Kris Kringle
nounUS, UK /ˌkɹɪs ˈkɹɪŋɡ(ə)l/
Etymology Borrowed in a modified form from Pennsylvania German Christ-kinkle, from German Christkindl (“(dialectal diminutive) Christ Child”), Christkind (“Christ Child”), from Christ (“Christ”) + Kindl (dialectal diminutive), Kind (“child”).
1
US Synonym of secret Santa (“a Christmas tradition where a group of people give anonymous gifts to each other, with each person randomly selected to give a gift to one other person; a person who anonymously gives a present to another in such a gift exchange”).
- [A] time is usually set aside for the Kris Kringles to be performed, such as by the end of the week or the month, or by Christmas or Easter. [...] Kris Kringles are kind deeds or little gifts or surprises done for the person whose name was drawn without that person knowing the source of the Kris Kringle.1978, Judy Fletcher, Games: Activities for Your Christian Family (A Nice Place to Live), St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publishing House, →ISBN, page 51:
- A Filipino woman looks forward as others raise their gifts during an attempt to break a Guinness world record for the biggest, simultaneous exchange of gifts, or kris kringle, in Manila, Philippines, Dec. 18, 2011.2011 December 20, Tiffany Hagler-Geard, “Today in Pictures: Dec. 20, 2011”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 30 Dec 2015:
4 more examples
- We host a yearly After Christmas party for close friends. We always do a Kris Kringle, where everyone brings one present and randomly picks a gift. Everyone agreed on a $20.00 cap.2014 January 10, Caity Weaver, “Thatz Not Okay: Can an Adult Bring a Potato Gun to a Party?”, in Gawker, archived from the original on 04 Nov 2018:
- The first month of the year is typically a boon time for dating websites, as singletons people who are single look to start afresh after a month of socialising and family get-togethers in December (who has time to find a soul-mate when there's office Kris Kringle presents to buy?).2014 January 19, “It’s January, and Ireland’s singles are looking for love – so what are the options?”, in TheJournal.ie, archived from the original on 18 Apr 2019:
- Christmas is a hard time of year. And what makes it harder is Kris Kringle. As if you didn’t have enough on, now you have to buy a gift under $10 for someone at work who you don't know very well. [...] In an office Kris Kringle, people often don't care, or don't care enough. And it shows. For example, in last year's Kris Kringle, I mistakenly bought some very nice beer for a young guy in the office who turned out not to drink. I had no idea. Sorry again.2015 December 14, Jason Murphy, “Ho Ho, Oh No: Why Kris Kringles are so Terrible”, in News.com.au, archived from the original on 20 Dec 2016:
- Bill Gates does it again! After completely KILLING the Secret Santa game last year by fulfilling gaming-lover Aerrix's wildest console dreams, he's back at it for 2017, playing Kris Kringle to a cat enthusiast named Megan Cummings.2017 December 23, Nicole Briese, “Bill Gates Upheld His Title as the Best Secret Santa Ever with this Sweet Charitable Gift”, in Brit + Co, archived from the original on 06 Sep 2019:
2
US A gift given in a Kris Kringle or secret Santa gift exchange.
- If you're working on a budget, finding a thoughtful Kris Kringle can bring on a headache … or two.2016 December 5, Victoria Ticha, “Top ideas for your 2016 Christmas Kris Kringle gifts”, in The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, N.S.W.: Nine Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Sep 2019:
- This news, delivered just after my colleagues had exchanged Kris Kringle and departed for the Christmas break was as unexpected and disorienting as the mid-December rain [in Australia].2019 August 8, Brigid Delaney, “I was poor while all of my friends were rich – the hardest part was the lack of freedom”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Aug 2019: