What surprise Christmas gifts have delighted you?
November 8, 2021 11:29 AM Subscribe
Have you ever received a Christmas present that you didn't know you needed? Something you'd never have thought to ask for but, because Santa knew you so well, that surprise gift turned out to be delightful and/or incredibly useful? Please share your joy!
In my family we tend to ask each other for specific presents and I find it hard to know what I want, never mind thinking what to buy for anyone who can't think of something.
So I'm looking for ideas of surprise gifts you've received that have been a delight, or that you're still using years later, or that you now often buy for other people.
In my family we tend to ask each other for specific presents and I find it hard to know what I want, never mind thinking what to buy for anyone who can't think of something.
So I'm looking for ideas of surprise gifts you've received that have been a delight, or that you're still using years later, or that you now often buy for other people.
My In-Laws got us all matching onsies which I still treasure. Oversized fuzzy blankets get used for years by me also. I can't think of a situation where an oversized fuzzy blanket would be a bad gift, honestly.
posted by bbqturtle at 11:39 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by bbqturtle at 11:39 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
A raclette grill! I have one similar to this one by Swissmar. I had no idea what it was when I got it, but if anyone in your family likes to host dinners, raclette is super fun.
It is, however, an absolute no-go during pandemic.
A family member got me a full Smartwool base layer and it's something I would never have bought for myself but use all the time.
This year my very specific asks would be a knife sharpener, a biiiiiiig tea pot, and a breakfast tray.
posted by punchtothehead at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
It is, however, an absolute no-go during pandemic.
A family member got me a full Smartwool base layer and it's something I would never have bought for myself but use all the time.
This year my very specific asks would be a knife sharpener, a biiiiiiig tea pot, and a breakfast tray.
posted by punchtothehead at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
I used to love fashion magazines as a teenager -- I don't now, they're terrible -- but I didn't have a ton of money to buy them. One year my mother bought every single one from the newsstand -- probably 15? -- and wrapped them up as a gift. It was just such fun bounty and showed my mother actually did know me, even a little bit.
I sometimes give a single lottery ticket with a card as a cheap gift -- I'm not crazy about the lottery either, but people's eyes light up!
posted by heavenknows at 11:41 AM on November 8, 2021 [13 favorites]
I sometimes give a single lottery ticket with a card as a cheap gift -- I'm not crazy about the lottery either, but people's eyes light up!
posted by heavenknows at 11:41 AM on November 8, 2021 [13 favorites]
I received snowshoes one Christmas as a surprise gift and was delighted. I get a lot of pleasure from them every time I use them. (Obviously YMMV depending on whether you live somewhere with snow. I happen to live somewhere with plenty of easy access to snowshoe trails.)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
My SiL gave me the tools to make pour-over coffee; I figured I already knew how to make coffee, and hadn't asked for a new way to do it.
The point is that she went ahead and forced me to try a new approach to something I already loved, and it really broadened my enjoyment.
So if you examine someone's interests, try to find a branching path that they haven't explored yet.
(Also: obligatory.)
posted by wenestvedt at 11:53 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
The point is that she went ahead and forced me to try a new approach to something I already loved, and it really broadened my enjoyment.
So if you examine someone's interests, try to find a branching path that they haven't explored yet.
(Also: obligatory.)
posted by wenestvedt at 11:53 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
oooh heaven knows, I loved the Beatles as a teenager and one year my mom bought me every single Beatles album. This was in the 80s, so vinyl. It was such a fun and lavish gift.
An abundance of anything you like is so great. Last year my partner got me not one but two Pendleton wool throw blankets! Basically, once you identify a category, run with it.
posted by HotToddy at 12:07 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
An abundance of anything you like is so great. Last year my partner got me not one but two Pendleton wool throw blankets! Basically, once you identify a category, run with it.
posted by HotToddy at 12:07 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
We use the heck out of the air fryer we made fun of.
posted by jeoc at 12:11 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by jeoc at 12:11 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
In my family, the best, most apposite gift "wins Christmas." It is a coveted title, and you can only compete with gifts the recipient didn't ask for. So we don't really ask each other what we want for Christmas, but there is a lot of collusion and scheming and subtly trying to feel each other out. Gifts to me that won Christmas include a massive wax-covered wheel of sharp cheddar cheese from my dad when I was seven (still my favorite food), a razor scooter when I was 30 from my kids (so I could roam the neighborhood with them on their razor scooters), and a rotating disco light from my son when I was 40 (I didn't know I needed it but I absolutely did). Metafilter helped me win Christmas one year with a tool bag custom-embroidered with my son's tattoo design on it full of electronics tools for my son. My daughter won with a membership to the local US Sailing Center for my dad.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2021 [8 favorites]
My husband gave me a Maglite, which I love. A weighty flashlight the size of a forearm isn't strictly romantic, but it's bright, good quality, and clonky enough that I could probably use it on a prowler. I love emergency supplies, but a quality flashlight hadn't occurred to me.
