What exactly is a Cuchumbo?
In Honduras and El Salvador, Cuchumbo names both the vessel used for a draw — a gourd or cup associated with dice — and, in Honduras especially, the December gift exchange where names are drawn from a container. Names go on slips of paper, the Cuchumbo is shaken, and each person keeps their assigned recipient secret. A wish-list sheet often circulates so people can leave hints, and for a week or two small anonymous clues or notes may appear. On reveal day, the group gathers, opens gifts, and each giver says something kind about the person they drew. This app carries that structure into a digital form: Cuchumbo shuffles the names, hint fields replace the circulating sheet, the organizer does not see assignments, and each participant can open only their own result. It works for an office closing out the year, a family dinner, or friends spread across cities.
Quick Answers
- Is Cuchumbo free?
- Yes. Creating an exchange, inviting everyone and drawing names is free.
- Does everyone need an account?
- Only the organizer signs in to manage the exchange. Participants join through a direct link and do not create accounts.
- Can I organize a Cuchumbo for a remote team?
- Yes. Share the invite link by chat or email, collect hints online, and let each participant open their own match from their personal page.
- What makes Cuchumbo different from other gift exchange tools?
- Participants do not need accounts, the organizer cannot see the draw, and the exchange runs in fourteen languages so each person can use the language they prefer.