So, with Christmas just around the corner, it is time to get into the whole season of giving and think about some cool gifts. Gift-giving is such a sweet tradition all around the world; however, there are some pretty weird quirks and stories you might not expect. From unused gift cards to surprising legal stuff and fun family traditions, here are five cool facts about gifts that might change how you see the holiday season.
1. America’s $21 Billion Gift Card Problem
Gift cards may seem like an easy and practical present, but many of them go unused. In the United States alone, unused gift cards amount to a staggering $21 billion. Nearly two-thirds of people own at least one unused card, and half of these individuals will lose or forget about it entirely before redeeming it. While businesses benefit from this—unused balances and overspending by customers who do redeem cards—this highlights how even well-intended gifts can go underutilized. This holiday season, consider a personal touch to ensure your gift isn’t forgotten.
2. Engagement Rings: A Legal Gray Area
Engagement rings might symbolize love and commitment, but in some U.S. states, they are classified as “conditional gifts.” This means the giver has the right to ask for the ring back if the engagement is called off, as the gift was given under the condition of marriage. Interestingly, proposing on a birthday or Christmas could make the ring an unconditional gift, leaving no legal recourse to reclaim it. While the legalities are fascinating, it’s worth reflecting: if you’re already worrying about what happens to the ring in a breakup, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the relationship itself.
3. When Should You Open Gifts? It Depends on Where You Live
The tradition of opening Christmas gifts varies across the globe. In English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and the UK, unwrapping presents on Christmas morning is a beloved tradition. However, in many European and Latin American cultures, the gift exchange happens on Christmas Eve. This difference often ties back to religious customs and local traditions, showing how one holiday can bring diverse expressions of joy around the world.
4. The Ultimate Re-Gifting Challenge: A Pair of Pants
For over 25 years, two brothers turned a simple pair of pants into a legendary re-gifting tradition. Each year, they returned the pants to one another in increasingly elaborate and absurd packaging. The pants were hidden in a 600-pound safe, sealed inside a double-glazed window, launched in a 16-foot rocket, and even crushed inside a car, with a card that read: “Merry Christmas, the pants are in the glove box.” This tradition is a reminder that sometimes the joy of giving isn’t about the gift itself but the creativity and love that go into it.
5. Auschwitz’s Unexpected Gift Shop
In a sobering twist, Auschwitz, the site of one of history’s darkest atrocities, has a gift shop. The existence of a gift shop at such a solemn site raises deep ethical and emotional questions. While the shop sells books, educational materials, and memorial items to help visitors learn and remember, it also sparks debate about the commercialization of history and how we honor the past. This fact challenges us to think carefully about how and why we give and receive gifts, especially in contexts that carry profound historical weight.
Hey, this holiday season, while you’re out buying gifts or getting intofamily traditions, let these cool stories get you thinking about whatgiving really means. Whether it’s the thought that goes into a gift, the traditions you keep alive, or the lessons you share, just remember that the best gifts usually aren’t just what’s sitting under the tree.