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Christmas gifts for your girlfriend or boyfriend

Updated

A Christmas gift for a girlfriend or boyfriend has two jobs. It should feel personal, and it should fit where the relationship is now.

These ideas work for a first Christmas together or a fifth, in a UK or Irish winter or an Australian or New Zealand summer. Each one says what stage of a relationship it suits and what to plan ahead.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of the night you metA partner after a yearFrom US$49 per print
A weekend away in the new yearA partner who loves to travelOver US$150
Open-when lettersA partner who saves notesFree
A photo calendar of your yearA partner you live withUS$25–US$75
Gig or theatre ticketsA partner who prefers plansUS$75–US$150
A first Christmas baubleA first Christmas togetherUnder US$25
A blanket for the seasonA partner who likes slow eveningsUS$25–US$75
An upgrade for their hobbyA partner with a clear hobbyUS$75–US$150
A class to take togetherA couple who like learningUS$75–US$150
A Christmas meal for twoA partner who values effortUS$25–US$75
A slow morning kitA coffee or tea loverUS$25–US$75
A framed photo of your best day this yearA new or long relationshipUS$25–US$75

  1. A star map of the night you met

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the place you met, at that date and time, with a title and message you write. It comes in four sizes, from 12 × 16 in (about 30 × 40 cm) to 18 × 24 in (about 46 × 61 cm), framed or as a print only, and is made to order, so order early in December.

    Such a beautiful approach to capturing a special moment. A minimal yet sentimental gift, perfect for the one you love.
    Celeste M., Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: A personalised star map for Christmas

  2. A weekend away in the new year

    Give a printed plan for a weekend away after Christmas. In the UK and Ireland, January and February are quiet months for it. In Australia and New Zealand, the school summer holidays fill January, so a weekend in February or March is often easier. Choose a place you have both talked about.

  3. Open-when letters

    Write a set of letters marked 'open when you miss me', 'open when you have a bad day', 'open on our anniversary', and so on. They cost only time. They suit a partner who saves notes and cards.

  4. A photo calendar of your year

    Print a calendar for next year with a photo of the two of you for each month, taken in that same month this year. Mark your dates on it. It hangs in the kitchen and gets seen every day.

  5. Gig or theatre tickets

    Book tickets to see a band, a play or a comedian your partner likes. Put the tickets in a card under the tree. It suits a partner who prefers plans to things.

  6. A first Christmas bauble

    A bauble with your names and the year marks your first Christmas together. It goes on the tree every December after that. Keep it simple for a new relationship.

  7. A blanket for the season

    In the UK and Ireland, a heavy wool or knitted throw for winter evenings on the sofa. In Australia and New Zealand, a picnic rug for summer evenings outside. Choose a colour they like. It is practical, so it gets used.

  8. An upgrade for their hobby

    A better version of a thing they use often: running shoes, a coffee grinder, a sketchbook set or a games controller. Ask a friend who shares the hobby what to buy. It shows you notice what they love.

  9. A class to take together

    Book a cooking, dance, climbing or pottery class for the new year. Pick something neither of you has done before. You learn something and spend time together.

  10. A Christmas meal for two

    Cook a meal for the two of you before you each go home for Christmas: a roast in a UK or Irish winter, or a barbecue or picnic in an Australian or New Zealand summer. Make a dish from your first date or their family's recipe. It suits a partner who likes effort more than money.

  11. A slow morning kit

    A good mug, a bag of beans from a local roaster or a loose-leaf tea, and a book. Wrap it as a promise of a quiet morning together over Christmas.

  12. A framed photo of your best day this year

    Choose one photo from your favourite day together this year, print it well and frame it. Write the date and place on the back. It is simple and it shows you remember the day.

Match the gift to the stage

In the first months, keep it light: tickets, a class, a bauble or a cooked meal. A large or very sentimental gift can feel like pressure.

After a year or more, a gift that remembers your story fits: a star map of the night you met, a photo calendar or a weekend away.

Plan around December

December is busy for printers, engravers and couriers. Order made-to-order gifts early in the month. Book trips and tickets as soon as you decide.

If a print will not arrive in time, give a card on Christmas Day with the preview on your phone or printed out, and give the print when it comes.

Personal beats expensive

A gift that shows you listened is better than a gift that shows you spent. Think back over the year: what did your partner mention, admire or miss?

Write down three things before you shop. The best gift usually comes from that list, not from a shop window.

If you share a home, think about something for both of you, such as a print for the wall or a trip. If you do not, choose something for their own space.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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