“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”~ Charles M. Schulz
Christmas is here! Who’s excited?
So, it’s that awesome season of love again. I adore the yuletide season, I think everyone does. Growing up, Christmas time used to be a tremendous beautiful time for me, it still is. I always looked forward to spending those beautiful times with my family. Every now and again, I would peep at the calendar eagerly counting down to the 25th of December.
I grew up with the consciousness that Christmas time is a time to show how much you care to your loved ones. Truly, it is a period to display the intent of our hearts in crystal-clear terms by giving gifts, going on a vacation with loved ones, showing how much you care and being there for those who need you.
And the thing about giving gifts is, gifts leave a lasting imprint in the annals of your memory. They open the hearts of your loved ones to newer realities about you.
On a personal note, I’d say I have encountered the beauty of receiving Christmas gifts. When I was little, a childhood friend (bless his heart) got me a necklace. We were both really young, and I was wowed by his effrontery. I thought it was really bold of him and decided to thank him for the next day.
I walked up to him and I’d never forgotten the words he said that day. “I saved up to get you that necklace ’cause I wanted to make this Christmas special to you”. I’m sure you’re wondering how a child, so little as 12, would think of something so sweet!
The most alluring thing about this story is that I still have the necklace hidden in a box near my bed. Back then, it was so special I wore it everywhere I went. Now, every time I stare at that necklace, my heart leaps with joy as I remember how his beautiful lips delivered those sweet words to me. That is an exact reality of what Christmas is.
The essence of Christmas is to show love by living prints of smiles in the registry of their faces. And one of the many ways to make them smile is by giving gifts. Extending an arm of voluntary gifting to your loved ones only tells them that they are in your heart.
Truth is, you do not necessarily have to spend too much to touch the well of emotions innate in the lives of your loved ones. The aphorism that goes “it’s the thought that matters” is still very much alive.
That said, I know it is often a daunting task deciding the best and perfect gift to give to loved ones or even friends who have in one way or the other imparted our life with the aura of positivity that they carry. The Christmas holiday season is a good time to show love, to tell these persons that you appreciate them.
I am a firm believer in the philosophy that gifts should not just be given for the sake of giving them. Each gift should have a certain effect and the receiver; they should leave lovely sparks and fan the appreciative embers of the recipient’s heart.
So, I think we’re clear on the need for a Christmas gift this yuletide. Today, I have compiled a list of 20 unique gift ideas you can get for your friends and loved ones this Yuletide.
1. Customized Family Print
How would you react if someone got you a framed picture of you and your family? A family print is a pictorial representation of the family you intend gifting. This is one gift you can buy/design for your loved ones.
Think about it, imagine you had a friend who thought it wise to gift you a printed or painted portrait of your family, what would be the first thing to come to your mind? For me, I’d look at such a gesture from the angle of the depth of love.
Everyone loves to have pictures of themselves because, as little as picture seem, they remind you of your identity and encourages you to love yourself. So, if you are confused as to what to get your loved one this Christmas, you can surely get them a customized family print.
2. What-I-Love-About-You Book
This is another creative, beautiful and unique gift you can get for a friend as a Christmas present. Basically, this is a book containing notes about what you love about them. It’s a fascinating concept because it sends a signal that you have that person in mind and wouldn’t take such an awesome step if you didn’t.
The notes could be as many as you want and handwritten notes are better than printed ones. Imagine the feeling that accompanies knowing that someone took out their time to write out specific thoughts about why they love you, it’s a lovely feeling.
So, as the Christmas season is approaching, think of doing something as creative as this and watch your loved ones appreciate and value you better.
3. 365-Note Jar
I honestly don’t know how I’ll react if someone gifts me a jar of 365 notes of positive sayings with each representing a day of the year. Do you know the depth of efforts that must have gone into that? I’d even be more amazed if notes were handwritten.
I remember seeing this jar somewhere online and I’ll never forget the smile it left on my face. Only then did I realize that you do not necessarily have to spend so much to leave imprints in the hearts of your loved ones. If you are confused on what to buy as a Christmas gift this yuletide, a 365-Note Jar would do.
4. Any Customized Gift
Custom-made items are adorable ways of personalizing a gift for someone. Years ago, a friend once received a lavaliere with her name boldly written on it from a guy that liked her. It was a beautiful gift that made many of us, her friends jealous and yeah, she agreed to be his girlfriend, lol.
