Lifestyle: It’s the same every year: Christmas comes faster than expected. For many, this also means that on December 24th they will still be looking for a present. Finding the right present for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, partner and children is often not that easy. So that nobody goes empty-handed at Christmas, our editorial team has collected ideas for last-minute gifts – to make yourself, from the store or for very late ones from the gas station.
Best Christmas Presents to Gift Your Family, Friends, Boy Friend, Girl Friend, and Children:
Board games – not just for children
Analog games have become more and more popular in recent years: 200,000 fans traveled to the international game fair “Spiel 2019” in Essen in October. There is sure to be someone among your relatives who enjoys playing. The plus point of a board game under the Christmas tree is that you can play it together right away and have a good time with the family.
If you don’t have an idea for a game, you can stick to classics like Tabu, Scrabble, Twister, Mensch ärgere dich nicht, Quartett or Memory or bet on the winners who have become “Game of the Year”. In 2019 the game “Just one” won. Players have to guess terms using hints from their fellow players. The best children’s game is “Valley of the Vikings”. In this strategic game, the other players have to be careful not to get wet. If you can’t make it into a shop before closing time and have lots of board games yourself, you can alternatively give away a voucher for a game night.
Whiskey, wine or beer
A good wine, a new whiskey to try or an unusual beer are a nice gift for connoisseurs. If the recipient likes to try unusual flavors, a craft beer with a fruit flavor or a chocolate component may be the right choice. If you want to personalize the present a bit, make a nice gift tag. Those who decide on the spur of the moment can still get spirits from wine shops, delicatessens or supermarkets after the shop has closed at the gas station.
Tickets for concerts, theater or cabaret
Your father’s favorite band is going on a tour next year? Does your aunt like to go to the theater? Or is there an interesting reading in your city? If you know that the recipient has nothing to do with the date of the concert, this gift idea is still available at the last second. Most ticket shops allow you to buy tickets online and print them out at home.
chocolates
Pralines are a classic for chocolate lovers. If you know your mom or dad loves nougat, truffle, marzipan or brittle, this is a safe choice. If you want, you can simply make pralines yourself: break your favorite chocolate into pieces and melt it in a water bath. Put the nuts, crumble, brittle, dried fruit (in small pieces or chopped) in an ice cube mold and pour the melted chocolate over it. Put the mold in the fridge for a few hours and the homemade sweets are ready.
Gift subscriptions
Is your sister a real bookworm or is your brother an audio book fan? How about a gift subscription? Many publishers offer magazines in a special gift subscription, which usually runs for a year. As a rule, you can take out such subscriptions online and print out a voucher to put something under the tree. If the relatives are not bookworms, an audio book subscription might be a nice idea: You can buy gift cards online at Book Beat. A month costs 19.90. At Audible, a month costs 9.99 euros and you can cancel the subscription on a monthly basis.
Memory book
If you would like to find out more about your parents or grandparents, or are looking for common topics of conversation for your next visit, you can score with books such as “Papa, tell me!” Or “Grandma, tell me!”. In order to have a good time with your own grandparents or parents, you can arrange to meet regularly to fill out the book together. Such memory books are available in different versions and versions and from different publishers. For example by the author Elma van Vliet for 14.99 euros.
Make lip balm yourself
Lip balm is easy to make yourself and give it away in pretty boxes. You need a small jar for a lip balm (available in drug stores). For 50 grams of cream you need 20 grams of coconut oil, 30 grams of shea butter (available in pharmacies), a few drops of olive, jojoba, or almond oil. If you want, you can refine the lip balm with a few drops of essential oils. Melt coconut oil and shea butter in a water bath, mix with the oils and pour into the pan immediately. Place in the refrigerator to harden.
For flower lovers
For everyone with a green thumb, flowers are a hit. Instead of cut flowers that wither quickly, seeds or bulbs are a nice idea. The seeds can be filled in decorative jars or in small bags (for example from the craft store). These can be labeled with care tips and the type of plant. If that’s too costly for you, you can buy a houseplant and paint a simple clay pot with waterproof paint according to your own ideas.
Presents in a glass
For these gifts, one or the other no longer has to leave the house, but can use the pantry and make their own spice or baking mix. For this you need a lockable glass. For a baking mix, choose your favorite cake recipe and pour all the dry ingredients such as flour or sugar into the glass. Then write down the recipe with the ingredients that still need to be added and you have a very personal gift. It works the same way with a spice mixture: simply put all the spices for a chili or lentil soup into a glass and hang the recipe on the glass as a label.
Giving away shared experiences
A recent study by University College London shows that people who have been culturally active once or twice a year have a 14 percent lower risk of death. A good reason to give away a visit to the museum together. In Hamburg, for example, you can admire works by Caspar David Friedrich in the Kunsthalle, or find various changing exhibitions under one roof in the Museum of Art and Industry. The Chocolate Museum is a real classic in Cologne. In the Robertinum in Halle you can see the archaeological collection of the Martin Luther University.
