With the holiday season fast approaching, the perennial challenge of selecting the perfect present looms large. Is it possible to learn from the triumphs and disasters of others? Eleven Guardian readers have bravely shared their stories of the best and worst gifts they've ever received, offering a fascinating glimpse into the fraught yet delightful world of gift exchange.
The Height of Thoughtfulness and the Depth of Disappointment
The spectrum of experiences is vast. For Brenda from Portland, the pinnacle was a birthday cruise up the Nile from her husband, described as "the trip of a lifetime." The nadir, however, came during her college years when a fellow student presented her with a heavy box, declaring, "This is for you. It's a bat's head." Fearing an anatomical specimen, she later discovered a mass of hardened plaster before disposing of it.
Another reader, a single mother, cherishes the food processor her 13-year-old son bought with his first wages as a paperboy. In stark contrast, Guri, 72 from Norway, was less than impressed to receive Lancôme anti-cellulite cream from a male colleague.
When Personal Taste Misses the Mark
Personal passions can be a minefield. Bonnie, 42 from the Netherlands, a massive Tim Curry fan, adored a mug featuring his characters but was less thrilled to receive a copy of the film "Four Dogs Playing Poker" from her dad, which she promptly regifted. Another anonymous contributor received a large box of assorted nuts despite having a severe, well-known allergy.
Sometimes, the thought does not count. Kelly from Brighton recalls her mum's friend buying her cellulite-reducing tights when she was 17. An anonymous American was baffled by a gift of smelly silicone ice cube trays, given because the giver had seen her "struggling" with a regular one.
The Symbolism Behind the Present
Gifts can carry heavy symbolic weight. For one anonymous reader from Virginia, ruby earrings from her soon-to-be second husband were a high point, while a vacuum cleaner marked "the beginning of an eventual divorce." Another, who makes quilts, was mystified when her mother bought her a cheap Walmart quilt, undermining her 30 years of craft.
Yet, simplicity can win. Maria, in her 40s from Minnesota, loved receiving two dozen tea towels from her husband, seeing it as a sign he listened to her practical needs. Another was delighted with rubber floor mats for her first car, a Saab 900S, as they were exactly what she needed in Chicago.
The lesson from these 11 tales? Perhaps there isn't one clear rule. As the contributors themselves contradict: one advises "Don't just give something that appeals to you," while another suggests "Always gift something you want." In the end, knowing the recipient—and avoiding plaster bat heads—seems a sensible place to start.
