After a slew of round-ups and gift lists about ‘unique’, ‘distinctive’ and ‘personal’ presents this year, we’re a little concerned that a cherished domestic Christmas tradition could soon be forgotten. That is, the type of bromidic, banal gift that elicits a groan of disappointment but ends up getting used more than any other present that was sat under the tree.
So, in the spirit of the functional and the mundane, here are 5 cliched Christmas gifts that always go down well.
A GOOD QUALITY PAIR OF SOCKS
Giving and receiving socks as a gift is as much a part of Christmas as the pigs in blankets and the Queen’s speech. We know, they have a bad rep as a boring and oh so predictable gift. As such, they have become their own festive punchline; “another pair of socks”, Dad sighed. And so on…
When you were little, socks were one of the worst presents you could receive; they weren’t funny, they weren’t cool, and they certainly weren’t something you could play with (pretending it was a sock puppet doesn’t count!). However, now you’re an adult, no doubt you’ve come to appreciate the pleasure of socks as a Christmas present and why they make such a great gift.
The guys behind Burlix’s Men’s socks, who stock fabulous over-the-calf dressy socks with stay up technology, posit that the reason socks make such a good Christmas gift is simple – we all have feet and we all need socks. Well, duh! Socks are a staple in everyone’s wardrobe, and you can never have too many, as socks wear out faster than any other item of clothing. So, why not give the gift of functionality this year with a lovely pair of socks.
Alternatively, consider designing your own pair, featuring a loved one’s favourite iconography, a commonly used phrase of theirs, or even a picture of their face! Services like Custom Sock Lab can do all the hard work for you on this one.
SOME FESTIVE CHUTNEYS
A classic selection of Christmas chutneys is guaranteed to be a welcome present, even if it’s all a little bit ‘Women’s Institute’. Homemade chutneys make inexpensive and surprisingly personal presents. What’s more, they last for ages as long as they’ve been sealed and preserved properly, making them a sustainable gift, too.
While that may not be the most romantic incentive, chutneys are a useful present that will always get used, be it after Christmas dinner with a cheese board, on Boxing Day with leftovers, or six months later to spice up a sandwich!
Read: A Christmas recipe for apple and cranberry chutney
PYJAMAS
It’s a beautiful tableau that plays out in living rooms across the land on Christmas morning; the family gathered on the sofa, perhaps a little bleary eyed, all wearing the new pyjamas they’ve just received from Santa.
It’s a cliched scene for a reason; pyjamas are reliably comfortable and resolutely useful, and particularly at times like these. In fact, the humble PJ has had a rather busy two years, becoming a uniform of sorts for the many Brits who have been working from home. With more #wfh predicted for next year, why not give the gift of comfort to a loved one for the year ahead?
MONEY
Is money a lazy option for a Christmas day gift? In a sense, yes. However, in another sense, money is the most generous gift you can bestow. The advantage of gifting a note or two is that it eliminates the disappointment of receiving an irrelevant present, and instead, you’re giving the gift of personal choice and self-determination.
What’s more, gifting money reduces waste, cutting down on unwanted presents and wrapping paper. And if that wasn’t enough, then surprise, surprise; it turns out that people actually want money for Christmas. Indeed, a YouGov poll showed that money is one of the top Christmas presents that adults are hoping to receive this year.
Isn’t giving a gift card more thoughtful, we hear you ask? Maybe not. As reported by the Independent, consumers have been warned to “think twice” by consumer choice experts Which? “before buying gift cards this Christmas after almost one in 10 received a voucher over the last year for a retailer that has gone bust.’’ A little caution might be needed, here, it seems.
If you’re worried that simply giving money isn’t thoughtful enough, then why not try a more creative way to gift money this Christmas? The guys at Hubpages suggest creating a money tree by using a cone shape as a base then attaching curled notes to the tree with some glue dots. We think Blu Tack might be a better idea to avoid ripping the notes, but aside from that, it’s a suggestion that makes sense!
A CHRISTMAS JUMPER
No matter how cliched a Christmas jumper is, they always go down well. They are useful gifts; there will always be a Christmas Jumper Party to attend, or a Wear-Your-Christmas-Jumper-To-Work-Day to raise money for charity to be had. Moreover, they are ideal to wear on the big day itself. Indeed, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one festive jumper making an appearance.
A CHARITABLE DONATION
A gift of good karma this Christmas, instead of an item destined to gather dust in the attic, sounds like just the ticket, don’t you think? Often the post-festive accumulation of ‘stuff’ is a curse more than a blessing, but a charitable donation will bring positivity all round and improve the lives of those who need it most.
Kind souls, then, will love to receive a gift of a donation to their favourite charity, or if they’re an animal lover, why not sponsor an endangered animal? The world of philanthropy is vast, so get involved!
THE BOTTOM LINE
The holidays are the perfect time to remind those around you of the love and appreciation you have for them. And sometimes, giving the gift of functionality is the most welcome gift of all. Happy Christmas!