I am a big fan of Christmas. It is an opportunity to spend time with my family and be reminded of the childish excitement I used to feel waiting to open presents. I am not interested in any of the silly religious myths, but I do like the presents.
Nowadays of course I get much more of a kick giving people presents than receiving them. That is mostly because I am now quite capable of going out and buying a train set or a skateboard or a soccer ball any time I feel like it. I no longer have to spend the year bugging my parents in order to get what I want under a tree.Predictable objections about consumerism notwithstanding, gifts are a big part of Christmas Day. And it is hard to object to the idea of people buying things to make each other happy. It is fun.
However, even in the spirit of family and fun and being pleasant to each other, it is possible to undermine one's good intentions. For example, when presenting someone with a pair of cufflinks, or socks, or whatever, some tend to say, 'I was going to get you ...' or 'I couldn't decide between this and ...' No one wants to know that, but for your fickle indecision, the handkerchief they just opened could have been a PlayStation.
And think about the card. Most people are capable of going to the shops and buying something, so your only real opportunity to personalise your gift is the card. A blank piece of cardboard with a photograph glued on the front means a lot more than a 'To:' and 'From:' label. The truly personal cards I have received over the years have become treasured possessions long after I have forgotten the gifts that they were attached to.
So next year do not, I repeat, do not, buy one of those nasty cards with a fatuous message printed inside. I am certain that the people who come up with the messages in generic 'greeting' cards are having a laugh. They are experimenting to find out just how banal they can be. For example, 'When snow is on the ground, and Christmas cheer is all around, reindeers take flight, stars share their light, and you'll be warm on Christmas night' is not the kind of thing sane people say. .
Now I know that talking about gift-giving two days after Christmas probably seems a bit like shutting the gate after the magical reindeer has bolted. But it is not just on Christmas Day when we are allowed to give each other gifts. In fact, the gifts on my wish list are things that I would like to get every day.