Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with christmas and presents

When should Santa Claus Come to Town?

Point n Click — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:28:53 -0800

When does your family open Christmas presents from each other? My husband and I have only been married a few years, and haven't yet been able to find a good time to open Christmas presents from each other.

My husband's family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve, so we travel to spend all of Christmas Eve with them (decorating the tree, Christmas dinner, etc.) and then leave to travel to my family's Christmas on Christmas Day (again, all of the traditional Christmas things). Since we both typically have to work the days following Christmas Day, we have been celebrating "our" Christmas the following weekend, but it feels cheap and anti-climatic after having returned to work, and spent all of the Holidays with family.

My husband suggested opening presents on Christmas Eve morning, but that feels like cheating. (Santa still visits both our parents houses.) And we could stay up late and open presents after getting back from my parents house on Christmas Day, but that doesn't seem like a good idea right before returning to work.

What does your family do? If it isn't Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, how do you keep it feeling "Christmas-y?"

Have yourself an internet little Christmas

nax — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:07:41 -0800

Help me send virtual gifts to my kids overseas. A big part of our family Christmas tradition is Christmas stockings. This year both of my kids are working abroad in jobs that I can't mail a package to. So I want to stuff a Christmas stocking on line. I'm looking for something interactive along the lines of various online advent calendars like this one, but where you open presents instead of dates.

Does anyone know of a site or app (google? yahoo? facebook?) that will let me do this? Suggestions for what to put in it would be good too: I could stuff it with online gift certificates for games or music (assuming it's secure), fun websites, what else?

I know I can do this via a simple email, but I'd like a fun graphic interface as well. Tried googling it, but only got commercial sites. Thanks, hivemind.

Self-links welcome, if you do this yourself, or MeMail me to stay within the site rules.

Book-Hungry Mother

Weebot — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:23:23 -0800

[Xmas Filter] I'm doing my Christmas shopping, and I'm a bit stuck on what I need to get my mother. She likes culinary-cultural history books, preferably with recipes. Suggestions? She's been really into these books for a while now, and I was hoping to get some suggestions. She's gone through Salt, Cod, and all the other Mark Kurlansky books, as well as Lizzy Collingham's Curry and David Kamp's The United States of Argula.

She has also been a fan of food memoirs like Tender at the Bone as well as travel books with a strong culinary bent. You get the idea. So, any suggestions?

The perfect slippers

arcticwoman — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:27:26 -0800

Please help me find (online, or in a major Canadian store) some slippers that fit the following strict requirements: fluffy on the inside, thick comfy sole, and, most importantly, are closed around the heel without being a boot. It seems that everything I find that fits the first two requirements is clog-style, and that absolutely won't do. The closest I can find are moccasins, but the gift recipient doesn't like leather/fur. Any suggestions?

Help me find a Christmas gift for my brother!

I_love_the_rain — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:12:01 -0800

I need creative Christmas present suggestions for my brother! I want to find a creative or cool gift for my brother, and need ideas! A little insight into my brother: he's very environmentally friendly and extremely health conscious (no candy or sweet treats for him, he's all natural), he is a cycling enthusiast (read: bikes everywhere, doesn't own a car), and he enjoys unusual and simple things. For example, he enjoys vinyl records/cds with interesting or unusual music, likes watching rather obscure cartoons (Danger Mouse and Count Duckula are among some favorites, although I've already tapped into those ideas), and he's quite interested in new things; he's pretty open minded. After a few years of struggling to find what I consider GOOD gifts for my bro., perhaps the hive mind could give me some ideas? For me, I don't have a lot of money to spend, but am willing to travel around to acquire a neat gift. Thanks!!

There's thought behind it, sure, but also twenty hours of knitting.

carbide — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:52:23 -0800

What are the most memorable, awesome or useful handmade gifts you've received or given? I'm in search of some inspiration, as well as cautionary tales. My extended family has been very polite in enduring handmade gifts from me year after year, but I think only a few people have really enjoyed what I've made them, and the pleasure in giving gets a bit lost that way. The success rate is better with friends but inspiration would still be handy.

I'd love a wide variety of suggestions so I won't say too much, but here's a few details:

- I can cook, sew, take decent photographs sometimes, bind books, knit, make prints, draw, etc, so anything goes.

- Previous gifts have included screenprints, cold-process soap, shortbread, cookies, handmade journals, and a roaring success in a portrait of my grandparents. Current plans include blank cards with suitable photographic prints on the front, some knitted hats for a few people who will definitely wear them, one well-targeted mix cd.

- Particular areas of difficulty are: teenage boys (not bookish or alternative, damn!), professional glam women in their mid 20s to early 30s (ditto!).

Any stand-out gifts you've made or received?

(Warnings about the chasm between intention and reception would probably be good, too. And weirdly, I can't find any previouslies.)

Bookfilter: what book(s) would my father love?

Acer_saccharum — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:40:59 -0800

Book filter: Getting a head start on Christmas presents - what books would you recommend for my kung fu instructing, deadwood watching, social work teaching freemason father? The last books my father really enjoyed were The Poisonwood Bible and The Davinci Code. He joined up with the freemasons shortly after he read the D. Code. He is a social work prof with special focus in aboriginal issues and community mental health organizations, has been teaching martial arts since before I was born and runs his own studio, and he and my mother ADORE the show Deadwood and have watched the entire series repeatedly.

I want to buy him a few books for Christmas that he will adore. I do not read up on these subjects and am at a loss. Help!

PS - If a movie/show/gadget/weapon is coming to mind, feel free to throw that suggestion in also. Much appreciated!

