the buzz log

Secret Santa Fun

The plastic tree, the spiked eggnog, your weird uncle's obsession with mistletoe -- the holidays have many strange and awkward traditions. The most cringeworthy of all might just be the "Secret Santa" ritual. Searches on the love-it-or-hate-it pastime have risen dramatically, an indication many aspiring elves are sneaking some Christmas cheer into the lives of friends and coworkers.

Among related searches, "secret santa gift ideas" and "secret santa poems" are at the top of the list. Yikes. There's nothing like finding an anonymous haiku about being away in a manger taped to your monitor to make you rethink your choice to participate. "Secret santa riddles" are also making a seasonal surge. Apparently, for some, Christmas isn't so much a time for family as it is a time for taunting work-related acquaintances.

If you've had any unsettling experiences in the past ("A Betty Boop clock! You shouldn't have!"), a round of white elephant may be the way to go. Searches on the slightly mean-spirited style of gift exchange (also known as "yankee swap") are picking up as Christmas approaches. Before agreeing to be party to the madness, however, we recommend you catch Tuesday's episode of The Office. It does a wonderful job of explaining what can (and likely will) go wrong when you put your holiday faith in those you share a bathroom with.