Ask about the agreed rules for Wichteln in German

The idea

Wichteln, named after the Wichtel, a small helpful house sprite in folklore, is widespread in German offices, school classes, clubs and groups of friends, usually in Advent. In the common version, names are drawn by lot, each person secretly buys a gift for the name they drew, and a price limit is agreed in advance. Variants include Schrottwichteln with funny or unwanted items, and dice games in which presents change hands. In the north, Julklapp is a related custom. Participation is normally voluntary, though practice differs between groups.

Other ways to say it

“Wie hoch ist bei euch die Preisgrenze?” – Neutral; asks directly about the agreed spending limit.

“Wann werden die Namen gezogen?” – Practical question about the draw; passive with werden.

“Ist das richtiges Wichteln oder Schrottwichteln?” – Casual; checks whether real or joke gifts are expected.

Examples

• Welche Regeln gelten für eure Wichtelrunde?What rules apply to your Secret Santa group?
• Wir legen zuerst gemeinsam einen kleinen Preisrahmen fest.We first agree on a small price range together.
• Weiß ich vorher, für wen das Geschenk ist?Will I know beforehand whom the gift is for?
• Das hängt von der Variante ab, die wir wählen.That depends on the version we choose.
• Ich möchte nur teilnehmen, wenn mir der Rahmen passt.I only want to participate if the arrangement suits me.
• Natürlich, die Teilnahme besprechen wir ohne Druck.Of course; we will discuss participation without pressure.

Watch out

“Weiß ich vorher, für wen ist das Geschenk?” → “Weiß ich vorher, für wen das Geschenk ist?”: An indirect question inside another sentence is a subordinate clause, so “ist” moves to the end. Keeping the direct-question order (“für wen ist …”) is a frequent learner error.

Try it yourself

1. Translate into German: What rules apply to your Secret Santa group?

   Show answer or example answer

   Welche Regeln gelten für eure Wichtelrunde?

   “Welche” agrees with the plural “Regeln”. “Gelten für” takes the accusative, so it is “für eure Wichtelrunde”, a compound of Wichtel and Runde (group).

2. Put the words in order: das / für / Geschenk / ich / ist / vorher / Weiß / wen

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   Weiß ich vorher, für wen das Geschenk ist?

   The main clause “Weiß ich vorher” is a verb-first question; the indirect question “für wen das Geschenk ist” ends with its verb.

3. Write this sentence in German: Of course; we will discuss participation without pressure.

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   Natürlich, die Teilnahme besprechen wir ohne Druck.

   The object “die Teilnahme” comes first for emphasis, so the verb “besprechen” follows in second position before the subject “wir”. “Ohne Druck” is accusative after ohne.

Use it today

Your team announces a Wichteln for December. Write two questions to the organiser about the price limit and whether the gifts stay anonymous.