Season's (well nearly) greetings, and welcome to the MUMSNET SECRET SANTA 2014!

[SantaSandyMumsnet]

Sleepy reindeer are waking, Christmas elves are busy mulling wine, and we at MNHQ - and you lovely lot - need to get cracking. Yes, we know it's only October, but the Mumsnet Secret Santa waits for no one

For those of you who are new to our seasonal spreading of goodwill, the idea is that Mumsnetters nominate fellow Mumsnetters whom they feel particularly deserve some festive cheer to receive an anonymous Christmas present. We also open a thread asking for gift donations, and match these to the nominees as part of a HUGE anonymous Secret Santa operation. For more on how the whole thing works (clue: as smoothly as a rocket-powered sleigh), take a look here.

This Christmas tradition was a scheme cooked up by Mumsnetters themselves, and it has thrived over the years due to their generosity (you can find out more on how it came about over here). It generally goes without any major hitches , but there are just a few rules and regs which it's worth brushing up on.

And now, to business. The nominations page is live, and you can add your nominee's name at any time from now until 29th October, when the page will close. We'll then drop all nominees a line to ask for their addresses, the ages/sex of their DC, if they have them, and any further family details they're happy to share with us and their donor. This information needs to be with us by 7th November.

The donations thread is also live, so please pop on and let us know if you'd like to make someone's Christmas a little bit more special by showing them that they're in your thoughts. In terms of what to donate, we love vouchers because they're easy to match, but we're delighted with all sorts. Remember, nothing is too small, and please don't worry if you're thinking of donating a gift with a low cash value, because money is really not what this is about.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your awesome generosity. You amaze us every year.

It's all now in your capables, but if you have any queries we're happy to hear from you at [email protected].

'And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day.'

I always thought I was like wallpaper on this site so thank you, whoever nominated me, from the bottom of my heart

Thank you to the lovely MNetter who has nominated me, it does make you feel nice to know that out there somewhere someone thinks you deserve it, has thought about you............thank you x

Attila..........you have been advising and helping on here for a very long time, you deserve it :)

doesn't she just triplets, but i'm biased!

i'm so pleased to see so many lovely MNers nominated, people I love, admire and wouldn( be without.

I have no idea who nominated me, but i'm humbled and touched. my DS is beyond proud!

I'm terrible, I really want to know "who dunnit".

It's Secret Santa, Zing.

But nonetheless.

I've been nominated
Thank you, lovely person/people!!!!

I'm absolutely delighted to see who my fellow nominees are - well deserved, one and all!

I will be sending something fattening to somebody :) (I see a few low-carbers on this thread, so not you I'm afraid!)

Must stop dancing round the flat, going "I can't believe it! How kind!"

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ooh Garlic you too? another extremely worthy recipient! nice one!

:) Thanks, Hissy.

My post didn't post earlier in the week :( (a few techy glitches this end - , which is why I was late getting back to Sandy too - sorry Sandy!)

So... Thank you so, so, so much whoever nominated me - it was lovely of you, it really made my day! I'm feeling quite festive now!

Sandy I'm loving all your knitted friends - keep them coming! :)

Really hoping the person i nominated got their email

I've just noticed i've been nominated, and i'm a little confused, as i'm hardly a Personality on here....Do you know me in RL, Nominator? Have I outed myself at some point? Either way, thank you. I'm off to reply to the request for details. Confused but pleased.

Maybe i've missed the boat; it said it had to be done by 7th....either way, i was pleased to be nominated!

A massive, massive thanks to whoever nominated me.

Was very touched to receive an email saying I'd been nominated.

I'm ashamed to say that despite having been on here since 2003 (ish) I had no idea that the Secret Santa thing existed. Otherwise I could have nominated someone as I've received so much help and support from some lovely mumsnetters.

I have no idea how this works, either, really. I have replied to my email. Am I supposed to do anything else? (not very bright emoticon!)

Thanks again!

Thank you so much to whoever nominated me, it means a lot as I'm the sort of person who generally goes unnoticed in RL Have a smashing Christmas x

I've been nominated and I'm trying out my new username.

I remain deep, deep, deep undercover but am very, very, very grateful for the nomination.

Also just trying new name ! I won't know myself.

I don't remember my xmas username. what do I do?

It will be on the mail MNHQ sent you Zing

Hi SandyMumsnet, when will you be sending instructions to people who want to send their gifts.

I'm all ready to despatch 2 gifts but unsure what to do next.

Many thanks
dC x

From something SantaSandy posted on Thursday, daisy

Donations close this Friday 7th November THEN the spreadsheets will be dusted off and the matching process begins.

This matching malarkey takes time, so the mails to donors giving all the details of their match will not drop into your mail boxes until the first week of December.

I'd be guessing that Sandy has given the outside scale for the matching (which really must be some task) so I'd just be keeping a general eye on your email box from now on but with her timescale in mind.)

Thanks again cozie, you always come to the rescue!

I have the gifts, just want to make sue they get to the right place on time!

I have been checking my inbox each day, so will keep doing that for the next little while. x

The Secret Santa train is chugging forward and the matching has begun!
Both the nomination and donation pages are now closed. So if any of you lovely lot have missed the opportunity this year, make a note in your diary for next year. Everyone welcome.
Any queries about your nomination or donation now need to come to us at [email protected]. Please don't hesitate, we're very happy to help.

The matching up is a long and thoughtful process, we try to get as good a fit as possible, so the mails to donors giving instructions about their gifts will not be going out FOR SOME TIME.

Sandy, you make an excellent Elf Pass the gin!