<rings festive bells<adjusts fairy lights> Gather one, gather all, for the Mumsnet Secret Santa 2015!

[SandyMumsnet]

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
but Mumsnetters are so delightful,
since we've no place to go,
let gifts flow, let gifts flow, let gifts flow...

Yes, folks, it's that most wonderful time of the year: the day we launch the Mumsnet Secret Santa! True, it's only the end of September, but Santa requires plenty of time to prepare his sleigh

Secret what, you say? You mean you don't KNOW? Grab a snifter of gin and a cinnamon danish and come sit by us while we tell you all about it.

The way it works is this: we ask Mumsnetters to nominate a fellow Mumsnetter* - someone who's had a tough time recently, perhaps, or someone who has been a fantastic source of support to others - to receive a Christmas gift. At the same time, we also ask for gift donations. Once the nominations and donation offers have come in, we at MNHQ match nominees with donors, and contact the donors to tell them where to send their gifts. Et voila: Merry Christmas, everyone.

And just to be clear: this really is a SECRET Santa. Thanks to our tinselled-up tech team, everyone who takes part in the process is anonymous: special Christmas codenames are assigned at the start to both nominee and donor. Neither the team working on matching up nominees to donors nor the donor sending out the present will have anyone's name or username details, and only those who donate will see the address (and only the address - not the username) of the nominee they've been matched with. Security is our number one priority - if you've any questions or concerns, please do ask on the thread (or email us at [email protected]).

But back to the gifts. This year we've created a special

Secret Santa Christmas grotto

where you'll find all the information you need on how to get involved, an explanation of how this annual feat of logistical wonderment works, and an account of how it came about in the first place.

The grotto is also the place where you can make your nomination (at any time between now and October 15th ) and/or pledge to donate (up until 30th October). There are more details about what sort of thing you might wish to give over there too (vouchers are always a good idea), but basically, every gift is welcome. The idea is to spread some festive cheer and make a Mumsnetter's Christmas that little bit more joyful by showing them that they're in your thoughts.

Now, if you'll excuse us, we have something in our eyes.

*Nominated Mumsnetters do need to have been around for six months. We'll be able to see from our end if that's the case, even if they've namechanged.

Even worse would be "You've been nominated for a present but we don't think you deserve it. Happy Christmas. Love from MNHQ"

TBF I bet the poor MNHQer organising it wears their eyebrows as a hairband for 3 months looking at the nominations.

i wonder how many people don't work out that MNHQ can work out name-changing nominators

By the way, can i nominate ginslinger because of her utter fabness - thanks

This is lovely. I look forward to reading the thread. I'm still unsure how it works but never mind. I'm sure it will sink in eventually. :o

Yay,been waiting!

Are we allowed to register to donate more than once again?

And, to a certain person I nominated last year (you know who you are!!!) Don't you dare turn it down this year misses, you don't have to do a thing

That would look better with the smiley face that has a santa hat....when are we getting him back?

I'm afraid I'm still not over the thread somebody started the year before last where she said she was grateful to eventually have been nominated (by her mates), as all her RL mates had been getting nice things in the post from strangers in previous years. Hers is one of the few names I remember from here. I was gobsmacked.

However, I have donated previously as I'm in a position to do so, and nominated, and will do again.

To answer the questions about MNHQ giving out a receipients address to someone like Jeffrey. If I was the villan of the piece and offered to donate a gift, what are the chances I would get the address of someone I wanted to target? Minimal, I would think. I'd get a name (from electoral roll, 192 etc) and have an address. Yes, I could arrange swatting, but what's the point when it might not even make my regional news? No publicity for shits and giggles there.

I might be a villan who nominates someone I want to target, and also offers to donate. But MNHQ must check the nominator isn't the donator thus gaining an address.

I'm confusing myself now.

Maybe MNHQ would confirm its not possible to donate to the same poster you nominate

I think if you were someone like Jeffrey you wouldn't care who you were sending something horrible to, as long as you could do it, sadly.

I think you have to have been on here for 6 months to be nominated, maybe it should be the same for people making the nominations or donating?

MNHQ ... Can I donate to the person I nominate?

Oh and thank you mrs for you explanation.

Yeah exactly that sparkling.
I'm not against secret Santa. The year before last I was nominated and got my only Christmas gift. I also got a box of all little extra fancy Christmas things we could never afford (which we still have the non food items) it made dds Christmas.

But this year I just worry.

I feel like a huge party pooper compose, but I am an overthinking worrier.

MNHQ, just checking but you know there isn't a space on the donation form for the donor's MN nickname or email address right? How do you know who's donating? :)

Finn please tell me you are joking and somebody didn't actually do that?

No Trip, I'm not joking.
I'm sure others will remember it as well.

I'll have a look later and see if i can find it, but was prob in Chat.

That's awful finn - completely ruins the sentiment and feeling behind secret santa.

I really want to donate to the person I'd like to nominate .. I know what gift I'd love to send, but I can't?

I'm out this time, I feel uncomfortable with it now for various reasons (grabby threads in previous years, worry that things get lost and the security of personal information thing following hackergate/Jeffrey). I will make a donation to Crisis instead.

Thomas, that donate form is a bit like a PM/Report doodah. MNHQ knows who's sent it.

I vaguely recall an odd post from 2 or 3 years ago, Finn. But, IIRC, the recipient was complaining that she'd only got a 'token' gift (maybe a box of chocs) rather than some enormous box full of toys and other goodies

Really? If I got a box of chocs sent to me I'd be extremely happy. It's about the thought surely?

There's some very materialistic people in this world.

There was also a post a few years ago where I offered to send a gift. The nominated person had A,B, C so was expecting gifts from three people. Mine didn't arrive and went missing but I didn't know this and don't know what happened to the third person but the nominated person absoloutely let rip into us both publically as posh bastards living in ivory towers on big hills enjoying our perfect Christmas and not being arsed to send anything. I was a single Mum who was living in one bed temp accommodation at the time as we had just been made homeless by the landlord letting against terms of his mortgage and then not paying mortgage and buggering off. The gift i donated was something nice i had been given which I couldn't use. Had she let me know nothing had arrived on the thank you thread i would have at least sent some chocs or something small for kids.

I'll register to donate when the alcoholic gift sets come in I can find something suitable.

Queenbean I'm still me! Definitely not hinting for a nomination

I've never been involed as a donator or nominee but I love the sentiment and with it the significant effort that donators and MNHQ put in. It makes me feel Christmassy. (It may not be a word but should be).

I love the thought of people receiving a bit of cheer because there are times in life when something as simple as a few bath bombs, box of chocolates can make you feel like someone gives a damn about you and there's a world beyond your current heavy emotional load.

I can't help but feel if we let the Jeffrey characters with all their emotional issues change our good characteristics the world becomes a sad place. We need to learn but not be bullied into submission.

I can understand that people who are already dealing with a significant amount in their lives might be reluctant to give out their address but there are surely ways round all such problems like as a pp suggested using a work address or seeing if we can somehow link into the argos/ ebay collection service or some other type of collection point service.

Composemail. Thats so sad. I hope life has turned a corner for you and I do believe that there is a touch of Karma in life. Being kind to others isn't always returned in kind by the same person but overall it sends out positive ripples that will eventually return.

Just to clarify: Do I need to state the specific item that I'm donating? If not I can fill it in now!

@frazzledbutcalm

MNHQ ... Can I donate to the person I nominate?

Hiya frazzledbutcalm Nice idea, but Secret Santa is completely anonymous so we're afraid this kind of option is impossible.

That's disgusting Compose.