Customized gift items tell a story. They leave a message in the hearts of their recipients and creates a sense of attachment. If someone gifts me a pendant with my name on it, I’d wear it everywhere I go! Over time, I’d be emotionally attached to the gift and would always remember the giver whenever I admire it.
5. Get Them Perfumes
To state matter-of-factly and without mincing words, you can never go wrong with perfumes. Never ever can a good perfume be a wrong gift. We all love to look and feel nice and we are very particular about how we smell.
Having someone go out of their way to pick a smell they think will resonate with our figure and personality just speaks to all the right and soft parts of our hearts.
Getting perfumes is not a new gift idea and while it can be given on other special occasions, the thrill of receiving a packaged bottle of perfume is second to none. You are at liberty as to what kind of perfume you’d like to get, just make a good choice and you’ll be fine.
My current smell was a perfume gift by a college friend before we all departed for the holiday break. I have grown to love the perfume and it has stuck with me ever since. So strong is my love for the perfume that I only purchase other creations by the company that makes the said perfume. We might be apart now, but she’s succeeded in leaving an imprint in me.
Perfumes are a great gift for Christmas and if you’re a married man, here is a secret to a good gift you can get for your wife.
6. Get Them A Necklace Or A Pendant
Apart from the necklace gift my childhood friend gave me, I also have a pendant from my mom and that pendant, till today, represents hope and strength in tough times for me. Despite the fact that it’s not one of those really expensive gifts, I value it so much.
The pendants or bracelets do not have to be overly expensive or one that you would break your bank for. It can be a relic or the carving of something symbolic to both you and the intended bearer.
The beauty of a bracelet or a pendant is seeing it on the recipient, this is why much effort should be put into detailing the inscription on the necklace.
Pendants are decent Christmas gifts if done well as they preserve you and the memory of the gift in the mind of the receiver, long after the thrill of the gift might have died down. Also, these accessories are often imperishable. What then is stopping you?
7. Cardigans And Sweaters
Although the possibility of a white Christmas, they say, is one in a hundred, it is never a bad idea to get sweaters and cardigans as Christmas gift for loved ones, friends and co-workers.
Sweaters and cardigans are cool and comfy clothing that we all love because of the way they hug our bodies but perhaps due to our working environment and ethics, not every one of us can wear them in our daily routine. Christmas however, affords us an opportunity to wear what pleases us and be undeniably happy in it.
If you had a sweater made for you by a Mexican friend with the colors of the country flag with your name neatly knitted into the back of the cardigan, you’d love to wear it every time. And every time you do so, you’d feel extremely close to being a Mexican.
Cardigans and sweaters are gift items that do not cost much and can be easily made by the hand which makes them ten times more appealing and special because they are painstakingly and carefully made to be appreciated.
Cardigans are the clothing cherry of Christmas and they undoubtedly draw a smile from those who receive them. For the guys in relationships, it is a known fact that the girls often love to wear masculine cardigans and sweatshirts and snuggle in them.
This Christmas, why not decide to get her a sweatshirt or cardigan, although, that is not a guarantee that they still won’t prefer your own cardigans over theirs. Lol.
8. Make A Photobook
Want your loved ones to keep memories in print form despite the creation of technological and online drive? Want them to remember those happy and awkward moments that bring laughter to the eyes? Get them a photobook.
It is a good way to remember and laugh about events that have occurred. After all, doesn’t the Chinese proverb say that a single picture speaks more than a thousand words?
9. Register Them For An Online Course
You do not necessarily have to give them a tangible gift, you could go digital too. With the advancement of technology and the growth of online schools, there are now a plethora of courses on the internet that one can take in one’s convenience and get the required knowledge or certificate to go with the gained knowledge. The Masterclass online class is a good place to try out. There are others including Udacity, Udemy, etc.
Registering online courses is a good Christmas gift idea you can try out for loved ones and friends. If you have a friend who you know has been passionate about cooking, why not register him for a masterclass? Or do you have a friend who is into graphics and software coding? Udemy offers a variety of courses to help sharpen his skill.
This is a beautiful Christmas gift idea because it shows that you are passionate about the future of the individual and you want them to succeed in their chosen career path. It is also a good way to help the individual achieve some of his new year goals and aspiration.
10. A Free One-Month Or One-Year Supply Of Anything They Love
Your friend or family member, or maybe even co-worker is a paid subscriber to a magazine or any other such publication, why not gift them a Christmas gift of renewing their subscription for a whole year?
