Image this: FedEx knocks on your door to deliver a gi-normous box and, when you open it, you realize it’s filled with presents from one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates.
While that would certainly be a Christmas miracle for some, it was one of many surprises doled out courtesy of Reddit Secret Santa 2016. More than 119,000 individuals participated in the giant online gift exchange, which connects internet stranger-friends around the world.
Reddit user Aerrix couldn’t believe her eyes when she opened the box and saw the photo and notes from Gates, which read: “I can’t believe your Secret Santa left you hanging last year. To ensure you don’t lose faith in the Reddit community, I’ve enclosed several gifts that I hope you will enjoy. There are a few video games to play, some things to keep you warm and three of my favorite movies for you to watch over the holidays. I’ve also made a donation in your name to code.org, to help give more students the chance to learn computer science. — With best wishes from Seattle, Bill Gates.”
“I get the box open and there’s just bubble wrap EVERYWHERE, but under the first layer I see a picture…and my jaw. Just. Drops. I will let the picture speak for itself! I immediately call my husband at work, I normally text him first to make sure it’s ok if I call but I couldn’t wait…he answered and I spoke very quietly because I knew if I didn’t I would just yell, and I said something like “dear, please tell me you can talk right now,” and he sounded worried and he’s like “yes? What’s going on?” And I said BILL GATES IS MY FREAKIN SANTA!!!!!!!!”
Yes, Gates made up for last year’s faux pas. Boy, did he ever. Read on:
“I got everything out and laid it out all nice, and there was glitter EVERYWHERE. I just had to go for the two unwrapped boxes that said “Aerrix’s Mittens” and “Clairrix’s Mittens” first. My dog’s name is Claire, btw, how freakin CUTE IS THAT?! He got me ZELDA MITTENS and you guys, matching ones for my DOWG!
Next I open the three pink boxes stacked together, and it’s three special edition wireless XBOX one controllers! I was confused, but only for a moment, because then I noticed the specific SIZE of the big pink box to my left….I knew what it was, I KNEW WHAT IT WAS. It was an XBOX ONE MINECRAFT EDITION!!!!!!!!! There was also a handwritten note from him that says “I love my XBOX and thought you might like one too.” Well yes, yes I would! And I do! I’m just flipping out at this moment (so is my mom on the phone, I’m sending her all these pics AS I’m taking them).”
Also in the mix, slippers, a Cajun cookbook, a paper version of the final form Master Sword from Skyward Sword, movies and Xbox games, making Aerrix one very happy — and very grateful — lady.
“I staged my haul all pretty like, put the dog in the pic, and took the best Secret Santa pic there ever was. You guys, I am just, SPEECHLESS! I know I said that like twice before, then wrote this giant wall…but like, I work overnights and normally go to bed around 9:30am and it’s 11:14 now and I just can’t bring myself to do it! I want to look at my pretty Zelda things and hook up my new consoles and PLAY VIDEO GAMES! GAH! I will force myself to go to bed and then play video games when I wake up.
Merry Christmas to all yall out there, and to Mr. Gates, who has the biggest heart and REALLY KNOWS HOW TO TREAT A GIRL TO SOME VIDEO GAMES (and video game paraphernalia)! I’m just blown away by his generosity, which went even further than all these gifts because he submitted a donation to code.org in my name to give more students the chance to learn computer science, which is AWESOME because it’s something near and dear to my heart as my husband is a programmer and my brother has a degree in computer science!
Thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much Mr. Gates! I’ll never EVAR forget this Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! đ đ :D”
Check out Reddit Gifts to join in their future exchanging events.
15 Great Christmas Movies You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now (Photos)
The only reason people love this time of year is because it's now appropriate to binge watch a whole bunch of Christmas movies. So instead of wasting your time browsing for the best holiday movies, TheWrap's got you covered with 18 of our favorites.Â
"While You Were Sleeping"
One of Sandra Bullock's earlier films, she plays a lonely woman working for the Chicago Transit Authority and has a crush on a regular commuter. On Christmas day, she saves him from a tragic accident and accompanies him to the hospital where a nurse mistakes her for his fiancee.Â
Buena Vista Pictures
"White Christmas"
We couldn't leave out this Christmas classic. This romantic-comedy-musical involves two singing acts joining together to save a former commanding officer's failing inn in Vermont.
