‘Tis the season to be jolly, and you know what that means – Christmas parties are sneaking up on us! Aside from exciting raffles and festivities, it’s a tradition for any Pinoy Christmas party to exchange gifts. Pinoys know all too well how some items always find their way into every gift pile more often than others. How many of these items have crash-landed into your Christmas loot before?

Mugs

No matter how much you avoid mugs, they always find a way to sneak into your legion of other mugs you’ve accumulated from previous Christmas parties and even birthdays. Stainless steel mugs, ceramic mugs, glass coffee mugs — you name it! They don’t die, they multiply. Maybe this is your sign to open a cafe or tea shop, isn’t it?

Picture frames

Move over, Instagram! Nothing says keeping memories alive more than picture frames. Bonus points if it has a photo of a random family or couple to serve as your little inspiration for whatever you’re planning to display.

Socks

People become sock hoarders either because they always want a fashion-forward foot or because they’ve accumulated enough socks from Christmas parties. Nevertheless, socks are the best foot warmers during the cold season — and the more colorful, the better.

Towels

As a child, receiving a towel at Christmas is a total bummer but as an adult, it’s easily the best thing ever. You can’t blame Pinoys for including towels in their top 3 gifts to give, they’re sold everywhere and are easy to wrap. These plush towels always come in handy, whether you’re drying off after a shower or wiping away tears after seeing your empty bank account. 

Scented candles

Ah, the classic go-to gift for those who can’t make up their minds. What’s good about scented candles is they fit any occasion or room that desperately needs to smell like lavender, for some reason. And if you don’t like a particular scent, these jars are perfect for regifting.

Planners

Even if you have no idea what the New Year has in store, that won’t stop Pinoys from getting you a hardbound planner. (Be thankful it’s not those classic Pinoy calendars). You might have some life-changing plans or goals you want to accomplish. Spoiler: the chances of that? Probably slim to none.

Bath and body set

The holidays are all about fun and relaxation, and what better way to do that than with a bath and body set? It has everything you need to feel fresh, like pocket-sized lotions, shower gels, and fragrant soaps. Yet, you might have these playful thoughts that this gift is a friendly reminder to scrub more. 

Straight-up cash

And if all else fails, an envelope filled with cash does wonders. You’re now handing the power to the recipient to buy whatever they want, and they won’t even notice that you didn’t put much effort into your Christmas party gift. Talk about a win-win!