Perhaps they are subscribed to Netflix or certain online channels and vlogs that require payment, one beautiful Christmas idea is renewing their subscription and saving them the stress and headache of worrying about it.
Since the Christmas holiday is designed to help us show love and lift the burden off the back of others, renewing the subscription of people is a good way to show you care. It might look simple but it goes a long way in showing how much you value them.
One Christmas, a friend of mine had her subscription to virtually all her subscribed fashion and beauty channels renewed for the next year by her boyfriend. Apart from the romance attached to the gesture, do you know how thoughtful that is?
11. Get Them Toys And Games
The latest edition of the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) or the Xbox are good games that anyone can play and learn the tricks about in a couple of minutes. The beauty of games is that they can be played anytime and anywhere and they also provide a sense of healthy competition among those who play the game. As for toys, they do not necessarily need to be super expensive.
12. Plan A Getaway/ Vacation
You could plan a getaway for your parents or friends. Everyone wants to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the past months. They’d like to cool off and recuperate. You can bank on that. Look around you, there are many beautiful vacation sites you can afford.
How about you plan a vacation where you all can sit and reminisce about past events? A place where you all can sit around a table recounting memorable experiences while creating one? Sounds like a great plan to me.
13. Gift A Christmas Pet
Yup! You could get them a pet. Do you know what they say about pets? Pets are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.
Personally, I love pets. I love to see the innocence on their faces and take care of their tender furs. I really can’t tell how I’d react if someone gifted me a pet. I’d probably be too hyped and might scream out loud.
14. Portable Electric Hot Water Kettle
Not so unconventional but still amazing. You could get them a portable electric hot water kettle. It’d be a good addition to their home kitchen and if they already have one? It’ll be useful somewhere else. Luckily, these kettles are not really expensive. You can get them for just a few dollars and you’ll be fine.
15. Board Games
This is particularly advisable when gifting a whole family. The reason why board games make the list is that they are not your everyday kind of Christmas gifts. Also, they require more than one person to play them, so they get to be used by the whole family; a good way to bond and harmonize this Christmas season.
Board games provide a good form of family unity, draws and breeds family togetherness, healthy laughter, and unrestrained happiness.
More so, gifting them board games shows that you respect the family as an institution and would love to see greater bonding. They say “a family that plays together, stays together”. A perfect play on word and recreation of the maxim of the family that prays together stays together.
Board games are gift items that can be given to co-workers or colleagues, especially if you know they’ve not been spending enough time with their family due to the rigors of the job and attendant labor the work demands. So, you can add this to the list of gifts you’d like to give this Christmas.
16. A Photo-Clock
Imagine seeing your picture imprinted on your clock every time you look at it. Cool right? Now, imagine how cool it’d be to gift someone a clock with their pictures imprinted on it. It’s a custom-made clock which portrays specialness. It shows that the recipient is special to you.
17. Books! Good Books!
In the words of the great writer, Stephen Kings, Books are uniquely portable magic. Books carry with them amazing powers that could make or mar anyone. This Christmas, you can invest in someone’s life by getting them amazingly inspiring books.
18. HD Karaoke With Bluetooth
Christmas is a time for celebration and merriment and would definitely require playing good and beautiful music. You can make this easier for your recipient by gifting them a good HD Karaoke speaker with Bluetooth.
19. A Personalized Shirt
The penultimate thing on the list is a personalized shirt. You could make a customized shirt for your friend or colleague at work this Christmas. Trust me, they’d appreciate it and probably wear it every time you meet.
Thankfully, it’s a DIY thing and all you just need is a few tips that can be gotten from YouTube and Vlogs.
20. A New Gadget
Finally, on the list, you can get them a new gadget. You can get them a new phone, laptop, tablet or any other device. Christmas is a celebration of love, there are no limits.
What’s your favorite on the list? Do you think there’s something that needs to be added? The comment section is always open for you to drop your ideas. Thank you for reading and have a happy holiday. Merry Christmas.
For you
So, there you have it! Perhaps you’re thinking it’s too early to begin to worry about Christmas gifts, I’m just here to let you know it’s never too late. Create moments. Invest in your loved ones.
You must realize that no gift can beat spending time with your family and showing them love. That is the ultimate reflection of Christmas, amidst all the material things and seemingly abstract gifts one can give, nothing beats good laughter and feeling of love and cheer.
So, while you’re out thinking and sourcing for that Christmas gift for your family, friend, worker or any person, be sure to add a bit of humanity and show human love because that always makes all the difference. It is as Mother Theresa says “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving”.
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