2020 SECRET SANTA
My wife and I participated in the event for the first time last year and was glad that we did. The game we received from our Santa was Architects of the West Kingdom which had been on my personal wishlist for a while. Unfortunately, we have not tabled the game yet because we are trying to get through many of our other “to be played” games. Yes, it is nice being able to receive a gift but for me, the greater joy was being able to give the gift.
The person I was assigned to had a certain game on their wishlist that was not a retail released game but one that was a deluxe Kickstarter edition. It just so happened to be one of the games that we already own (with another copy coming when one of the next Kickstarter’s from the company arrives). The game that my Secret Santa recipient wanted was ThunderGryph Games’ Iwari.
Since I am friends with a few people at ThunderGryph, I reached out one of them to find out if I would be able to order a deluxe edition of the game and have it sent to my Secret Santa target. I received a message back saying that my request would be granted at X amount of Euros to cover the cost of the game and shipping. I immediately paid and sent them the shipping address.
A few weeks later when I checked the BGG Secret Santa “results” page in which people are supposed to share what they received (which acknowledges participation), it was nice to see that my target was happy to get the game. Which was made possible from making friends with the right people in the board game industry.
2021 SECRET SANTA
Even though this year is still tough because of the COVID pandemic is still going on and mixed in with the shipping crisis (see Entry 33) and other economic woes happening across the globe. My wife and I decided that participating in the Secret Santa again would be a good thing.
Here is a big reason why. You do not know what the Secret Santa target has been through this past year. They may have lost their job, had family member ill or they have been sick themself, lost a parent or relative, been displaced due to natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado or wildfire, or one or more of many other woes. Sending them a gift of a boardgame that they have wanted for a while maybe the one thing that lifts their spirits during the holiday season.
In regards to receiving from a Secret Santa this year, I do have a few games from last years wishlist that I picked up this year (removed from the list after I got it) and a few still left over that is for this years list. Do I care what game I get from the exchange? No, not really. Just knowing that other people who share the same interest as I do is willing to share a gift with me feels nice.
REGULAR GIFTING
Secret Santa gift exchanges are fun because your only connection with your target is the mutual love of board games. Gifting games to friends and family who share the interest is a bit different. A person can take a chance to get the receiver something that they haven’t played in hopes that it would be a hit.
I admit that I have received some games from others that are either unplayed (because of various factors) or wasn’t a hit at all and we played it once and it is on our shelf. Doing this is always a risk because you do not know how they would react to it. They may show gratitude but then behind your back they may feel like it is a thoughtless gesture if it is a game the don’t enjoy.
How does my wife and I remedy this situation? What we do typically is have a game night and introduce family to various games to find out if they like a particular game as much as we do. If the answer is yes, we ask them if this is a game they would want in their personal collection to play whenever they want. Still yes? Then we take note as to what the game is and pick up another copy to give as a gift to them.
I can tell you that on numerous occasions while playing games with my mom she would tell us that she would like a copy of the game (if it is a small box game due to the storage space she has) which then my wife and I usually order a copy for her (Roll for It! Deluxe Edition comes to mind).
If it is a larger boxed game and if she is in the mood to play a certain game, she requests that we bring it over. Not a problem for us. An example of this is the game Cascadia; after playing it just a few times, she had requested we bring it over because she really wanted to play. This brings us much joy and happiness because we had “spread the love” of board games.
DONATING GAMES AS GIFTS
The last type of giving I want to briefly address is that of giving to toy donation drives like Toys for Tots. I personally feel that you cannot go wrong donating games during the holiday season to charitable organizations that help those you may need it.
I have worked with the underserved population and the majority of kids would love to get some games; from Chess to Checkers, and Candy Land to Jenga any thing that they can sit and play with parents, guardians, mentors, and friends are loved.
In two weeks time (right after Halloween) you will start seeing the holiday donation bins pop up all over the place. If you are able to, give a little, not only will your world light up but also someone else’s as well.
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