Did YOU give or receive any anonymous gifts this Christmas??

We've been treated to several discussion threads regarding Holidays/Christmas and the myth of Santa Claus. Many have noted their agreement with promulgating the myth of Santa Claus, most without offering an ethical underpinning other than a child's 'happiness' (at not having to say "Thank You"?), but some alluding to appreciating the 'pure' spirit of giving.

So, I think it would be interesting to see how well this "lesson" has taken root. I'm not asking about the "Santa" gifts you gave your own children - please, don't say 'Yes' if this is the only case. I'm asking whether you received any anonymous (or "from Santa") gifts this Christmas/Hanukkah - gifts where you truly don't know who gave them - or gave any gifts (truly) anonymously.

I don't get the impression that many actually comprehend the meaning of "Virtue is its own reward." I get the impression that the vast majority of us enjoy telling others about our "good deeds" ... particularly our political activities.

While I surely shouldn't have to say this ... please answer truthfully, despite any very strong wish to sustain the 'greater good' of Santa that justifies a little fib. It would certainly be informative to get an impression of how the august assembly of socially conscious DUers has learned the "Santa lesson."

Thank you for your attention and patience.

from an anonymous source, hand delivered with a stamp on it (no post mark). The real gift is a mystery to try tp figure who sent it!

When people aren't feeling 'appreciated' (and most of us have been there), it's fascinating to see them "make a list" of all the people who might've sent them a gift anonymously. I think most of us could think of someone - at work or in our family - who's down in that woe-is-me pit. What better gift than something VERY nice with a card that says: "As you think of all the people who might've cared enough for you to have given this - consider how blessed you are to have so many friends."

instead of purchasing presents for each other. The baby supplies were giving "in honor" of someone, but no one knew who we were.

parents' hometown. Giving to the shelters and food banks is always anonymous, but we do it all year long.

But within the family we don't do anonymous santas - those would be meaningless gifts.

I love to cook, so the people in my family that love to cook too get cool cooking stuff from me - it speaks to their hobbies and loves. An anonymous gift would forego that opportunity. To be fair, we give gifts and knicknacks all year long though, but at Christmas we've had some time to think about more involved gift projects. Not everything our family gives is "purchased" - my Dad loves woodcarving. He works on thematic material based on what he knows of family and friends - again an anonymous gift would have less meaning and actually be MORE crass. All of us travel, so we create and share albums and travelogues; and cool special projects. An hourlong video depicting a day in the life of: of "reality TV", meeting friends, seeing our lives. I transcribe medieval music for my mother's chamber group into the specialized musical instruments they play (medieval French harp, alto recorders, psaltry, da gamba, etc.). My sister wanted another table saw. She wore the last one out. And a nice feminine perfume.

Santa has nothing to do with anything in our family - Christmas is just a convenient excuse for everyone to get together each year and hang out for a while, and since we all like each other it's actually rather enjoyable.

gifts to an elderly neighbor in my area. They are always personally planned out and brought in the dark of night. Nothing better than an old person finding out there really is a Santa, he still knows they've been good and what little gift would really light their eyes.

Game I learned from my mom... who remembered very lean years and used to play the game with younger adults who worked very hard but had very little. Mom made sure some folks got full feast makins for Thanksgiving and that the Sugar Plum Fairy delivered goodies at Christmas. She did it when she could but she was far from out of economic danger zone herself.

Can't give Mom a present anymore, but can keep alive the idea that Santa is out there, knows, and still remembers. Even old people need to know their good behavior has been noted. ;)

I frequently give anonymous gifts throughout the year, but didn't give any this holiday season. Probably because the season of giving to family and friends drains the giving pool of funds.

both the two teenage boys hooded "Dickies" sweatshirts. We never even saw the kids, just had a list of everyones sizes. All the kids got bicycles, and apparently, the whole family had a wonderful Christmas.
It was the most meaningful part of my Christmas.

The kids were too old to appreciate "Santa" so we just put the child's name on the tag and nothing indicating the giver.

gift cards to WalMart - (I know, I know, but if they need food or clothes, this is the cheapest spot). I gave about $500 this way. I stuck the cards in a Christmas card and signed it from Santa.


Two of the families I don't even know, but I was asked to help.

:thumbsup:

our little fam decided to adopt another little fam who was struggling heavily this year, and had not expected much under the tree- Mom is depressed, in limbo- never met them but they live in a near by town, found them on our local 'freecycle' site and couldn't pass up a chance to give back and pay forward some small portion of what we have recieved over the years, from all sorts of places, in all sorts of ways..

So we made, purchased, collected goodies for a family of girls- (i only have boys) and loved it- leaving our wishes with a third party who we don't know either-

imagine our surprise to find a similar abundance waiting on our front porch- how it humbled, touched, and delighted us.

Wish all of us could experience both sides of this. Recieving is by far the least 'comfortable' end in my view- but being on the giving end also reminds us that the last thing anyone who gives from the heart would want, is for the recipents to feel anything other than love, gratitude and hope... that this world still has many large hearted people, who care...even about the least among us- and that giving is contageous- and is a gift in and of itself.

(my son even modeled the purple shawl for me before i wrapped it-, and we all laughed with delight)

Hope all can feel this joy sometime in their life.

They had a story in the paper not long ago that they needed linens, dishes & personal hygiene items.

I dropped off some sheet sets & towels, nothing fancy but they were new.
It was truly anonymous as I left them on the porch. I drove a block away & called on my cell phone for them to check the porch. I didn't want to take a chance of anyone else picking them up.

and there is one agency we work with that does really great work, but they have virtually no food budget. So through a couple of indirect channels, I am anonymously donating some money into their food budget. They will have a surprise credit to spend and they will have no idea I sent it. Part of the anonymity is that I don't want any other programs to know that I am giving money to this other place but not their program, I work with about 150 different programs (and on my salary I sure as hell can't afford to give to them all!). I just appreciate what they do in my community and I want to support them.

and sent hay and feed to some folks for their horses, but they ended up knowing I did it, so it really didn't end up as anonymous as all that.

felt good, though!

Thanks!

My department (a state gov't agency) adopted several local families and sent them a huge number of presents. Mine was to a 22 year old woman named Alisha who wanted, among other things, new sheets, so I got her some nice white flannel sheets and lavender pillow cases. She knew it came from my agency, but I was anonymous.