign-up. When the group has at least four people, including the organizer, the organizer presses “start game”. After that, nobody new can join.
Who can see my match and wishlist?
Everyone sees only the person they give to, never the whole draw, and that includes the organizer. Before the draw other lists stay hidden; after it you can open only your match’s list and your own. Each member has a single list in this group, and reserving gifts is not needed.
What happens if someone leaves or is removed?
After the game has started, the draw is repeated automatically for the remaining members. Check your match before you buy anything: it may have changed. The game goes on while at least three people remain; with two left it is cancelled. Before the game starts, a member who leaves simply disappears from the roster.
How do we hand over gifts, and what does the budget mean?
The budget is an optional maximum gift amount and the date is the exchange day. Members agree on the place and way of the handover themselves, outside Bazhanka. Automatic delivery and parcel-locker or branch selection are not available yet; you do not need to enter an address or phone number in the app.