Secret Santa Gifts Spain

Unlike in the UK, Secret Santa isn’t just for Christmas in Spain, though this is the most common time of year for people to organise a gift giving game amongst their friends, family or colleagues. There are several theories about the origins of this internationally popular game, which nowadays is perhaps most famous in Colombia and Paraguay due to the Friendship Day celebrations. Some trace its origins to 19th century Venezuela, when, due to social conventions, married or engaged women were not allowed to have friends. Others place its conception in the United States, where a man called Larry Dean Stewart became a millionaire, and decided to anonymously send envelopes of money to poor people. Europe has its own legend in a Scandinavian tradition known as "Julklapp", which involves knocking on the door of a house, leaving a gift and running away before getting caught.

Whatever the real story, the fact is that the idea of Secret Santa is deeply rooted in our society. From childhood, we are taught how to take part in the activity, which usually includes a limit on the amount of money that participants can spend on their gift. Obviously, as we get older, this limit increases until it becomes the amount of a "usual" gift. Having said that, it’s important to recognise that the Secret Santa has always had a tongue in cheek component about it. This is seen in the trend of giving joke gifts, several products of little value or an object that doesn’t match the personality of the recipient (a book to the bad student, something daring to a shy person, etc.). Again, as people get older, gifts tend to become more serious, more useful and, in short, more necessary. That's what growing up is all about, although, as we shall see, mischievous tendencies never truly disappear.

What experience can we give our friend if they're a joker?

Without a doubt, something that matches his or her temperament. Something that, when we see our victim taking part in the activity, will make us smile because of who they are. If they're a funny person, it's best to give them a taste of their own medicine. You don't have to worry about anything, leave it to us, we offer the solution at your fingertips, whether you are a man or a woman.

In Yumping you have endless options, all adapted to different people and personalities, including the joker of the group. We're thinking of the face they'll pull when they're gliding through the air on a self-propelled board, having a go at flyboarding, one of the most recent trends in watersports. They might make the same expression when they try wakeboarding, skiing on water pulled by a rope attached to a boat, or hydrospeed, white water rafting on a floating board in which you use your own body to manoeuvre. Imagine, too, their reaction when they find out that they're going on a banana boat ride, experiencing free fall in a wind tunnel or building an igloo in the middle of a winter wonderland.

You’ll never laugh harder than watching your friend make a fool of themselves in an activity that doesn’t suit them. You won’t forget their performance when they’re dealing with an unexpected playmate, like a cow or calf that’s trying to shake them off. In the same category are the donkey or camel rides that we can organise. That’s something that we bet you didn't expect to see on this site - but these are two of the most noble and friendly animals out there,and they make for a great day out with a difference.

What should we give to the person who always claims to be fearless?

In every group of friends, there's always one person who stands out for his or her ability to get on everyone's nerves for one reason or another. This is no coincidence. Here, we're talking about the typical friend who spends the majority of their life bragging about how much they're like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, about crossing the globe from pole to pole, about having been on the verge of death at Niagara Falls, about plunging over the edge of the Angel Falls in Venezuela, about climbing to the peak of Mount Nyiragongo, one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, or of completing the Trou de Fer, the most challenging canyon on the face of the Earth.

For every one of them, we have prepared a choice selection of dizzying activities which will force them to show that they’re not just a big mouth. At your disposal, or rather, at theirs, we have a wide range of extreme sports that will put their bravery and skill to the test. The moment of truth has arrived, when we unmask (or not) the fakers. Some examples are a rafting descent, a parachute jump from almost 5000 metres in Seville or elsewhere, a via ferrata in the Aragonese Pyrenees, a quad bike ride on off-road trails or one of the advanced level canyons in the Sierra de Guara.

What does our best friend deserve if we pull their name out of the hat?

Although it may seem unfair, we have to admit that all of us, without exception, pray to whatever’s holy that we’ll get our best friend’s name during the draw. This is a tale as old as time, which takes place in each and every group. Presumably, it won't be the first time you have to give this guy or girl a gift, so take the opportunity to give it a twist!

Are you tired of the same old ideas that bore even the most traditional gift givers? Are you fed up with the same old pair of socks, the latest bestselling book, the white blouse with embroidery on the collar? We have the perfect antidote. After decades of friendship, fraternity and putting up with your stick, your friend deserves something that is up to the task. We've put together a long list with endless variations so that you won't be in trouble when it comes to choosing the right gift.

If what motivates you is to share a fun plan with your friend, we recommend that you get on a bike and pedal around the city or by the sea while you have a drink and toast to the future. Equally as satisfying is attaching a giant inflatable bubble to your body and hurling yourself down a hill - or trying your hand at zorbing in the water. If you're a competitive type, there's nothing better than a game of laser tag, for those who like to resolve conflicts with infrared light beams, or airsoft, for those who prefer to emulate the tactics of the US military in an almost real-life combat scenario, or paintball, for those who prefer to paint their enemy from head to toe.

However, if you think that what your match needs is a rest, an escape from a routine that has absorbed them, take a look at our cultural getaways throughout Spain. These are special packages that include guided tours with one or more nights of accommodation, local gastronomy tastings or wine tastings and aperitifs. You can make it a seamless experience that will ensure that your friend will remember this day forever, with affection and infinite gratitude.

Is that clear? Get your Secret Santa a gift which will really surprise them!