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What is the weirdest Christmas present you've ever gotten?

(30 posts)

Started 3 years ago by Jules
Latest reply from Novalis

Jules

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I'd love to hear people's oddest presents. My friend once got a pony from his uncle--- sadly, he lived in Wallingford, was 14 at the time, and his feet actually touched the ground when he straddled the pony.(did not actually mount up on aforementioned pony, would have crushed the poor animal.) IT was a great thought, though.

Posted 3 years ago #
h2o_girl

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Silver-plated Tobasco holder.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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Well, H2O girl, how COULD you live without such an item. Seriously, who makes this...and who decided this was the kind of item that would gladden the heart of the receiver? Use a LOT of Tabasco, do you?

Posted 3 years ago #
BriarRose

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I can barely remember most gifts I have received good or bad. The feeling behind them I do remember fondly.

Sappy? Yes that’s what Christmas and giving gifts is all about.

Posted 3 years ago #
eric

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as a young kid, my good-intentioned aunt gave me a FDR book and record set. i was stunned into silence. i wonder what ever happened to that one?

Posted 3 years ago #
wildernessbarbie

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I got a life sized wax cat that was actually a candle from my Grandmother-in-law once. The poor thing looked like it was being choked to death, its eyes were totally bulging out of its head. Its name was Princess, and every time she came over she wanted a status update on Princess, so we'd have to make sure she was out somewhere it could be seen.

Since it was a candle, I was tempted to light it and take great joy in the melting process, but it would have broken the GMIL's heart to see a headless, melted Princess.

HE got to keep that in the divorce!

Posted 3 years ago #
Alonzo Neighbor

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From a former boyfriends mother, I got what we named the "blue bird of happiness" doll that was made out of dyed blue feathers and was just meant to sit on a shelf (and gather dust). Needless to say, my cat loved the heck out of it so it didn't last long. I know, not very appreciative but it was put to good use.

Posted 3 years ago #
Amy J

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A rabbit fur coat from my paternal grandmother when I was seven. c-r-e-e-p-y

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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A LIFE sized cat candle? Who, pray tell, has the guts to light this item and watch the head melt? I have two "Father Christmas" candles that someone gave me (that I like, BTW) and I really cannot conceive of watching the heads melt.

Posted 3 years ago #
winebaby

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Living in Seattle at the time, a friend's mom mailed - yes, US Postal Service - mailed fresh eggs from her farm... didn't check to see if we were even in town to let us know to check the mail ... opened the box 4 days after it got to the west coast... ick ick ick... yes, there were beaks....

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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And winebaby WINS the prize. I shudder.

Posted 3 years ago #
WinerGirl

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Winebaby, ya know in the Filippines, that's a delicacy ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
Just Me

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About 20 years ago, my step mother in law (called her the battle ax) gave my husband and I a duel alarm clock. We plugged
it in a few night later and at 2am both alarms sounded and we could not shut it off. Something was wrong with it. It ended
up in the trash!

Posted 3 years ago #
gooner

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my aunt in scotland sent my dad and i matching boxershorts with micky mouse on them. i still can't get over how anyone could think that sending father/son matching boxers (mickey mouse ones at that) is a good idea

Posted 3 years ago #
Bamber

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Funny stuff!

One year, I received a bunch of make-up that a family member had bought...tried...didn't like...so wrapped it up and gave it to me.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bamber

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Funny stuff!

One year, I received a bunch of make-up that a family member had bought...tried...didn't like...so wrapped it up and gave it to me.

Posted 3 years ago #
PlantLover

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When I was 11 or 12 a great uncle gave me an illustrated book about despotism. It had drawings of the Spanish Inquisition and men cutting off women's breasts. I have to guess my parents didn't review it before he gave it to me. It creeped me out for years.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gilman Girl

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Not a present, but a guest:

Aunt brought new beau to x-mas eve.
We opened presents, mom got me some panties.
Said beau made some sort of 'modeling' comment. (I was in 6th grade)
We never saw that creep again...

