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'm very surprised to be nominated as I'm much more of a lurker than a poster. However I do think I know who might have nominated me (THANK YOU LOVELY!), now I'm kicking myself that I wasn't aware it was all underway until it was too late to nominate (Damn you full time work getting in the way of my MN time!)
What other information have you included on the form? Shall I mention that we are not a family in need? I don't want to be ungrateful but I don't want anyone to think that my kids will be going without this year and buy for them while there are kids who are need.

It feels so festive this morning and I promise I'm avoiding the gin today.
Congratulations to all you lovely lot who have been nominated, you now know who you are!
Nominations are now closed, so anyone who missed it this year will have the opportunity to contribute next year.

BUT hey, you can still make a donation. To donate just go here!

Any nominee who has had difficulties with the links in their mail, please could you give it another go? And as a heads up, you need to be logged in to MN before you click through to the information page.

As always any queries we are very happy to answer, just drop us a mail at [email protected].

With love from the MNHQ Elves
(noticed the knitted theme going on here - cute eh?)

It's secret, MyEmpire. (Although I'm sure SantaSandy has had a multiplicity of reasons given on the nomination form.)

Thank you to whoever nominated me. It was lovely of you, and I will admit to getting a bit teary about it. My family is far away and caught up in their own dramas, and stbx is certainly not thinking of me in a festive way , so it's actually very nice to know someone is quietly wishing me a Happy Christmas this year and thinking of me and my dcs. What more could one want for Christmas? Thank you again.

I'm so touched to have been nominated, it really means so much to know someone is thinking of me. I'm not in the UK though so I don't know if that rules me out?

Thanks so much to whoever nominated me. Quite amazed. to you.

Another one who is very touched to have been nominated, and sending and thanks to my nominator!

Raydown - I'm not in the UK either, but last time I got nominated, I tried to back out of it on the grounds of postage and they wouldn't let me, so it doesn't matter. You are not ruled out. :)

Thanks thumb, I feel bad that someone has to pay postage too.

Thank you very much Secret Nominator =) really nice of you.

raydown I think the Elves sometimes arrange that overseas nominees receive one of the on line vouchers that have been donated.

Ah no I'm only just seeing this! What a lovely idea. Have someone I'd really like to nominate too. Will definitely be taking part next year.

I am also hugely honoured to be nominated and glad too that I was able to make a few nominations of my own :)

However I can't seem to put my name back on my usual name having registered the Santa Name

H E L P?

I have to type in my usual name, but can't set my account back as a default, if I don't type it in, the XMas name will post. I see recipe for mess making right there...

The kindness of strangers is overwhelming

I just want to say thank you to whoever nominated me. I feel really honoured that someone thought of me.

How odd that this thread/these threads are duplicated

so, so grateful to be nominated, thank you whoever it was smile

MNHQ - i tried registering the name you gave me to use to thank my donor later, but it says its already in use,

Thank you for the nomination. It made me smile and a bit teary!

I've been nominated too, though I'm not sure why. I'm very grateful though as it's been a really tough year and to know someone out there is thinking of us means more than can be imagined. Thank you.

Thank you sooooo much secret nominator!! I've only just seen my email from MN I am utterly touched! Thank you again

Thankyou so much to whoever nominated me, I'm so touched.

Are we meant to open our presents and post on the thankyou thread when they come or on Christmas Day?

Thank you so much to whoever nominated me....I cried when I got the e mail!

I'm very touched to have been nominated, it has lifted my spirits on what is a bad few days for me. I don't know what I have done to deserve it, but thankyou to whoever has done this.

I am really chuffed to be nominated. No idea why or by whom! But happy not knowing IYSWIM. Thank you so much whoever it was

Really made my week to get the email - self esteem somewhat wobbly understatement lately and during bad phases even my MNing tends to be affected by my anxiety and social awkwardness... so knowing that somebody has actually considered me worthy of a thought like this - well, it's seriously lovely and is a real boost :)