Looks like the trend of early shopping and shipping continues! Today I received a package containing the card/board games Funemployed, Codenames, and Lanterns: The Harvest Festival. Thank you for the wonderful additions to my collection!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TP...=w1016-h762-no

I have now sent out all gifts :) I hope the recipients enjoy them, I tried hard to fibd gifts they would like and that fit in some way atleast to their wish list :)

I tried to get in early to avoid any last minute rush.

I sent the two gifts I had to send I think one arrived yesterday. I really hope the person likes it. I don't like to give people what they ask for as they are kind of expecting it. I like to give them something that goes with their taste but not expecting.

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Christmas arrived early in Louisville. Aveda shampoo and lotions. Ahhhhh rosemary mint!! Thanks Redhead!!

I have not yet sent my gifts out, but I am still looking at multiple sources to make sure that I can find the best things to send to my recipients...

Just got my first shipment I believe I did 2 this year and I am so happy with the gifts not sure who my secret santa is but thank you!

I love lava lamps so it's cool to have a salt lamp and the clock is awesome it's one of those things I always wanted but never bought and the cable tie is needed for sure! Thank you Santa!

Oh and my wife stole the tile. I love tile!!! She is also making me wrap everything

This Santa actually read my mind because I didn't really put any hints just said I wasn't picky. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4b59b85cb2.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...72e3ef0c08.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...02a4b07e36.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a81ab5fe3a.jpg

Just one person's perspective on the Secret Santa swap...

I'm seeing a lot of gift photos posted already. It's great to see the photos but there are so many early photos this year that I wonder if some folks who are new to FT Secret Santa might be getting puzzled by the timing and deadlines. My understanding is the rules say gifts are to arrive no later than the holiday season. Our tradition is gifts are opened on Christmas so I aim for the gifts I send to arrive between December 15 and December 20 and don't open the gifts I receive until December 25.

So for folks hoping to rip into their packages by Thanksgiving :D, sorry, if I've got your name, you'll have to wait until December. ;)

Holiday season can have a different meaning to each person, so while your tradition is great for you, others may have different traditions and shipping gifts to arrive between December 15-20 may be very late for others' traditions. For example, Hanukkah is December 2-10 this year. If someone celebrates Hanukkah, then gifts that arrive on December 15 are after their holiday season.

I'm all for sending gifts as soon as shopping is complete and allowing people to decide when to open them. :D

Many different seasons and traditions nothing wrong with that. Some are shipping from different countries where shipping estimates can be 7-28 days 😂😁 so one has to ship early

I'm going to be in HKG for most of December and my giftee is on the US East Coast so I wanted it done before I left. I sent a note with them that said "you can wait to open until Christmas". I also have a little something edible coming the week of Christmas. Last year, my Santa sent me something really nice right after Thanksgiving and I was pleased. Several weeks later I got something else super cool so if I'm doing multiple gifts (which I am this year) then I like to space it out as well.

That's why my post was labeled "one person's perspective" instead of "Secret Santa Rules".

If someone hopes to have their gifts in time for Hanukkah I would be happy to ship for that date if they had specified that in their wish list. Unless otherwise specified I think mid December is a reasonable target and well within the organizer's rules.

Your perspective on when to open gifts is well documented. My point was that people new to this event shouldn't feel pressured to ship and/or open gifts for a Secret SANTA event in early November, nor should they think gifts were ignored if photos aren't posted until December 26.

So glad you liked them! You certainly didn't give me a ton to work with :)

Thank you! I truly do love everything! Your taste rocks!

Love seeing the early presents (and seeing other's reactions can aid in gift buying too!), however I always opt to delay opening until Christmas or just before. There is no right or wrong ... so long as you come back here and post!!!

Oh, and tell wharvey when shipping and receiving, of course.

PS, for the later allotment of Santas, should one of mine read this, never occurred to mention in my Santa list, if one is considering anything tech/cable related, I'd find USB mini-B or C more useful than fruit-based tech. ;)