Imelda Munika
Christmas gift-giving tends to be tied up with childhood memories, family traditions and cultural influences, often passed down through generations.
It can be jarring when you first spend Christmas with a group outside your immediate family because they “do it differently”.
VIBEZ! went out to the heart of Windhoek to get views of what people want for Christmas and what they would gift their loved ones this festive season.
Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is a chance to spend time with family and exchange gifts. For others, it is a religious reminder.
Whereas some do not mark the holiday at all, for others, Christmas gifting is exciting; they spend hours online or in the shops, trawling for present ideas.
“Christmas means family, joy, decorations and a Christmas spirit to me. It brings the family together and closer with gifts, putting up decorations, and the overall feeling you get when the Christmas season begins. Christmas fills you with a spirit at the best time possible. All I want for this Christmas is for my family to be together to celebrate the festive season,” Hope Nderura explained.
Maureen Sikongo said, “I would personally buy a teddy bear for my young sister, as this symbolises the birth of Christ in the form of a baby – then, of course, all the goodies and snacks, since she is a foodie”.
People often report stress about the cost of gifting and the pressure to spend more than they have. Because gifts are often a reflection of our relationships, there is a sense that people should give and receive gifts of equal value. But it can be a challenge when you do not know the value until you open the gift.
Ueitjitavi Maya Katjatenja explained: “For Christmas, I got my mom a cute pink Bible and highlighted encouraging verses she can read, and I also bought her a journal. For our family, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ, and the gift I would want this festive season is any handmade type of gift and flowers – but most importantly, it is the effort you put into it. I don’t mind the price”.
Some open gifts at midnight, others break out the “loot” first thing in the morning, and others wait until after the main meal.
In some households, Santa brings all the goodies. In others, parents like to claim at least some credit. In recent years, ‘Secret Santa’ gifting has become a familiar way to cut the expense.
Whether you are shopping for your mom, dad, bestie or boo, these Christmas gift ideas are guaranteed to make anyone’s holiday special.