We three kings...

December 8, 2007 8:46 AM

How can I come up with inexpensive, imitation, wise men gifts?

My daughter goes to a private Christian school and I have been asked to sponsor a table at the faculty Christmas luncheon. Basically, that means decorate the table and make it fun and fanciful for the party. I have a large collection of the three wise men and I'm planning to use some of them as my theme and centerpiece. I'd like to come up with some inexpensive "gifts" that imitate the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the kings brought with them. I will put these gifts at each of the seven places at the table as a favor for the teachers to take with them as they leave. For example, I thought for the gold, I could get some of the Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolate candy and wrap a little bag to put at each place setting. That was easy. Frankincense and myrrh are proving to be harder to represent! Perfume samples would work but there are men and women faculty so I need something unisex. And...what the hell is a modern day myrrh?? I'm at a loss so I thought I would tap in to see if you had any great ideas. Bonus points if you come up with a great idea and ordering info!! Thanks Mefites!

posted by pearlybob to society & culture (12 comments total)

Use incense, preferably something sandalwoody, rather than strawberryish.
posted by theora55 at 9:05 AM on December 8, 2007

Cinnamon sticks. Less painful for those with allergies than most incense sticks.
posted by anaelith at 9:10 AM on December 8, 2007

You can get actual frankincense and myrrh incense. Get cone incense and burners like these, and you've also got "gold" (even though these are actually brass).
posted by kimdog at 9:13 AM on December 8, 2007

Myrrh is just the same now as it was then. You can buy it in resin form (which kinda resembles granular earwax) or in the essential oil form (which is slightly more expensive and smells really pungent). The same goes for Frankincense. You often find them mixed together, especially at this time of year, for obvious reasons.

You can get it pretty cheaply from ebay (which is where I buy it from). I don't have any recommendations for suppliers, because they only ship to the UK where I order from.
posted by Solomon at 9:16 AM on December 8, 2007

I like the idea of cinnamon sticks -- maybe (glued together? and) tied with a red ribbon to be a tree ornament?
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:51 AM on December 8, 2007

I always thought myrrh looked like chunks of dried fruit - apricot or figs. I'm not sure what frankincense looks like, but with the chocolate gold, you could have a totally edible theme, so that you aren't giving people junk they'll just throw away.
posted by miagaille at 10:01 AM on December 8, 2007

Here the search for myrrh products from google. I'm not a fan of perfume or even incense. I would like the myrrh soap or myrrh candles.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 10:01 AM on December 8, 2007

Okay, apparently frankincense looks like dried fruit too. Maybe golden raisins?
posted by miagaille at 10:04 AM on December 8, 2007

Tom's of Maine myrrh toothpaste?
posted by selfmedicating at 10:05 AM on December 8, 2007

Peoples, don't you read MeTa? This soap from Metafilter's own dejah420 would be perfect.
posted by desuetude at 11:11 AM on December 8, 2007

For gold, you could get some of those gold chocolate coins.
posted by rhizome at 11:51 AM on December 8, 2007

Re: cinnamon sticks being less painful for those with allergies--unless the people with allergies are allergic to cinnamon! Going into most stores during the holidays gives my mom and sister headaches because of the cinnamon, and a whiff of cinnamon causes me dizziness and tongue swelling to the point at which I can barely speak understandably. I have no Christmas/Yule tree because the only chance I've had to shop, there were cinnamon ornaments near them in the stores.

On behalf of the generally-allergic, I appreciate the thought in this: Cinnamon sticks. Less painful for those with allergies than most incense sticks. I just thought y'all might want to be aware of the ways this particular gesture could backfire.
posted by Cricket at 2:24 AM on December 9, 2007