Does anyone still bring gifts back from holidays?

**Chickenlips** · 24-05-2012, 07:48pm

I know when I was younger, we always bought a gift back for family and friends from our holiday (usually a stick of rock!). As an adult, When we have been to Disney we have bought something back for nieces and nephews, however it seems a bit 'dated' now, does anyone else still do it?

**Bluebabe75** · 24-05-2012, 07:52pm

My parents still do, and we do occasionally. I usually get something small for my niece and my sister usually gets something for my two.

**Mrs B** · 24-05-2012, 07:55pm

My parents do too - although now they just buy for their kids and grandkids rather than virtually every person they know! We buy 1 thing for ourselves as a momento from overseas - an olive wood chopping board from Greece, embroidered wallhanging from India, shot glasses from Barcelona.

And the kids "buy" their grandmas a fridge magnet too, it's the thought that counts really.

**Bluebabe75** · 24-05-2012, 08:08pm

Originally Posted by Mrs B

We buy 1 thing for ourselves as a momento from overseas - an olive wood chopping board from Greece, embroidered wallhanging from India, shot glasses from Barcelona.

We usually buy a Christmas tree decoration from overseas holidays - then we remember the holidays when we decorate the tree

**kelly** · 24-05-2012, 08:22pm

I tend to bring back for my niece (and nephew now I guess) and ds1 takes back for his dad/the stepkids for their mum.

This year i'll take back for my mum I think.

ETA - I also buy a fridge magnet or a tea towel for us

**Rosa** · 24-05-2012, 09:19pm

Yes we usually do, but I refuse to traipse around looking for things during my holiday. If we find something nice anyway, then great, otherwise its some local chocs, snacks or wine.

***kate*** · 24-05-2012, 09:21pm

We do it for friends' kids, but only because they do it for ours! If it weren't for them, I wouldn't bother.

Years ago, it was the done thing to bring a load of sweets back for work colleagues to share. I don't bother with that either

**Dr Spouse** · 24-05-2012, 09:23pm

When I was a child all my friends did and my mum said not to, that I should spend my money on myself, though maybe she didn't want the tat! But I don't think it was a tradition in my family either.

I suspect it may have been stronger in old fashioned working class families as Mr S's family did (and he's both old and brought up very working class!), the school friends who did were from similar families to him, and of the girls I've taken on holiday the one who was very keen on buying lots of presents was from quite a badly off family and was mostly brought up by her grandmother.

**Shoppie** · 24-05-2012, 09:40pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

I suspect it may have been stronger in old fashioned working class families as Mr S's family did (and he's both old and brought up very working class!)

I'm 34 so not sure I'd class myself as 'old'

nor am I that keen on defining anybody as working class - do people still identify themselves as a class? Maybe its cos I've massively changed living environment, income bracket and house owner occupation type so I suppose essentially moved class by the old definitions that I'm a bit

about it.

This was a very strong tradition in my family. But then we went on 2 family holidays in 18 years so that might be part of it, not one most years as many people seem to expect now.

I don't usually bring gifts back from hols, though if I see something particular that I think someone will like I get it.

There is however definitely a tradition at my workplace and DH's of bringing in some sort of food from wherever you go so we both always do that.

**bubbasweet** · 24-05-2012, 09:47pm

We buy a mug for my parents but that's it. That's more a tradition from my family, buying a touristy mug where we went on holiday.

**Bluebabe75** · 24-05-2012, 09:48pm

Originally Posted by Shoppie

There is however definitely a tradition at my workplace and DH's of bringing in some sort of food from wherever you go so we both always do that.

Same here

We like it best when people go to places with nice chocolate

Although we have had some 'interesting' delicacies from visitors to our China office...

**Dr Spouse** · 24-05-2012, 10:30pm

Shoppie - you sound exactly like Mr S who grew up in a house with a tin bath in the kitchen but would now define himself as comfortably off, and probably middle class - it is probably a bit out of date to classify people by class, but then the tradition, in his family, is also quite old IYSWIM.

**Anne** · 24-05-2012, 10:38pm

Originally Posted by Bluebabe75

We usually buy a Christmas tree decoration from overseas holidays - then we remember the holidays when we decorate the tree

This and we buy for our parents. If we go to the states, we buy gifts for all our family.

**cheeky_biscuit** · 24-05-2012, 10:49pm

My parents bring the Children a present and when Mil goes to the states she does.
We dont but we're stingy - although we do buy spontaneous gifts for people if we think they'll love it.

**DillyDally** · 25-05-2012, 09:47am

No - and I don't send postcards either *shocker*

My MIL likes fridge magnets, sometimes, if we see one, we'll buy her one, and if I see a Christmas shop I buy us a Christmas tree ornament, but no, I don't see the point in buying people random stuff (which they probably don't want). My MIL buys all kinds of tat for us, and I really wish she wouldn't, as she hasn't got much money, so I think she should spend it on herself. And I never normally want the whatever it is that she's bought

**S-J** · 25-05-2012, 09:51am

We buy a gift for the person who is looking after our cat whilst we are away, thats it though.

**bluekat** · 25-05-2012, 09:57am

I remember when I was little being really excited when my grandparents came back from hols...it would be like Christmas again.

I don't really bother, though I used to. If I'm away without the kiddiwinks, I'll get them something. I was in Rotterdam/Amsterdam the other week and got my DDs slippers in the shape of clogs and some keyrings.

**scatterbrain** · 25-05-2012, 10:19am

sometimes, although we don't tend to go on exciting holidays at the moment.

I tell you what I miss, though. People just don't seem to send postcards any more. Even when family are going away & I specifically ask them to send a postcard to the girls they don't bother

Shame as the girls love receiving post & learning about new countries so it would be nice for them to receive some. When I was little my sister used to collect them all and we had loads!

**scatterbrain** · 25-05-2012, 10:25am

I guess in the past it was more of an 'event' for people to go away to interesting places. Now lots of people seem to go more than once a year every year so I guess it's less of something to make a fuss about. I do think it's nice if say grandparents bring something back for the grandchildren (even if it's just a fridge magnet) as it sort of says look, I was thinking of you while away :-). MIL gets it completely wrong & buys them chocolate (bulk standard stuff you can get anywhere) from the airport. Gah - it's not about spending money on them for the sake of it, it's about saying you were thinking if them and bought them something unusual/special. Isn't it?

**Julius** · 25-05-2012, 12:06pm

I normally try to bring some food back for the office. For friends & family I don't buy tat just for the sake of bringing back a gift so it depends where I go.