Best and Worst Christmas Gifts

[thestrangequark]

Hitch on those fake grins and remember that it's the thought that counts, because it's Christmastime and a few bad gifts are inevitable. What have been the worst Christmas gifts you've received over the years? What have been the best?

I genuinely find more joy in giving than receiving, so don't tend to be bothered by bad gifts; I also feel happy and grateful for people who try, even if they can't do much or get it very wrong. However, my grandmother is notorious not only for playing favorites, but for giving the worst gifts imaginable. Have you read Harry Potter? Can you remember a few of the gifts the Dersley's sent Harry for Christmas? Then you have the general idea. One year, for example, he bought my two cousins each a new computer. The same year she gave me an opened and half-empty tin of dusty hard candy and a set of plaid button-covers. Every teenage girl's dream. She gave my little sister the other half of the candy in a plastic sandwich bag. She is also known for giving us things like toilet paper and lightbulbs.

As for great gifts, I love homemade presents. My younger sister made me some beautiful fascinators last year, and my older sister one made some lovely homemade paper with leaves and flower petals. Last year my mother and sister took me to The Sound of Music sing-along at the Paramount Theater, which was incredibly fun!

 

[auntiehill]

I think the worst gift I ever received was from my father. He gave me, when I was about 15, a book on how to tie knots. He thought it was hilariously funny. I, however, did not. I thought, for a brief moment, that my father had actually thought about me and instead of forcing my mother to do all the gift buying, he had gone about and purchased something just for me.

But.....no. It was a book on how to tie knots--his version of a gag gift. So. Not. Funny.

I've received lots of wonderful gifts over the year, even if they weren't my taste, I could see the person genuinely tried to do something nice, so I was pleased. One of the best gifts I got was from my nephew, who at the time was about 6 or 7 (now 12). I took him out to buy gifts for his grandparents and mother at the Mall. He stopped and bought himself a set of SpongeBob Squarepants rings. It was cheap, and he thought it was cool, so I bought it for him and gave him his allowance money back.

He smiled and said he bought it especially for us. He put the SpongeBob ring on his finger and put the Patrick ring on my finger, since we were "best friends like SpongeBob and Patrick."

*heart melts*

I still have that cheap little ring in my jewelery box.

 

[ChaosAngel]

Id say the worst presents I've gotten are a makeup set and any kind of bath stuff. To this date, I've never once used any that I've gotten as a gift. Heck, I don't even wear makeup!

 

[RoJoHen]

My grandma always gets me a scarf. Every year!

"Well, I didn't know if you had one..."

First off, I have never ever worn a scarf a single day in my entire life. Second, you got me one last year...and the year before...and the year before...so yes, I have one.

 

[auntiehill]

Oh....now I take back my previous post about my worst Christmas gift ever.

Last year, my mother-in-law ripped a piece of wrapping paper off the roll, wrote on it in pencil, "IOU one present," and handed it to me.

She said, "I would have gotten you something, but I just couldn't be bothered."


Ah..........feel the love............

 

[Finn]

It was the girly pinkish sweatshirt my paternal grandparents got me late in the 1980s. I think it was probably the only time I cried over a "bad" gift.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Can't remember anything that I would recall as the worst present...one of the best presents I ever got was an Easton Aluminum hockey stick. The same one that Wayne Gretzky used and endorsed. I was thrilled beyond believe. Since I've instituted 'The List' I don't get any bad presents, I control what people get me lol.

 

[trampledamage]

I've received lots of wonderful gifts over the year, even if they weren't my taste, I could see the person genuinely tried to do something nice, so I was pleased. One of the best gifts I got was from my nephew, who at the time was about 6 or 7 (now 12). I took him out to buy gifts for his grandparents and mother at the Mall. He stopped and bought himself a set of SpongeBob Squarepants rings. It was cheap, and he thought it was cool, so I bought it for him and gave him his allowance money back.

