As the festive season approaches, 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 hit-and-miss world of present-giving.
The Height of Thoughtfulness and the Depth of Disappointment
The accounts range from profoundly moving gestures to bewilderingly bad choices. For Brenda from Portland, the pinnacle was a birthday cruise up the Nile river, organised by her husband. She describes it as "the trip of a lifetime." Her worst gift, 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 of paris, which she and her roommate promptly discarded.
Another reader, a single mother, received her best gift from her 13-year-old son, who used his earnings from a paper round to buy her a much-needed food processor. In stark contrast, Guri, 72, from Norway, recalls the discomfort of receiving Lancôme anti-cellulite cream from a male colleague.
When Presents Miss the Mark
Unwanted beauty products featured prominently in the worst-gift category. Kelly from Brighton received cellulite-reducing tights from her mother's friend when she was 17. Meanwhile, an anonymous contributor from California was baffled by a gift of silicone ice cube trays, which were not only a strange choice but also had an unpleasant smell.
For Bonnie, 42, from the Netherlands, being a massive Tim Curry fan led to both a best and worst gift. A colleague gifted her a special mug printed with the actor's most famous characters, which she treasures. Her father, however, gave her a copy of the poorly-received film Four Dogs Playing Poker, starring Curry, which she later regifted.
The Emotional Weight of Objects
Some gifts carried significant emotional symbolism, for better or worse. One anonymous reader from Virginia received ruby earrings from her soon-to-be second husband, a cherished token. Yet, she also cites a vacuum cleaner as the beginning of an eventual divorce. Another, from North Carolina, valued a beautiful bronze Quan Yin statue from her guru, but was horrified to receive an "evil"-feeling wooden gnome face from a friend, which she consigned to a New Year's fire ritual.
Practicality was key for some. One reader was overjoyed with rubber floor mats for her first car, a Saab 900S, as they were exactly what she needed in Chicago. Another, Maria in her 40s from Minnesota, loved receiving two dozen new tea towels from her husband, seeing it as a thoughtful sign he listened to her needs.
Other disastrous gifts included a Walmart quilt given to Susan, a retired quiltmaker from Georgia with 30 years of experience, and a large box of assorted nuts given to an anonymous reader in Scotland who has a severe nut allergy.
The lessons from these experiences are contradictory. One reader advises, "Don't just give something that appeals to you," while another suggests, "Always gift something you want." It seems the art of gift-giving remains as complex and personal as ever, a festive puzzle with no single solution.
