The holidays are fast approaching, and we all know what that means. Relatives we have not seen since last Christmas are bringing amazing food, company, and gifts; however, some gifts are not so amazing. Some “gifts” may be pieces of clothing that you have way too many of or a gift card to a place you never go to. Whether the gift is out of date or is just not what you have ever wanted, you are probably going to end the holiday with the question, “Do you have the receipt?”
Most gifts that you receive are from close family and friends, who know what you enjoy and will buy accordingly; however, we all know that some family members are very out of touch with what you enjoy, and they do not know what to buy so they just default to what some people consider “bad gifts.” When this happens, people have varying responses, from pretending to enjoy and appreciate the gifts to being completely stoic, neither joyous nor disappointed in the gift. According to a poll completed by Express, “When reacting to an unwanted present, forty-one percent graciously accept it while eighteen percent pretend to be delighted. However, more than a tenth (eleven percent) show no emotion and simply ‘do nothing’.” However, some gifts are even viewed as offensive. When gifted items such as a diet plan, some may view this as a passive-aggressive way of saying not to eat too much at the family dinner. According to Click the City, “Books, gym memberships, and other things that refer to dieting might be taken as a passive-aggressive way of saying “You need to lose weight.”” A similar circumstance occurs when one gifts items such as hygiene products or even perfumes or colognes. All of these gifts appear as a passive-aggressive way of stating certain flaws in a person, even if they are gifted with positive intentions and without ill will. Gifting perfumes and colognes is especially hard, as you need to know the preferred scent of the receiver for them to appreciate and use your gift if they do not see it in a negative connotation.
While the previous gifts had some form of negative connotation associated with them, some gifts are not offensive, yet you would rather see a different gift underneath the Christmas tree. Some people gift items such as house plants. Unless the receiver has a green thumb, I would not suggest buying a plant unless you want to see it slowly wither away. I am not saying they would not take care of it; however, I am saying we are human, and it is only natural for somebody to forget to water a house plant. I would also suggest against buying themed socks unless the receiver specifically asks for them. The gift seems as if it was a last-minute gift to some people. This may also appear as the gift giver not wanting to show up empty-handed and did not put much thought into the gift. The same problem may arise with candles. Even if you buy for a candle enthusiast, you may not get the right scent causing the receiver to be disappointed in the chosen scent and never use it. The main problem with gift-giving revolves around this concept.
As people become more distant from relatives, it may be more challenging to know what the receiver likes and gifts accordingly; therefore, the gift giver may give clothes, which are always necessary, but then buy inaccurate sizes or brands. Some gift givers do not know what to get a person, so they simply get the receiver a funny or comical gift; however, comical gifts are funny, but only during gift-giving. Afterward, the gift has no use and will most likely not even come out of its package.
Regardless of what the situation is, gift-giving has become a difficult and complex situation for all people, especially relatives who have become distant or disconnected. Everyone has given or received a gift that was not exactly what we wanted in the Christmas season; however, at the end of the day, it is the thought of the gift-giver that counts. After all, they could just get you nothing.
