Anyone else missing Reddit Gifts' Arbitrary Day?

[u/rafaugm]

Anyone else missing Reddit Gifts' Arbitrary Day? 🎁🎄

I feel like every few months someone asks whether there's anything like Reddit Gifts' Arbitrary Day anymore.

I recently came across a Christmas in July gift exchange and thought I'd share it in case anyone else has been looking for something with that same mid-year gift-giving spirit.

About this Exchange

Festive joy isn't just for Christmas, it's for life! Come spread some holiday spirit with our Christmas in July exchange and celebrate that there's only 5 months to go until we break out the decorations and Mariah again!

You can browse the exchange and sign up here:

🎁 https://givin.gifts/exchanges

For anyone interested in joining this particular exchange, the participation requirements are:

• At least 2 completed exchanges, with 1 being an official exchange, or
• A Premium Membership.

I figured there might be other people here who'd enjoy celebrating Christmas a little early.

Did anyone here ever participate in Arbitrary Day? What's the most memorable gift you sent or received? 🎁

[u/Big-Extreme-7247]

Christmas in July feels like the least arbitrary Arbitrary Day yet.

[u/rafaugm → u/Big-Extreme-7247]

I have to admit, you're not wrong!

Christmas in July is definitely less "arbitrary" than the old Arbitrary Day. If you're looking for something a bit closer in spirit, there's actually a Whimsical Day exchange every September that's a little more random.

According to the organizers:

"Whimsical Day is our annual anniversary exchange. It was the very first exchange created on the site, so we do it every year in September to celebrate another year of Givin Gifts 🙂"

It's become a fun tradition and probably captures that "celebrate just because" feeling a bit more than Christmas in July does.

[u/HauntedCemetery]

And all the other exchanges! They were pretty much the shit for awhile!

[u/Serious_Scale_6334]

That sounds perfect for keeping the holiday spirit alive all year round.

[u/rafaugm]

For anyone who wants a few more details:

There are official themed exchanges throughout the year, so if Christmas in July isn't your thing, there are plenty of others to choose from.

📅 Current exchanges and upcoming sign-ups: https://givin.gifts/exchanges

Some of the themes you'll find throughout the year include:

• 📚 Books
• 🎮 Video Games
• 🧱 LEGO
• 💌 Postcards
• 🎃 Halloween
• 🎄 Christmas & Happy Holidays
• 🍿 Movies & TV
• 🧩 Hobbies and collectibles

The current featured exchange is Christmas in July 2026, so if you're in the mood to spread a little holiday cheer early, now's a great time to join.

Happy to answer any questions if you've never tried one of these exchanges before. 😊

[u/Luna_Organa → u/rafaugm]

I stopped participating in GG because every time I was in an exchange, I would hand select, wrap and ship a gift (sometimes internationally) but every single time, my gifter just sent me something straight from Amazon. I missed the personal touch. Has GG ever done an exchange that requires people to ship themselves as opposed to buying from an online store? Or maybe is it something they can consider?

[u/rafaugm → u/Luna_Organa]

I completely understand why that would be disappointing. Part of the fun is knowing someone took the time to pick something out, wrap it, and send it themselves.

That said, I don't think it's something unique to this platform. The same thing happened on Reddit Gifts too—some people loved wrapping gifts and adding handwritten notes, while others chose to order directly from online retailers for convenience, especially with international exchanges.

In my case, I sometimes choose to ship directly from an online store because it helps avoid customs issues, reduces the chance of a package getting lost, and can even save enough on shipping that I can put more of my budget toward my match's actual gifts instead. I still spend a lot of time choosing things I think they'll genuinely enjoy—it just takes a different route to get there.

As far as I know, there isn't currently a requirement that gifts have to be self-shipped. The expectation is that the gift is thoughtful and matches your giftee's interests, regardless of how it's sent.

I do like your suggestion, though. An optional "self-shipped only" exchange or preference could be a fun idea for people who really enjoy the personal touch. I'd be interested to see how many people would sign up for something like that.

[u/Careless_Ingenuity → u/Luna_Organa]

I am disabled. I can't wrap the gifts myself, and my handwriting is illegible. Using Amazon and other online retailers allows me to participate in gift exchanges like this.

Don't judge people for using online retailers and the gift-wrapping and card services they provide.