How The Traditions Of Secret Santa Have Evolved
Many of us have worked in offices and are now familiar with the western office tradition that is Secret Santa. The tradition has picked up pace and is now as popular in the workplace as it is in larger families. The idea of the Secret Santa tradition is that small gifts, usually costing only a few pounds or dollars are given anonymously to another participant in the Secret Santa circle. Whilst the tradition is now extremely popular, its origins are a little less known.
Larry Dean Steart an American philanthropist, who lived from 1938 until 2007, is known to be the original Secret Santa. Larry wasnt born into wealth and he didnt always have money, the story about how he started the tradition is a true lesson in human kindness.
Upon graduating from college, Larry found himself with little money and living out of his car in Houston, Texas. On a day where Larry was particularly hungry he decided to head to a restaurant to eat, knowing full well that he didnt have the money to pay for his meal when they gave him the check at the end. When he was handed the check, Larry pretended that he had actually forgotten his wallet. The owner of the restaurant cottoned on to what was happening and handed Larry twenty dollars saying I think you must have dropped this with a smile. This act of kindness from the owner of the restaurant was never forgotten by Larry.
About a year or so later Larry was again made unemployed during the week before Christmas. Stopping for food he came about a carhop who in the middle of the winter season wasnt wearing any coat. Larry discovered that she didnt have enough money to pay for a coat so remembering his time of great need and the generosity showed to him, he paid the girl $20 for what was a $2 meal.
Larry ended up finding a very good job within the cable and telephones industry eventually making millions of dollars for his work. He never forgot the lessons he had learned when he needed other peoples help and continued to perform acts of kindness, always $100 at a time and always anonymously, eventually giving away over $1.6million during a 20 year period.
With the original Secret Santa concept in mind people have now created a variation of unique alternatives along the same lines with one of the most popular being the White Elephant Gift Exchange. This has many names and is also known as The Thieving Secret Santa, Devils Santa, Dirty Santa and the Grinch Game.
The concept it that everybody at the party (or in the office) brings in a present that would be suitable for somebody else present and the gift is wrapped in a method that disguises its true nature. All people present then pick names from a hat to determine the order of which they will choose their gifts. Once they have opened their gift they have the choice of opening another gift, keeping the gift they originally opened, or stealing a previously opened gift.
There have been many people around the world who were so inspired by the story of Larry Dean Stewarts generosity; they have setup web sites dedicated to arranging worldwide Secret Santas. Everybody in these groups perform random acts of kindness within their local areas for people in need. These organizations have arranged a pact which emphasizes the importance of anonymity. A good Secret Santa is not only generous, but anonymous in being so as well.
Larry Dean Steart an American philanthropist, who lived from 1938 until 2007, is known to be the original Secret Santa. Larry wasnt born into wealth and he didnt always have money, the story about how he started the tradition is a true lesson in human kindness.
Upon graduating from college, Larry found himself with little money and living out of his car in Houston, Texas. On a day where Larry was particularly hungry he decided to head to a restaurant to eat, knowing full well that he didnt have the money to pay for his meal when they gave him the check at the end. When he was handed the check, Larry pretended that he had actually forgotten his wallet. The owner of the restaurant cottoned on to what was happening and handed Larry twenty dollars saying I think you must have dropped this with a smile. This act of kindness from the owner of the restaurant was never forgotten by Larry.
About a year or so later Larry was again made unemployed during the week before Christmas. Stopping for food he came about a carhop who in the middle of the winter season wasnt wearing any coat. Larry discovered that she didnt have enough money to pay for a coat so remembering his time of great need and the generosity showed to him, he paid the girl $20 for what was a $2 meal.
Larry ended up finding a very good job within the cable and telephones industry eventually making millions of dollars for his work. He never forgot the lessons he had learned when he needed other peoples help and continued to perform acts of kindness, always $100 at a time and always anonymously, eventually giving away over $1.6million during a 20 year period.
With the original Secret Santa concept in mind people have now created a variation of unique alternatives along the same lines with one of the most popular being the White Elephant Gift Exchange. This has many names and is also known as The Thieving Secret Santa, Devils Santa, Dirty Santa and the Grinch Game.
The concept it that everybody at the party (or in the office) brings in a present that would be suitable for somebody else present and the gift is wrapped in a method that disguises its true nature. All people present then pick names from a hat to determine the order of which they will choose their gifts. Once they have opened their gift they have the choice of opening another gift, keeping the gift they originally opened, or stealing a previously opened gift.
There have been many people around the world who were so inspired by the story of Larry Dean Stewarts generosity; they have setup web sites dedicated to arranging worldwide Secret Santas. Everybody in these groups perform random acts of kindness within their local areas for people in need. These organizations have arranged a pact which emphasizes the importance of anonymity. A good Secret Santa is not only generous, but anonymous in being so as well.
