Christmas is approaching, so what better moment to show your friends how much they mean to you, especially when you are all going to become nostalgic over the winter break? Here are a few ideas you might consider when choosing X-mas gifts for your foreign friends you’ve made at uni:
1. Send them Christmas cards you’ve made yourself
Whenever you dedicate your time and effort to create something for others, it means you care. So why not get creative and celebrate X-Mas by writing down all your thoughts and wishes inside of a handmade card you designed? Sometimes, it’s good to be verbal and express what your dear ones mean to you, everybody needs to be reminded of their worth!
2. Cook a traditional dish specific to your country and cook it with love
Foodie or not, holidays are always a good excuse to indulge in culinary delights. More than that, food is an excellent manner through which you can share your culture and traditions with your friends. So why not take them on a delicious journey to the Wonderland that is your cuisine? On this occasion, you will not only open up their appetite for knowledge, but also for creating awesome new memories together! So gather around an inviting table and enjoy! Bon appetite.
3. Design Christmas decorations
The most wonderful time of the year is close, and I know it’s a bit more than a month away, but if DIYs are on your list, then you might as well start making them now. You have plenty of inspiration on and offline and time to put your creativity to test and see the outcome. Here’s an example:
4. Buy them a matching Christmas jumper
“Baby, it’s cold outside” and what better way to feel cosy than a Christmas jumper? Whether it’s a present for your best friends or your better half, a matching Christmas jumper is a cute way of showing the world you complete each other, even through your outfits. Well, just make sure you don’t overdo that, during the rest of the year… Or, oh, well, who knows, you might be the next coolest trendsetter for Fall – Winter 16/17! :D
5. Buy them a traditional piece of clothing
Here’s an example of the traditional Romanian blouse, also known as “ie”.
Giving something traditional as a gift to your international friends is both a bold and interesting way of enriching their curiosity and respect for other cultures. Make sure you know their size, because these unique pieces of clothing cannot usually be modified afterwards, without affecting the quality of the materials used or patterns designed. Also, choose something that would match their style and would harmoniously fit within their culture, too.
Henri Matisse, French modern painter portrayed it in his “La blouse roumaine” (1940). Later, it became an iconic piece of clothing when well-known designers such as Yves Saint-Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier inspired themselves from the enchanting Romanian symbols and chromatics, in order to design their own collections and the fashion trend went global. Even Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman were spotted wearing the famous “ie”.