From Wikipedia:
'The word "pollyanna" may also denote a holiday gift exchange more typically known as Secret Santa. This term is used in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania. It can instead mean a gift exchange rotation in which several families each give gifts to one other family in the "pollyanna" each year. This is often done when siblings in a large family begin to have children of their own.'
'The word "pollyanna" may also denote a holiday gift exchange more typically known as Secret Santa. This term is used in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania. It can instead mean a gift exchange rotation in which several families each give gifts to one other family in the "pollyanna" each year. This is often done when siblings in a large family begin to have children of their own.'
After having said "Pollyanna" for years in college, and then later in New York, I never realized that no one outside my family and high school friends knew what hell I was talking about. This finally explained why I was always interrupted with "Oh! You mean secret sant-aaa!". Uh, yes, of course, POLLYANNA IS SECRET SANTA AND MY LIFE IS A LIE. Approximately one year ago today I found out that Pollyanna, like Tastykake, is a regional term for something the whole world should recognize. Secret Santa? SS? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE OKAY WITH THIS?!
Pollyanna it shall remain. Merry Christmas Eve...eve.