He smiled and said he bought it especially for us. He put the SpongeBob ring on his finger and put the Patrick ring on my finger, since we were "best friends like SpongeBob and Patrick."

*heart melts*

I still have that cheap little ring in my jewelery box.

Wonderful

 

[thestrangequark]

^Agreed, what an adorable story.

 

[T'Bonz]

Best: a new computer. Why? My old one died days before Christmas. I actually got this a few days early.

Worse: a donation to a worthy cause. That wasn't bad. What was bad was the homemade announcement and the fact that the gift-giver, not the recipient (me!) got the tax donation right off.

To add insult to injury, if someone is making a donation in my name, why not donate to something of worth to me not to you?

 

[Kirby]

Best gift: Pinball machine. This was pretty much the only gift my parents got myself and my two brothers back around 1980-ish. It was a real arcade style pinball machine called 'Olympics' by Bally, in commemoration of the 1976 Olympic games. Only 500 or so were made. We played that thing for hours and hours. It's in pieces in my mom's garage, so when I move out of the cramped townhouse into a bigger place, I'm going to refurbish it.

Worst gift: A scarf and knit cap. Which on it's own is fine, but I live in Colorado so have a ton of that stuff already.

 

[Misfit Toy]

How about the worst gift I ever gave? I've been married for 25 years now, but I'm lucky to have survived our first Christmas together, when one of my gifts to her was a microwave bacon rack...

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Oh....now I take back my previous post about my worst Christmas gift ever.

Last year, my mother-in-law ripped a piece of wrapping paper off the roll, wrote on it in pencil, "IOU one present," and handed it to me.

She said, "I would have gotten you something, but I just couldn't be bothered."


Ah..........feel the love............

I think that I would have rolled it up into a little ball and made her eat it.


My sister gives terrible gifts. During the year she'll mention some thoughtful gift that she wants to get a friend for Christmas. What does she get me and my parents? The last several years I've gotten used library books (not anything that I would read), The "How to Speak Klingon" book on tape, and assorted boxes of yucky cookies. Oh, and a giant pink eraser! She gets my mom old useless books and last year she forgot to get my dad anything.

 

[Kestra]

How about the worst gift I ever gave? I've been married for 25 years now, but I'm lucky to have survived our first Christmas together, when one of my gifts to her was a microwave bacon rack...

That's awesome. Especially because she obviously forgave you. My husband is awful at picking out presents for me but the intention and generosity is definitely there, so ultimately that's what matters.

 

[JonathonWally]

microwave bacon rack...

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this gift.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

I think the worst gift I ever received was from my father. He gave me, when I was about 15, a book on how to tie knots. He thought it was hilariously funny. I, however, did not. I thought, for a brief moment, that my father had actually thought about me and instead of forcing my mother to do all the gift buying, he had gone about and purchased something just for me.

But.....no. It was a book on how to tie knots--his version of a gag gift. So. Not. Funny.

I've received lots of wonderful gifts over the year, even if they weren't my taste, I could see the person genuinely tried to do something nice, so I was pleased. One of the best gifts I got was from my nephew, who at the time was about 6 or 7 (now 12). I took him out to buy gifts for his grandparents and mother at the Mall. He stopped and bought himself a set of SpongeBob Squarepants rings. It was cheap, and he thought it was cool, so I bought it for him and gave him his allowance money back.

He smiled and said he bought it especially for us. He put the SpongeBob ring on his finger and put the Patrick ring on my finger, since we were "best friends like SpongeBob and Patrick."

*heart melts*

I still have that cheap little ring in my jewelery box.

That's cute, it really, really is, someday your going to have to remind him of thatone, and perhaps let him know how much it meant to you, it may give him an idea what sort of things could end up being the best gift of all. I think that's what makes Christmas, and kids so great in general (most of the time, anyway...) is when they do something like this, they have no idea what they just did to you. They didn't just make your day, they created a fond memory that you'll have for years and years,

Oh....now I take back my previous post about my worst Christmas gift ever.

