The Perfect Christmas Gift
The giving and receiving of gifts has long been associated with this time of year. Way back in our pre-Roman, pagan culture folk gathered together around the Winter Solstice to feast, celebrate and exchange gifts. A little later, the Druids continued this nature-based ritual and gifted sprigs of mistletoe to wish good fortune in the coming year. With the coming of the Romans, Saturnalia was celebrated in mid-December with the exchange of gifts being a part of the often raucous revelry. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman empire, the season of gift-giving was gradually moved a couple of weeks forward to the sixth of January. This is Epiphany, the day on which the Magi’s visit to present gifts to the child Jesus is remembered. This bestowing of gifts from one to another continued right through Medieval Britain until the time of Cromwell’s Commonwealth in England and Wales when no celebrations were allowed over Christmas. Meanwhile, Hogmanay remained the biggest celebration in Scotland and in many parts of Europe, gifts were exchanged on the sixth of December, St Nicholas’ Day. Meanwhile, with the growth of Protestantism the date for giving gifts changed to 25 December as the number of feast days were reduced.
As we all know, it was the Victorians who really introduced many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas. Up until then gifts had mainly been exchanged between adults and celebrations were often rowdy and disorderly. The Victorians wanted to change the focus of Christmas from the unruly festival it had always been to an altogether more wholesome celebration that the whole family could enjoy. Thus children were now included in the gift lists and with the advent of Santa Claus or Father Christmas, the giving of presents has become a central part of our festivities.
Depending on our resources of finances and time, and our personality type, present buying may either be an arduous chore and source of anxiety or a delight-filled task accompanied by a sense of fun. Some start Christmas shopping months in advance, accumulating meticulously thought-through gifts for family and friends. Others may do a last-minute dash to the shops, or nowadays an internet trawl a few days before the great day. Many families are cutting down on the volume of presents bought at Christmas, mindful of squeezed finances and the environmental cost. However, there can be great pleasure in choosing and receiving an ideal gift; hand-crafted items which are kind to our beautiful world, are well made, durable and completely unique are an obvious choice.
Each hand-crafted gift will be distinctive, but are there ways you can add an extra something and individualise your products a step further? You may take individual commissions, for example, pet portraits or landscape paintings. Or you might already engrave specific names onto key rings, leather pouches or jewellery.
What about aiming at some gifts for a hard-working mum? A cushion with each member of the family embroidered on it, or maybe the birth flowers of her children alongside their names. This could also work with a hand-painted ceramic plate or a homely oversized tea mug. Continuing with the theme of children, there are lots of opportunities to add specific names to general products. A string of bunting or a cushion with a child’s name on is not only a special present for the child, but will also be appreciated by his or her parents….especially by mum!
There is so much food and drink associated with Christmas festivities and having some distinctive crockery set apart just for this time of year can become as much a part of the family tradition as the decorations. What about adding a favourite line from a Christmas carol to a platter on which mince pies will be served, or painting the recipients’ names onto mugs, ready to be filled with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and overflowing marshmallows.
We Brits have a reputation for being besotted with our pets (often with good reason!) so why not hone in on this with your Christmas orders? A dog owner is sure to love a dog bowl with the name of this much loved pet on the side, a dog cushion with a similar name display, maybe a cute personalised tree decoration or even a special doggie stocking?
Christmas is a busy time of year for most people, and none more so than for craft business owners as you juggle a major sales period with your own preparations. For those to whom this is your first Christmas season, you will be looking for small craft business insurance UK. This generally covers public and products liability and can cover you for others areas such as employers’ liability. While public and product liability are not a legal requirement, having small craft business insurance in place will cover you for those incidents which are completely unforeseeable and therefore our of your control. The cost is not exorbitant; check out our website for customer reviews. We ourselves are a small family business and as such ensure we communicate directly with our customers. So, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here to talk you through the small craft business insurance UK required for your unique business.
Whatever our financial or time resources, the giving of a thoughtful and personal gift can go far deeper than the item itself. We all have a need to be seen, and in a world where human connection is gradually being eroded by bots and AI this need is ever greater. A personalised gift tells the recipient that they are valued, that what they do and who they are is appreciated and that they are loved. Who would not want to receive this message? So, as we think through our gift list this year, is there someone who needs that extra special personalised gift? And we hope that you also may receive some beautifully wrapped gifts which assure you that you too are seen and appreciated.