In Spain it's called amigo invisible. Possible dates run from the office dinner in mid-December to Three Kings Night on January 5. In between come the Christmas Lottery draw on the 22nd, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Organizing it in Spain
The office Christmas dinner
Many companies hold their Christmas dinner or lunch in mid-December, and amigo invisible usually happens there. Draw two weeks before, with the limit in euros in writing.
The extra Christmas pay
The extra Christmas month's pay arrives in December, on the date set by each collective agreement. If the office dinner comes first, make the limit affordable without it.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Three Kings
Many families open presents on Christmas Eve or the 25th, and children get theirs from the Three Kings on the morning of January 6. The adults' amigo invisible can go on any of those dates; decide before the draw.
If it's on Three Kings
If you choose Three Kings, bear in mind the January sales usually start on the 7th, so you'll pay full price. In exchange, there's more time to find the gift.
Tips
If the group scatters for the Christmas holidays, hold the exchange before the 22nd, while everyone is still around. And in a family with children, keep the adults' amigo invisible from competing with the Three Kings presents.
Set up your amigo invisible
No account, nothing to install, free. Enter the names, the limit in euros and the date, share one link, and each person sees only who they drew.