My "I didn't know I wanted this, now I have it and I love it" gift to give is a lightweight, packable down jacket. They come in so many styles and colors, they're a lot of warmth for no weight, they're comfortable, and they're great for travel, stashing in the car, or stuffing into your bag just in case. Many come with a little storage tote.
posted by champers at 12:19 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
My "I didn't know I wanted this, now I have it and I love it" gift to give is a lightweight, packable down jacket. They come in so many styles and colors, they're a lot of warmth for no weight, they're comfortable, and they're great for travel, stashing in the car, or stuffing into your bag just in case. Many come with a little storage tote.
posted by champers at 12:19 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
I didn't get the point of a Fitbit until I got one as a surprise gift. I loved it and now wouldn't want to be without one.
posted by FencingGal at 12:35 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by FencingGal at 12:35 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
Along the lines of a Maglite, I got a Black & Decker Snake Light from my brother one year. It’s a flashlight that you can stand and position just so and it will stay in place but the best use was taking it (car) camping. I could wrap it around my neck and point it down to illuminate my dinner/the path to the outhouse/the inside of my pack without blinding everyone else by wearing a headlamp.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2021 [6 favorites]
Adding on to the portable light idea- one of the presents I got my boyfriend, I think suggested on here, was a head lamp- he does a lot of DIY stuff, and he loves having direct light to do work on his house.
My favorite token gift to give is Knudsen's Caramels. I buy a big box and make up little bags of them- people love them, and they are special enough because they aren't easily found if you don't know who makes them (they have no labels on the actual caramels.) I give them out at the schools I work at, and as open house gifts etc.
posted by momochan at 1:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
My favorite token gift to give is Knudsen's Caramels. I buy a big box and make up little bags of them- people love them, and they are special enough because they aren't easily found if you don't know who makes them (they have no labels on the actual caramels.) I give them out at the schools I work at, and as open house gifts etc.
posted by momochan at 1:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
Heated mattress pad. Game changer in the winter. (Sunbeam makes a bunch of versions, I don't know which one I have, it probably came from Costco knowing the gift giver)
posted by radioamy at 1:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by radioamy at 1:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [7 favorites]
Similar to the heated mattress pad, now that I think about it, that same family member also gave me flannel sheets (she always gave practical but wonderful gifts to all the "kids"), which I didn't realize I needed until I tried them! Now I can't imagine using percale in the winter.
posted by radioamy at 1:17 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by radioamy at 1:17 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
My husband got me a proving box when I got really into baking bread. I would never have bought one for myself but we have a very old, drafty kitchen, and it has made my bread (and other baked goods that require proving) more consistent and has cut my proving times considerably.
Ooh on preview yes, a heated mattress pad, also a surprise gift, that makes bedtimes so much cozier for half the year.
posted by SeedStitch at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
Ooh on preview yes, a heated mattress pad, also a surprise gift, that makes bedtimes so much cozier for half the year.
posted by SeedStitch at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction is the singular best surprise gift I have ever received, and I am still just so happy to know it exists in the world.
posted by teremala at 2:01 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by teremala at 2:01 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
My wife surprised me with a Masterclass subscription. I'm surprised how much I like it.
posted by lpsguy at 2:21 PM on November 8, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by lpsguy at 2:21 PM on November 8, 2021 [3 favorites]
A year's subscription to the Ordnance Survey mapping app (in the UK - substitute whatever great maps app there is for your territory). I always thought something like that would be overkill for the modest day hikes we do, but being able to track our routes, scrutinise all the data afterwards, and lazily use it for navigation while out in the countryside has been fun and kind of luxurious. It's also just cool always to have a really high-quality map in my pocket, but then I do like maps.
posted by FavourableChicken at 2:25 PM on November 8, 2021
posted by FavourableChicken at 2:25 PM on November 8, 2021
I get cold easily—my family members have variously surprised me with footed pajamas, an electric blanket, a sleeved blanket, and microwaveable slippers, all of which I’ve loved.
On preview, I want a heated mattress pad now!
posted by eirin at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
On preview, I want a heated mattress pad now!
posted by eirin at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2021 [5 favorites]
I received an e-reader which I didn't ever want, but it's sooo nice! Shoot, a gift subscription to a used book store would be awesome for the reading-addicted.
As a child, I was a serious chocoholic and I alway wanted a one pound bar of chocolate, but never asked for one and never received one. One xmas, my hubby gave me an enormous (IDK, maybe 5 pound?) bar of chocolate! It was an enormously insightful surprise.
And, nthing the idea of something for the serious hobbyist. I grew up on a farmstead and had a horse and always wanted someone to give me a super nice set of horse brushes which I wouldn't splurge on.