クリスマスプレゼント!

doctorpiorno — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:36:42 -0800

Help me come up with some unique Christmas pressies to send to my business contacts in Europe... from Japan. Dearest Hive Mind,

Earlier this year I decided to finally take the plunge and become a freelance translator, and things have gone swimmingly so far. So well, in fact, that I managed to landed a gig to work on an on-site project in Tokyo for a few months, an opportunity that I gladly accepted.

The only downside is that this required telling my usual clients I would be unavailable to take on any other projects for some time. While they've been happy for me overall (as in: "Yay! Japan! You lucky bastard!"), I do realise that I'm letting them down to a certain extent and that it may be tricky to get their business again once this gig is over.

Knowing that, and since Christmas is almost here, I thought it would be a good idea to send them a little something to both remind them of my existence and express my gratitude for their patience and support. The problem is... what?

Sweets? The parcel will take a while to get there, and most of the really nice Japanese sweets I've seen are fresh and wouldn't survive the trip. Monaka seems to be about the only thing with a long enough shelf life. Any other ideas?

Bottles of sake? I know they would be appreciated, but I'm not sure how to pack them to prevent a disaster. Anyone knows if special mailing boxes for bottles are available in Japan? And what is a good place to buy good quality sake anyway?

Geeky goodies? My clients have close ties with the game industry, so manga and videogame merch is definitely an option. The problem here is mostly one of overwhelming choice and potentially skyrocketing budget.

Further complicating things is the fact that I speak very little Japanese, and that I should sort this out pretty quickly to ensure the parcels get to their destination (mostly UK and Spain) before the holidays. EMS has been pretty fast and reliable so far, but I would like to send everything before the end of this week at the latest.

So, essentially, do you have any suggestions of stuff that would make a good present and would be easy to both buy and send to the Old Continent? Bonus points awarded for presents that the recipients could share with their colleagues and can be found in Shinjuku and surroundings. Extra bonus points if it's something that can really be found only in Japan. My budget is about 5000 ¥ per pressie (not including postage), although I can stretch it a bit if needed.

Thanks in advance, Hive Mind. You're my only hope!

Gifts from Santa - Wrapped or Unwrapped?

anastasiav — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:04:25 -0800

When you were a child, did the gifts you got from Santa arrive wrapped or unwrapped? As we set forth to celebrate the first Christmas with our son, we've run into an unexpected cultural divide. You see, when I was small, Santa always brought me three gifts (no more, no less) and they were unwrapped and unboxed and completely set up, waiting for me under the tree.

At my partner's house, Santa always left a random number of presents, and they were carefully wrapped in paper that was different from any of the other paper on the other gifts. Large items, like a bike or a dollhouse, might arrive unwrapped, but even those things had a bow and a tag on them.

I maintain that Santa doesn't have the time or resources to wrap everything, plus the wrapping would get all tattered in the sleigh. He maintains that Santa can do whatever he wants, and unwrapping gifts is part of the fun of Christmas.

Popular culture isn't any help -- many cartoons, etc. show Santa physically leaving unwrapped toys being left under the tree or in stockings (see The Island of Lost Toys, etc.) but others (ie: A Christmas Story) clearly show children unwrapping gifts from Santa.

Is this a regional thing? (Our families come from two different parts of the country.) Or just random decisions made in each household? I'm trying to sway him over to the "unwrapped" side of the fence, but he says my family tradition is weird and that most children get wrapped gifts from Santa. What did your family do?

gifts for my elderly FIL.

mecran01 — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:08:53 -0800

GiftFilter: What do I get my 76-year-old Father-in-Law for Christmas? (additional parameters inside) He is smart, likes CNN and the weather channel, books on math and physics (I got him Wolfram and he liked it), a former Boeing engineer and department of environmental quality employee, and has a fairly new Imac that he likes. Doesn't like pop science reading as much. Widower. Likes talk radio. Needs to get out more. Lives alone. Budget: around 40 bucks. Likes walking. Cooks simple meals. Thank you.

Tea help!

peep — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 11:04:38 -0800

Calling all tea experts . . . My mom asked for a teapot for Christmas. She is an almost-daily tea drinker. She's not an expert or a snob, she just enjoys hot tea, which she uses to replace soda after being diagnosed with diabetes.

I'd like to supplement the gift with some accessories and some fantastic tea. I'm totally open to suggestions of any kind - tea bags, loose teas, herbals, etc. Is there a brand or type of tea that is considered the "world's best"? The only problem is that it has to be available for purchase in Portland, Oregon, or online with delivery before Christmas. Thanks!

Wanted: gift ideas for employees

cyniczny — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:01:11 -0800

What should I buy my employees for Christmas? I manage twelve people, all women, with ages ranging from 20 to mid-60's. This is my first Christmas as their manager and I would like to buy them all something. I don't want to purchase individualized gifts, because half of them have been with me less than 6 months, so I don't know them well enough for that. However, this is coming out of my own pocket and I want it to have some thought and care put into it, but can't seem to think of anything unique.

I've purchased a lot of small gifts used as motivation (sales environment) and would like to stay away from the same types. Some items I've used in the past are: Starbucks cards, movie tickets, Bath & Body Works lotions, etc. Items I can't/don't want to give: alcohol, time off, money, lottery tickets, food. Items previous managers have given: desk clock, hand-made Christmas ornament. My price range is under $20 per employee.

Any suggestions for such a wide range of people and so many limitations? I'm truly stumped.

Christmas Shopping for 18-year-old

croutonsupafreak — Thu, 23 Dec 2004 18:52:32 -0800

You're an 18-year old guy six months out of rehab with a creative mind and a severely disfunctional family. You've got a GED and a job in sales. You're going to be spending Christmas with your aunt, because you're mom is too messed up to deal with you. What two or three things do you want for Christmas that can be bought for roughly $20 each?