Paramount Pictures
"Bojack Horseman Christmas Special"
Bojack, as you'd expect, is not exactly a Christmas kind of guy. But, as you'd also expect from watching a million Christmas movies, he's not gonna stay that way. But this is still "Bojack Horseman" through and through so don't expect the same kind of shamltz you get from most other Christmas-themed things
Disney
"November Rule"
While this isn't, on its, face, your typical Christmas Holiday movie, it does involve a guy who breaks up with his girlfriend because of his self-declared November rule -- which means that every November he has to break up with the woman he's with to avoid the lovey attachment of the holidays. I think you can guess what kind of holiday turn this plot is gonna take.
Capitol Love
"Mickey's Magical Christmas"
You can never go wrong with Mickey and Christmas especially when the movie features pretty much all of the Disney characters from Donald Duck to Aladdin's Jafar.
Disney
"Marry Me for Christmas"
Most people dread the holidays because they don't want to be asked about who they're dating, when they're getting married/pregnant, etc. In this movie, a woman gets one step ahead of the game when she enlists her employee to pretend to be her fiancee to make her family happy.Â
UP
"Santa Buddies"
One of the few things better than Beethoven trying to save Christmas: Air Bud's puppies trying to save Christmas.
Disney
"12 Dates of Christmas"
A woman keeps reliving Christmas Eve, including a date with a man named Miles, over and over again. How horrible.Â
"Snow Day"
Every kid's dream: not having school because of a snow day. In this movie, kids try to stop a snowplow from cleaning up the streets to keep their school snowed in. It's not actually a Christmas movie, but all the snow should get you in the holiday spirit.
Paramount Pictures
"The Nightmare Before Christmas"Â Â
What began as a poem written by the quirky, horror film mastermind, Tim Burton, evolved into a stop-motion animated musical fantasy that is as dark as the title suggests. What else would you call a tale of a skeleton from Halloween Town accidentally slipping into a portal to Christmas Town?
Touchstone
"Bad Santa"Â
Bill Bob Thornton is the naughtiest of Santas in this comedy crime film costarring Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham and the late John Ritter. Thornton plays a con man who poses as a department store Santa so has can rob it on Christmas Eve. It doesnât quite go as he plans.
Dimension Films
"Dr. Seussâ How the Grinch Stole Christmas"Â
Jim Carreyâs rubbery mug was made for the role of Dr. Seussâ infamous green grump who finds happiness in the misery of others during the holidays. The Ron Howard-directed film won an Oscar for makeup and was nominated for its art direction and costume design.
Imagine
"The Santa Clause"Â
In the first of a trilogy of âThe Santa Clauseâ films, Tim Allen plays an inattentive father who inadvertently kills Santa and magically transforms into him to take his place.
Walt Disney Pictures
"A Christmas Prince"Â
An undercover reporter (Rose McIver) looking for a scoop on a handsome, eligible prince (Ben Lamb) thrown into the setting of a magical Christmas Eve ball. Fifty-three Netflix subscribers loved it so much that they watched it every day for 18 days straight â or so Netflix boasted.
Sometimes, we don't want cuddly sentimental Christmas movies with cute dogs and love stories. Sometimes, we just want to laugh.Â
In comes comedian Russell Peters with a Christmas special
Netflix
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A playlist of holiday films you can unapologetically binge watch from âBad Santaâ to âThe Nightmare Before Christmasâ
The only reason people love this time of year is because it's now appropriate to binge watch a whole bunch of Christmas movies. So instead of wasting your time browsing for the best holiday movies, TheWrap's got you covered with 18 of our favorites.Â