Christmas Gift Ideas: Stones, Jewellery, Incense and Objects

Making a Christmas gift that counts

At Christmas, the difficulty is not finding an object, but finding the right one, for the right moment, without rushing. A few principles help keep the pleasure:

1. Make a list of people, with a note on each: what they like, what they already own, what they lack.
2. Set a budget per person before looking at products. The figures are up to you; we do not give them here.
3. Order early: dispatch, packaging and the unexpected all take time. See the delivery page for the lead times stated by the shop.
4. Choose quality over quantity: one well-chosen gift is worth more than three filler gifts.

Ideas by family member

For more ideas by occasion and by person, see which stone to give and the gift ideas and for beginners sections.

Incense and candles at Christmas: an ancient tradition

Frankincense and myrrh are two resins that the Gospel of Matthew mentions among the gifts of the Magi, alongside gold. This is one reason why incense is associated with the Christmas period in the Christian imagination. Giving frankincense or myrrh is therefore a cultural nod: discover their stories in our pages on frankincense and myrrh.

That said, burning resins requires equipment and attention. For a beginner, a box of sticks or cones is enough; for an enthusiast, a burner and a few resins will be very welcome. In every case, include the safety rules from our tutorial how to burn incense safely, and remind the recipient that the air in closed houses in winter is often poorly renewed: ventilate after each use.

Year-end festivities and the symbolism of light

The end of the year is linked to light in many traditions: the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, Christmas, the winter solstice, and modern Yule celebrations in neopagan movements. Several traditions use candles. To go further, see our pages on solstices and equinoxes and on Yule (a modern festival drawing on ancient Germanic traditions). A candle is a classic gift, provided you mention the precautions: supervision, a stable base, away from fabric, and out of reach of children and animals.

For a selection of stones connected with this season, see stones for the end-of-year festivities.

Group gifts and small budgets

When the whole family gives to everyone, costs rise quickly. A few solutions:

• Secret Santa: each person gives one gift to a single person, with a budget agreed in advance.
• The joint gift: a nicer piece for one person, given by several people together.
• The small symbolic gift for colleagues or neighbours: a tumbled stone, a candle, a card.
• A homemade Advent calendar: twenty-four small packages (each with a note, a tumbled stone or a stick of incense). Watch out for small parts if young children are present.

See also our page on gift ideas on a small budget.

Safety and children

The festive season is a time of happy disorder, but also of avoidable risks. For children:

• choose stones larger than a token or a marble: small stones can be swallowed;
• avoid corded bracelets and necklaces for young children;
• keep pouches, string and packaging out of reach of babies;
• store candles, lighters and incense out of reach, and never leave a flame unattended.

See also our page on stone jewellery for children.

After Christmas: exchanges and follow-up

A gift may not suit (size, taste, duplicate). To avoid tension, keep the receipt or order confirmation, and check the shop's terms on the returns and refunds page. Where possible, give with an exchange option, and say so simply: "if you don't like it, we can swap it".

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Buying guides and gift ideas.