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The Problems with Secret Santa - Numberphile

submitted by Mordhaus

8 years ago

Dr Hannah Fry discusses Secret Santa, anonymity and derangements. And a better way to do it.

2 Comments

noims

says...

Hang on. If she's going to be pedantic, so can I.

In the system she describes, everyone knows they can't be getting a present from the person they're giving to.

This means for her three-person system, everyone knows exactly who got them the bloody scented candle (or whatever), just like with the original flawed version. For more people you can guess with 1/n-2 accuracy which in my office is good enough given the number of people who gossip about what they bought and who they saw with what.

I say stick with the original, but you're allowed to draw yourself. If you do, feel free to express yourself by getting a PS4, a sock, a positive pregnancy test, or whatever you think would get the best reaction.