Unique Traditional Gift Ideas
by The art of giving a gift can become a fresh, new experience when you revert to old fashioned gift ideas. Doing such traditional things as writing a personal letter, crafting something by hand, or having a painted portrait commissioned can surprise your loved one.
Letter writing is sometimes referred to as a lost art. People just don’t write letters and spend to mail them like they used too. The decline began with the use of phones and has escalated with e-mail and online social networking sites. The point is that this is an example of a time honored tradition that has seriously declined, and it exemplifies others. There are many such traditions in our Western culture, as well as many that are cross cultural, that have declined. With this decline, also gone are some wonderfully elegant and touching gift options for people who really care for each other.
Caring for someone can be reflected in the effort placed in gift giving. The effort in crafting a gift or simply planning and acquiring it illustrates the degree of esteem we place on an individual. Many people believe tradition, effort, craftsmanship, and the personal touch are what make gifts special. That will always be true. It does not mean a new car or diamond studded watch won’t be a success with your loved one. Nice gifts are great, but breaking the trend of always buying new, stock items is a refreshing thing to do for any relationship. This approach borrows from simpler times when many things were handmade. In fact prior to the twentieth century, many gifts were specifically ordered before they were produced. You would have a cabinet or chair made to your specifications for you loved one’s gift. This is how we often purchase jewelry and clothing today.
Consider gift giving with time honored traditional practices. Actually including a letter as part of a gift is an excellent way to begin. It is simple to do but has the appearance of great effort for several reasons. First, you have probably written a long note on an occasion card before, but a letter requires real thinking skills and an investment of your time. Secondly, just the mere thought of doing something so different from the norm is classy. Thirdly, you can still give a purchased gift along with the letter, increasing the value of both. Finally, there is just something stylish and classy (without seeming too formal) about letters in particular, as well as indulging older traditions in general.
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