macaroni and glitter on construction paper
It has been years since I have attempted this, but, this Christmas, many of my gifts to others are personally manufactured. It’s a tradition few kids today ever experience since they are given an allotment to spend by their parents - an allotment frequently, ironically, being spent on those granting the amount. The time-tested, age-old convention of giving gifts that were personally constructed vanished as mass-production techniques were popularized. As an interesting fact, Christmas wasn’t even a recognized holiday until 1836 when Alabama declared it a state holiday - thank you, Dr. Robertson - which is not long after the American system of production was heralded.
Anyways, the amount of personal effort I have put into this endeavor is far greater than what I generally grant to my Christmastime spirits. Nothing is wrapped, yet, and one item still isn’t complete. Even so, I am making it, which is a better assurance for gift resolution than hoping for Christmas Eve delivery by FedEx or, baby Jesus forbid, UPS.
When it comes to those personally-crafted gifts, I look on them with more satisfaction than any of the other items I purchased. Ever since I started having jobs from age 15, I relied on my own income to cover gifting - perhaps an incomplete logic in reasoning. Buying presents makes me reliant on “the perfect gift”, which is inconceivable and would require some sort of truly immaculate birth of brilliance. By making a gift myself, I put the receiver in the ultimate spot of responsibility by not only requesting gratitude for thought but apprecaition for sincerity. It’s a one-two present punch: “You thought I’ve tested our relationship?! Try out these hand-knitted mittens! Tell me there’s no love in those!!”
What I may be trying to say is that the hand-made gift is personal, intimate, and certainly more likely to put you in a Christmastime spirit than anything from Macy’s or Amazon. When I look at the items I have made for others who will soon receive them with delight (crossing fingers), I smile and reflect on the time spent during production. A symphonic effort went into each present and I hope they resonate further after the wrappings are removed.
For anyone else looking to experience the simplicities of personally-crafted gifts, start by making your own card. Let Hallmark stock slump a bit this holiday season and find yourself some card material to write your feelings on. It will be just as gratifying for From as it is for To.