12 Secret Santa gifts from The Office Christmas Party episode, ranked

All the Christmas gifts from The Office Secret Santa/Yankee Swap

Fans of The Office were sad to hear the series will be leaving Netflix on Dec. 31. That still gives us some time to re-watch the series before it is gone. We are celebrating The Office with The Office Farewell week at Netflix Life.

If you are still trying to get into the holiday spirit. You can always watch the Christmas episodes to get you in the holiday spirit, and one that really stands out is “Christmas Party” from season 2.

You know the Christmas episode. Michael believes that the gift’s cost reflects how much the giver cares about the receiver. He spends $400 on an iPod for Ryan when there was a $20 limit for the gifts. Then he got mad when his secret Santa didn’t get him something equally awesome and proceeded to turn the exchange into a Yankee Swap, and everyone got upset!

The Office Secret Santa gifts, ranked

12. iPod

This episode aired in 2005. Who wouldn’t have wanted a video iPod for a gift? But, the fact that Michael gave this gift to show everyone else up was, well, a total Michael thing to do. This is the lowest-ranked because he didn’t follow the rules of the exchange.

11. Jazz Babies Poster

Toby purchased this poster for Angela, who, for some odd reason, loves babies dressed up as adults. Toby shared that he felt a little uncomfortable when he purchased it. Understandably, this gets a low ranking because it is a bit creepy.

10. Creed’s Flannel Shirt

It’s not surprising at all that Creed totally forgot about the exchange and gifted Jim an old flannel shirt. The sleeves were too short for Jim’s lanky frame and probably smelled of mung beans. A bit of trivia about this flannel, Creed wore it to Jim’s BBQ party. Although a flannel in Scranton, PA in the winter is a practical gift, it gets a low rating because of Creed’s forgetfulness.

9. Book of Short stories

We didn’t hear much about the book of short stories; we only know that Ryan had Toby, and this was the gift he bought for him. And, we know Kelly ended up with the book by the end of it all. Now, Ryan, being who he is, this book is probably some random book of stories no one cares about. So, it gets a low ranking mostly for lack of knowledge about it.

8. Shamrock Keychain

Oscar pulled Creed’s name for the exchange, and other than he knows his name and where he sits in the office, Oscar knows nothing about him. He thought that Creed might be Irish and got him a shamrock key chain. This is rated low because it was a lazy gift.

7. Kelly Nameplate

Stanley purchased a custom nameplate for Kelly’s desk. This was thoughtful, especially from someone like Stanley, who doesn’t know anything going around him. Sadly, with the Yankee Swap rules, Ryan ended up with this gift that obviously was purchased specifically for Kelly. It was a thoughtful gift, so it ranks a bit higher.

6. Oven Mitt

Phyllis knitted an oven mitt for Michael, who stormed out of the main office into his own to share his frustrations with the camera. This is where he explains his notion that the cost of a gift is equal to the amount of affection you have for someone. He says the oven mitt isn’t worth anything. Poor Phyllis was proud of her knitting skills and eventually leaves the office, and Michael doesn’t understand that his reaction to the gift hurt her. This gift ranks higher because even though the recipient didn’t see the merit in the gift the receiver handmade a gift she thought he would enjoy.

5. Shower Radio

Kelly gifts Oscar a shower radio, and he seems a bit unsure about it. The reason for his reaction is that in a deleted scene, Oscar shares it is the exact gift she gave him the previous year. The gift is useful, so it ranks a little higher on the list.

4. Shot Glasses

Meredith was Dwight’s secret Santa, and she gifted him a set of shot glasses from Cancun. It doesn’t really seem like a gift Dwight would get any use out of unless he could find a use for them on the farm. The glasses were cut from the gift exchange scene but reappeared when some of the office members were doing vodka shots later in the episode. Maybe not a practical gift for Dwight, but many people would get some use out of these. So they rank up there with the better gifts in the episode.

3. Paintball Pellets and Lessons

Dwight was supposed to have Phyllis in the exchange, but Michael actually gets this gift because of the new swap rules. Michael was again upset and didn’t think anyone would want paintball lessons with Dwight. I think it is an awesome gift and would happily accept this one. I am putting this high in the rankings because it would be awesome to hang with Dwight for an afternoon learning paintball.

2. Footbath

Now, this is a gift! Kevin drew his own name, so he got a practical gift that he would enjoy, a footbath. But, swap rules entered in, and somehow Pam ended up with this, but Kevin stole it back with much joy. Then he remembered the iPod was available and realized his mistake. He is later seen enjoying his footbath at his desk. This one ranks high for two reasons. Kevin drew his own name and decided to keep it and get something he liked rather than risk getting something awful from a co-worker. And it is a good gift.

1. Teapot

Jim finally drew Pam’s name and put a lot of effort into the gift of the teapot. And, it wasn’t just a teapot, but it contained many nostalgic items for her. Jim was visibly disappointed when Michael pulled the Yankee Swap, or as Jim called it “Nasty Christmas” and Pam lost the teapot to Meredith. Eventually, Pam did trade with Dwight so she could get the teapot back. She was pleased about the gift and the thoughtfulness of her friend Jim. This ranks number one because…Pam and Jim!

There are nine Christmas episodes in The Office series, and each one has something fun to offer. Be sure to watch them before The Office leaves Netflix on Dec. 31.