An extravagant cat tree would be awesome in my household.
Really nice stainless steel ergonomic gardening tools or seed starting lights and seedling house setups would be super awesome.
Anyone with a passion/hobby and limited budget is going to be stoked to receive that sort of extravagance gift unless they have already saturated their needs.
posted by mightshould at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
As a child, I was a serious chocoholic and I alway wanted a one pound bar of chocolate, but never asked for one and never received one. One xmas, my hubby gave me an enormous (IDK, maybe 5 pound?) bar of chocolate! It was an enormously insightful surprise.
And, nthing the idea of something for the serious hobbyist. I grew up on a farmstead and had a horse and always wanted someone to give me a super nice set of horse brushes which I wouldn't splurge on.
An extravagant cat tree would be awesome in my household.
Really nice stainless steel ergonomic gardening tools or seed starting lights and seedling house setups would be super awesome.
Anyone with a passion/hobby and limited budget is going to be stoked to receive that sort of extravagance gift unless they have already saturated their needs.
posted by mightshould at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
LED flashlights and headlamps are great. it's a good idea ot have flashlights in case of power outage and other stuff.
1st aid kit and digital thermometer.
I have given emergency radios with solar, usb port, etc. because stuff happens.
Phone charger brick. They're often solar (they charge slowly on solar, maintain a charge on solar. Can charge by power.) and usually function as a flashlight. super handy for travelling so you don't have to try to find a charging location in an airport.
They make car jump starters that are generally handy backup batteries, ex.
A nice chef's knife.
A nice pair of binoculars.
posted by theora55 at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2021 [3 favorites]
1st aid kit and digital thermometer.
I have given emergency radios with solar, usb port, etc. because stuff happens.
Phone charger brick. They're often solar (they charge slowly on solar, maintain a charge on solar. Can charge by power.) and usually function as a flashlight. super handy for travelling so you don't have to try to find a charging location in an airport.
They make car jump starters that are generally handy backup batteries, ex.
A nice chef's knife.
A nice pair of binoculars.
posted by theora55 at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2021 [3 favorites]
Pizza Scissors! I laughed when I got them. I use them for so many things! Pizza, quesadillas, naan!
posted by chuke at 3:38 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by chuke at 3:38 PM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm going to second the microwaveable slippers! I got some Hot Socks one year and laughed at how weird they were... and then when working from home in an old, poorly insulated house became a reality for me, they were just about the best thing ever.
posted by queensissy at 4:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by queensissy at 4:15 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
A couple years ago, my brother and SiL got me an Instant Pot. I love it to death. It's something that I would never have gotten for myself.
posted by kathrynm at 4:31 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by kathrynm at 4:31 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
Before COVID I was given the gift of taking a glass-blowing class. BEST GIFT IN YEARS!
(Honestly, it was more like a "class" because the two guys did a lot of the work, and I only huffed and puffed at certain points. But I made a pint glass, and I still use it every day for almost two years now. And because no one else was there, was talked a lot about glass, and the next week I had them make me a custom piece as a gift for my wife.)
My dad got to do a black-smithing class once, which sounded very cool. And this year I am putting a class about coffee on my list, because I would like to have something besides my two previous teachers -- Trial and Error -- to go by.
So I guess the lesson is, give a class or experience -- especially if it involves difficulty, or a lot of equipment, which your recipient will never lay out for.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:10 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
(Honestly, it was more like a "class" because the two guys did a lot of the work, and I only huffed and puffed at certain points. But I made a pint glass, and I still use it every day for almost two years now. And because no one else was there, was talked a lot about glass, and the next week I had them make me a custom piece as a gift for my wife.)
My dad got to do a black-smithing class once, which sounded very cool. And this year I am putting a class about coffee on my list, because I would like to have something besides my two previous teachers -- Trial and Error -- to go by.
So I guess the lesson is, give a class or experience -- especially if it involves difficulty, or a lot of equipment, which your recipient will never lay out for.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:10 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
Several years ago, my daughter surprised me with a large bottle of black fig balsamic vinegar. She’s now been stuck with getting me another bottle every xmas, I love the stuff so much.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:43 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 5:43 PM on November 8, 2021 [4 favorites]
My husband got me a turntable for my birthday this year and my knee jerk response was "what on earth, now we have to buy a bunch of records?!" but it turns out I LOVE putting on a record at the end of a workday and the turntable has been a true delight.
posted by potrzebie at 10:49 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 10:49 PM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
Someone got me Molton Brown shower gel as a gift. It is expensive but lovely, with a range of different scents. Now I always ask for it for Christmas or my birthday and usually get a year's supply (typically 4 bottles).
