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Many merry neighbor Christmas gift ideas
Suzanne Price and her daughter Lori Swendsen have collected clever ideas for easy-to-do, inexpensive neighbor gifts for years, and they share those ideas in Macey’s Little Theatre gathering. Here are a few:
• Christmas balloon bouquet — “Uplifting” wishes for a fun-filled holiday!
• Bag of mini carrots and veggie dip — We know you are 24 “carrot” neighbors! What a treasure! Have a happy holiday!
• Set of measuring spoons and cups — Wishing you joy beyond “measure” this holiday season. Read more
Neighbor Gifts in Under Ten Minutes
Neighbor Gifts in Under Ten Minutes
Studio 5 contributor, Suzanne Price shares clever gift ideas that you can assemble in less than ten minutes.
You can assemble pre-packaged gifts right from the grocery store in less than ten minutes. Add a quick, clever note for that personal touch to let your neighbors know how much you appreciate them throughout the year!
1. Assorted Pringle Chips:
“Merry Christmas from Chris “Pringle” and the (insert name) Family!
2. Assorted Christmas Ziploc Storage Bags:
“Seal up the Holiday Memories”
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Twelve Days of Christmas
Every year our family picks a house in our neighbourhood that we feel could use some holiday magic. Perhaps it�s a neighbour we know has had a rough year, or even a stranger we haven�t met.
Each of the 12 nights before Christmas, we leave a small gift anonymously at their door. While the first few gifts are easy to deliver unnoticed, it is sometimes difficult to avoid detection by determined night-owls. The gifts vary, home-made or store-bought. If there are children in the house we�ll leave small toys, otherwise ornaments, candles and other more generic gifts are left instead. The gifts need not be expensive � it�s the thought behind them that counts here.
Each gift is labeled with �On the 1st Day of Christmas�� through to the �12th Day� and signed simply �Santa�s Elves.� On Christmas Eve, when the 12th gift is delivered, we leave a letter explaining our desire to spread holiday spirit, urging the recipient to continue the tradition the following year.
Random acts of kindness epitomize the Spirit of Christmas. We hope that others may be inspired to join us in this tradition, as it adds a little magic to the lives of everyone involved.
Cheery the Elf.
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Now for a few more details…
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To start, just pick someone in your neighbourhood who might benefit from some holiday cheer. In past years we’ve done friends, neighbours and even random strangers who happened to live on our dog-walking route.
Pick 12 small items for the gifts. These can be store-bought or homemade - but don’t use home-baked goods because in this day and age, someone’s not going to eat something that just appears on their doorstep from an anonymous source. Candles, ornaments, books, toys… anything small and inexpensive will do.
If you know the recipient, use a wrapping paper that you use only for the 12 days, so that they don’t notice that you’ve got presents under your tree with the same paper… they might get suspicious. Also, disguise your handwriting on the lables on the gifts - or print them out on the computer.
On the night of the 13th (Thursday) or in the morning of the 14th (Friday) leave the first gift and letter at the recipient’s doorstep, or in their mail-box if they have one. Each night/morning until Christmas Eve/morning deliver the next gift. You may have to get creative on how you deliver them in order to remain anonymous. Maybe drop the gifts off during your regular walk around the neighbourhood - or when you know no one will be home. Or get people visiting you one day during the holiday to deliver a gift when they go home.
Most importantly - Just Have Fun.
Hope this helped!
~Cheery the Elf
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The letter that we give with the first gift follows:
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Dear Friend,
The 12 days of Christmas tradition started in our neighbourhood when a devout gentleman questioned the lack of the true spirit and meaning of Christmas in our community. In order to restore some of the magic, fun, and random acts of kindness in the neighbourhood, someone started to leave small gifts for each of the twelve days of Christmas for some unsuspecting neighbour, acquaintance or even a total stranger.
The gifts were always small such as little ornaments, toys, candles, soaps, or poems. Although some recipients tried rather diligently to determine the source of the gifts, the originators have not been determined, in part, because those touched by these random acts of kindness have carried out the spirit, if not the tradition, in following years [often with the assistance of the letter carrier, neighbours, the paper deliverer, junk mail distributors, and even total strangers].
The recipients need not be Christian, or religious in any way. The only criteria are that they may benefit from some small joy, happiness and mystery during the usually stressful Holiday season. Instead of trying to track down those who enjoy spreading a little of the season’s cheer, add to the pleasure by joining in the fun next year.
The enjoyment grows with each new participant. you will find yourself viewing neighbours and acquaintances with a new sense of mystery and enjoyment.
Random acts of kindness are infectious and fun.
Enjoy!
From the Yahoo Group Everything Christmas