Posted 3 years ago #
20feet

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One of our family traditions is to bring funny secret santa gifts to our huge family get togethers... We have gotten very creative over the years. The rules are that you can't spend more than 5 bucks, and it is better if it was free. I once got a bottle of white wine that turned out to be refilled with water. Silly me thinking I had scored on only getting a cheap bottle of wine. At least I didn't end up with Spam.

Posted 3 years ago #
Nora Bell

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Two years ago. My brother and his wife collect antiques and so usually give great gifts. But this one year I got from them a pink Victorian ceramic shoe figurine with little purple flowers on it. It was so not me, very fru-fru girly. Nauseating.

Posted 3 years ago #
DDF

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My husband once gave me a scale. I flipped out. He said, "BUT IT'S DIGITAL!" What a donkey.

Posted 3 years ago #
Elliott

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The weirdest present--make that presents--were from my mom when I was a kid. I'd open up a lovely wrapped box to find either knitting needles with a couple of completed rows of knitting, balls of yarn and a pattern for a sweater yet to be completed, or fabric and a pattern for an intended skirt/dress, etc. Unfortunately, none of these incomplete projects were ever finished. Thanks for the thought though, Mom!

Posted 3 years ago #
rockgal

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My now ex-boyfriend gave me skydiving lessons, which would be great if I were interested in that activity. I, however, am a very nervous flyer. Just looking at the certificate for the lessons made me queasy and anxious.

Posted 3 years ago #
old_lady

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When I was about 8 years old, my sister (13 years older) gave me a small blue decanter with 6 matching blue shot glasses.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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Frankly, the skydiving lessons make ME queasy and anxious from a distance of time, space, and the internet. My Mom was a pilot- she HAD to jump out of a plane for her license...her opinion was "why leave a perfectly good plane?" Weird present. I'd rather be kicked repeatedly in the head than go skydiving.

I used to teach whitewater kayaking, and at the beginning of each class we'd ask the students why they were taking the class. Any time a student (mainly, but not always) women would reply :"My boyfriend/husband bought me the gear/lessons because he wanted me to try it"...99.9% of the time the student washed out (pun intended) after a couple of classes.

Posted 3 years ago #
pattr

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My mom once sent a book to my brother in law that she thought was new but on the inside cover it said...Dear Mildred I hope you enjoy this book....

Needless to say she checks the inside covers from now on

Posted 3 years ago #
rvhthelod

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My grandma every year gives my brother and I strange gifts...I have to say that I think it's due to her aging (she was weird from the start but I don't believe age is helping the weirdness).

She once gave my brother a large gallon sized bag full of already used film (who knows what's on the film to this day) and she gave me what looked to be the contents of her desk drawer...half-empty or empty pens, drawer lint, half-used erasers, randoms pieces of string or yarn, etc. etc.

Posted 3 years ago #
phoo

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Wow, rvhthelod, that is really odd. Had she taken the film herself? Has anyone asked her about these gifts and what does she say?

Posted 3 years ago #
rvhthelod

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Phoo, I have no idea if she took the film herself or if it was perhaps taken by various people in the family. I also have no idea how old it is to be honest. It would be cool to get it developed just to see what is on it, but it would be so expensive. There were at least 40 rolls in there.

There has been the opportunity to ask her about these weird gifts, but no one has ever used the moment. I'm not exactly sure why. I could justify it with the fact that she's my grandma, is old and has always been missing a few cards or by the fact that she is honestly the sweetest most good-hearted person you could ever meet. She sees no evil but only the potential in people for good and the doings of good. It's truly amazing. She sees no fault in anyone. She honestly sees nothing bizarre about her gifts. Because of this, I think we've all learned to TRY to see them as treasures as much as she does. hahaha

Posted 3 years ago #
Novalis

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Well, thinking back on it.

When I was about a a year and a half old, in the mid 60's, I did get a Casper the Friendly ghost punching bag.

Posted 3 years ago #