Last year, my mother-in-law ripped a piece of wrapping paper off the roll, wrote on it in pencil, "IOU one present," and handed it to me.

She said, "I would have gotten you something, but I just couldn't be bothered."


Ah..........feel the love............

I know that's not what Christmas is about, but if one of my parents did that to me, I'd honestly be heartbroken.

How about the worst gift I ever gave? I've been married for 25 years now, but I'm lucky to have survived our first Christmas together, when one of my gifts to her was a microwave bacon rack...

That's kind of funny, actually, but I can just imagine what the reception of that gift was, and wonder if you slept on the couch for new years (sort of being serious and a jackass at the same time, :-P).

My sister gives terrible gifts. During the year she'll mention some thoughtful gift that she wants to get a friend for Christmas. What does she get me and my parents? The last several years I've gotten used library books (not anything that I would read), The "How to Speak Klingon" book on tape, and assorted boxes of yucky cookies. Oh, and a giant pink eraser! She gets my mom old useless books and last year she forgot to get my dad anything.

My sister never got that bad, but she was similar, on a budget of 20 dollars, she'd buy a friend a 15 Dollar CD and then have like, three or four dollars left for our parents and myself. Since she got a job though, she has gotten better, she still buys her friend the nice presnets, but does so for us to. I got Heroes Volume One because she knew how much I wnated it (I had pretty much kept whining that I couldn't find it for a decent price).

I've probably given out bad gifts I honestly try really hard and come right out and ask people what they want, when I shop for them. I know the thought that counts, but I figure something practical and needed is the best thing to do. Over the years, I've been able to do well because of that, listening to subtle (and not so subtle) hints/suggestions/answers to what people want. Last year, I sent a couple friends some homemade pot holders and...I forget the names, they are big and square, a and you can set it on the counter and put a hot dish on it or something so you don't ruin the counter or whatever. I mainly did it, because A) it was easier to ship, and B) (the primary reason, actually), both had recently gotten their own homes. Must have done good there, because both of them were quite pleased (and apparently used it right away) of them. My mother is probably the hardest person for me to shop for, mostly because with her, you almost have to be practical and get something she'd likely use. Whats hard is, in most cases, she is able to get it herself or doesnt really come right out and say that's what she wants.

As for reciving? I think I've always liked my gifts over the years, except that I once was obviously disapointed (initially) when I opened a bag and found a tool box. I had intially thought it was a DVD set and got my hopes up for it, and when I saw what it was, I was like "oh...a tool box..." but...its actually one of my best gifts ever, because I haven't lost any of my tools sense (present was from my mom, for anyone wondering). I've come to belive in the thought that counts, and often give a list anyways, so I usually get a couple items on the list and then similar items. Again, its the thought that count, but my family has come to try and get something we know the other person wnats.

 

[captcalhoun]

worst one was some crappy Ninja Turtles card game my sister gave me one year.

 

[An Officer]

Best gift: Wii console
Worst gift: A little wooden horse (I am not known for a love of horses, nor ornaments, as far as I know)

I haven't really received any truly bad gifts though... I love the IOU and the half empty old candy... Fantastic.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Never had any really bad gifts (except for the occasional ugly sweater or scarf), but the best was probably the beautiful dollhouse my parents built for me when I was seven. Sadly, the house was lost (more likely stolen ) when we moved three years later.

 

[JAG]

...I forget the names, they are big and square, a and you can set it on the counter and put a hot dish on it or something so you don't ruin the counter or whatever

It's called a trivet.

Best gift I got, is anything my daughter gives me. 9 years ago, she had my wife help her and she made me a pen holder out of a tincan and felt and sequins. It is still proudly on my desk at work and use it every day.

I don't focus on worst gifts, I probably block them out. I do remember one though. It was a gift exchange at work and i got a Latch Hook rug. It must have come directly from the persons attic, because it was covered in dust.