All I want for Christmas is… Nope, not that…

This is such a bad idea.

This holiday season we’ll have to do without large family gatherings and partying with friends. But that’s no reason to give up on spoiling those we love and miss. Between colleagues we’ve been talking about ways to do just that and we want to share our ideas with you.

Everyone has different tastes and the perfect gift that fits everyone doesn’t exist. However, we did have a brainstorming session to find out which gifts nobody wants and we found a few things to steer clear of.

Anything to do with COVID-19

The virus has affected our lives since March and maybe it’s not necessary to rub salt in the wound. So let’s forget about giving face masks, even the ugly ones supposed to make us laugh (suggested by Claire), and no medical testimonials either like Putain de Covid (suggested by Lisa) or other COVID- and lockdown-related books.

Go for: anything else.

0% pleasure

Joëlle insists that « People who say a rice cooker will just gather dust in the cupboard are wrong. » But unless it is actually on someone’s wish list, let’s avoid offering any “100% useful” items. The pleasure of giving is all very fine, but there must also be the joy of receiving – and getting a Swiffer set (brush AND wipes!) will not cut it.

Go for: a useful gift that’s at least a little bit funny, like this grime slime.

Disguised criticism

Julie told us her mother wanted to give a car bin to her sister. No need to be a psychologist to decipher the message… So here’s a reminder: you don’t give books to a teenager addicted to Twitch, nor sportswear to someone who is passionate about baking cakes or a straightening iron to someone who has curly hair.

Go for: something that shows people you’re fully supporting them in their choices and passions.

Anything that drives parents crazy

There are lovely things that children love a little too much: the story that you have to read every night, the song that you have to play over and over again, the game that makes incessant beep beep beeps all the time. And it drives the parents crazy! So think twice before giving your nephew or niece a drum set or a toy piano

Go for: something that both kids and parents will like, like a cool collection of stories in Luxembourgish.