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Gifts that will not go unnoticed

22 December 2008

For most of us, unusual gifts are something that we will remember for years to come. They could make us laugh, cry with joy, or even prompt us to slap the person who gave them to us. However, throughout the ages some of the strangest and most Unusual Gifts have been the most famous.

Take the Christmas story for example; those three kings who visited the little nativity baby Jesus? They brought him Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Why? What on earth could a newborn child do with that heap of junk? He needed a baby grow, some pampers and a good rattle – surely?

Actually, the Myrrh was a resin from trees that would be burnt to make the room smell nice and was incredibly valuable on Jesus' birth date. What's more, Frankincense was used for special religious and formal ceremonies like weddings and again it was burnt for fragrance or ground and used as a perfume and Gold is great for buying goods, like fresh food for the new family.

In modern times, it's probably the equivalent of scented candles, baby lotions, and organic food deliveries. Not too shabby! Those aren't particularly unusual Gifts for a family with a new born child either. However, sometimes the best gifts are not the most practical.

Dead Birds and Wooden Horses


In Charles Dickens's famous festive novel, A Christmas Carol, Scrooge ended up giving his cold and under-paid book keeper a dead bird. You know the story; he threw some money at a young boy from his upstairs window and demanded the biggest turkey still on sale. Buying someone a turkey seems somewhat odd, but in the context of the story, it was also sort of generous.

Less generous were the unusual gifts given to the Trojans by the Greeks which historically include a huge well-crafted wooden horse. Symbolically, a defeated Greek general would surrender his horse to the opposition, so the Trojans saw the wooden horse as a beautiful testament to their war-game excellence. Then, in the night, they were killed by its inhabitants and the Greeks easily defeated them.

Sentimental Landmarks and Pickled Heads


Some of the world's most famous landmarks are actually some of the world's most unusual gifts. The Statue of Liberty, which is one of the USA's most prolific and patriotic icons, was actually a gift from the President of France. It was handed over to the USA in 1886 to commemorate the signing of the USA's Declaration of Independence and was also a sign of the lasting friendship between France and the US.

Possibly the most horrid and bizarre of all unusual gifts must be William Morris's head. When Peter the Great, a Russian ruler found out that his wife Catherine had been unfaithful with her good friend William Morris, he had poor Will's head chopped off. He then put it in a large jar of alcohol. He then gave this unusual gift to his wife and made her keep the jar on her bedside table always, as a constant reminder of her infidelity.

If you're looking for unusual gifts for loved ones, severed heads are probably not the way to go, but we're pretty confident that it's a potent deterrent to adulterers.


Modern Times


There are loads of great gifts out there which would be a wonderful surprise for your loved ones and experience days are an excellent choice for active people who love adventure, or for those who would really appreciate a day of pampering. You could be forgiven for thinking that all the interesting presents available are funny or quirky, but that's not the case at all. Rather, surprising your loved ones with something that is unique is the point. Unusual gift giving is more about getting them something they'll love but would never expect.

Tom Cruise got his wife a $20 million dollar jet plane, when she was pregnant with his child and didn't have a pilot's license. That could be construed as excessive, but it was most definitely a surprise. A better present might have been a foot spa for the pregnant Katie's sore feet, or a vitamin packed fruit basket. Perhaps this goes to show that sometimes even millionaires can get it wrong.

A gardener or curious teen might appreciate the elegance of a 'pocket plant' that grows in its own little pouch while a number of items can be engraved with meaningful messages that speak right to the receiver. Andy Warhol style prints of your loved ones, personalised jelly moulds are quirky and modern Unusual Gifts and with a little searching and a lot of inspiration finding something unique and special can really make a birthday, anniversary, or other celebration more memorable.



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