Other gifts that have gone really well have been a long bathrobe for my partner, someone buying me the most delicious mango, various subscriptions (gin, chocolate, magazines) and a luxury cheeseboard for my brother-in-law.
posted by plonkee at 1:23 AM on November 9, 2021
Other gifts that have gone really well have been a long bathrobe for my partner, someone buying me the most delicious mango, various subscriptions (gin, chocolate, magazines) and a luxury cheeseboard for my brother-in-law.
posted by plonkee at 1:23 AM on November 9, 2021
A sunrise alarm clock, as discussed in this recent Ask.
A very attractive wooden book stand. I'd seen them in the window of a furniture shop in town and admired them in passing, but felt I had no use for one. Turns out I was much mistaken in that. No, it's not great for holding a big heavy cookery book open, but I copy recipes out before I start, and it's perfect for holding up a notebook. Or an iPad. Or an origami book.
A really big radio-controlled wall clock. I would never have thought to buy myself a clock a foot in diameter, but it's exactly right for the house I have, and a wall clock that always keeps the right time is a joyous thing.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 2:48 AM on November 9, 2021
A very attractive wooden book stand. I'd seen them in the window of a furniture shop in town and admired them in passing, but felt I had no use for one. Turns out I was much mistaken in that. No, it's not great for holding a big heavy cookery book open, but I copy recipes out before I start, and it's perfect for holding up a notebook. Or an iPad. Or an origami book.
A really big radio-controlled wall clock. I would never have thought to buy myself a clock a foot in diameter, but it's exactly right for the house I have, and a wall clock that always keeps the right time is a joyous thing.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 2:48 AM on November 9, 2021
Response by poster: These are all wonderful ideas, thank you! I can’t pick a few best answers because they’re all good - you’re all my favourite children!
Keep ’em coming.
posted by fabius at 5:24 AM on November 9, 2021 [3 favorites]
Keep ’em coming.
posted by fabius at 5:24 AM on November 9, 2021 [3 favorites]
I unearthed this on my own and then asked for it, but it's been an incredible boon to the whole household: a chocolate velvetizer, which is an automatic hot chocolate machine that's about the size of a milk frother. It melts down pretty much any type of crumbled chocolate as well as traditional cocoa or drinking chocolates with no risk of singeing or burning the chocolate. It's my go-to special gift for everyone now, as it's incredible for mocha and chai and all kinds of treats. Then you get to pair the gift with tasty chocolates and always have drinking chocolate mixes as a continuation gift.
posted by foxtongue at 7:24 AM on November 9, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by foxtongue at 7:24 AM on November 9, 2021 [6 favorites]
Single best gift I ever received was this beautiful Complete Calvin and Hobbes Box Set.
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:35 AM on November 9, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:35 AM on November 9, 2021 [5 favorites]
Last Xmas, my wife gave me a warmer-that-I-ever-thought-possible, fleece lined bathrobe from LL Bean. It has improved my cold weather mornings amazingly.
When she was in high school, we gave my daughter a rechargeable drill. (She built sets for the HS drama club.) She still has it 25 years later.
Once I gave my wife a jar of cherry pie filling from Williams-Sonoma as a stocking stuffer. I think it was bigger and more expensive than the one the sell now. Of course I had to make the pie....but the gift and the pie are well remembered.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:00 AM on November 9, 2021 [2 favorites]
When she was in high school, we gave my daughter a rechargeable drill. (She built sets for the HS drama club.) She still has it 25 years later.
Once I gave my wife a jar of cherry pie filling from Williams-Sonoma as a stocking stuffer. I think it was bigger and more expensive than the one the sell now. Of course I had to make the pie....but the gift and the pie are well remembered.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:00 AM on November 9, 2021 [2 favorites]
One of the best presents I ever got was a watercolor of my boat. The artist was a friend who had picked up pocket money when he was in the Navy painting pictures of warships for the officers thereof. There are ads in boating mags for people who will paint pictures from a photo, and maybe there are the same for other hobbies. Or for a picture of a place with special significance.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:17 AM on November 9, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 8:17 AM on November 9, 2021 [3 favorites]
A Keysmart key holder.
posted by backwards guitar at 1:34 PM on November 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by backwards guitar at 1:34 PM on November 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
Any subscription - It's so much fun to keep getting presents for months. You can go the fancy route with beer, cheese, coffee, etc... but even a magazine subscription is a fun treat.
posted by tangosnail at 1:58 PM on November 9, 2021
posted by tangosnail at 1:58 PM on November 9, 2021
My husband still raves about the George Foreman grill he got from my parents one year. He still holds it against me for giving it away during a spring clean just like his bachelor couch, it haunts our relationship.
posted by jadepearl at 3:23 PM on November 9, 2021
posted by jadepearl at 3:23 PM on November 9, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
I received a subscription to the Great Courses Plus (now called, bizarrely, "Wondrium") and I loved it. Fabulous gift (for learner-nerds) and lasts all year.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:34 AM on November 8, 2021 [2 favorites]