Thanksgiving gift ideas for your American friends
The United States and Canada have something that a lot of other countries are particularly jealous of: a national holiday besides Christmas where you get the whole family together to eat a lot and be merry.
Of course we're talking about Thanksgiving; a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada (the second Monday of October) and the US (fourth Thursday of November) every year. It's a day traditionally for people to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.
It's also a day where friends and family can share gifts. For Americans living in the UK this means shipping gifts over to the States or Canada (or maybe to friends living over in Europe) but what makes for a good seasonal present? Here are some suggestions for Thanksgiving offerings that'll put smiles on faces, wherever they are.
Centre pieces
The Thanksgiving dinner is the big activity of the day for most families, and the dining table centrepiece is a crucial element - second only to the food, of course. Sometimes the kids make the centrepiece at school, other times it's a rushed last-minute affair, but a great gift would be to send a Thanksgiving dinner centrepiece to your friends or family.
Perhaps you're an arts and crafts wizard? If so, you could put together your own centrepiece and send it in a parcel to the United States. It could be a piece showcasing your carpentry skills (a carved wooden turkey or historical scene, for example) or even an imaginative floral display (using fake flowers - after all, it has to be shipped to the States first!).
Maybe you've picked up an item at a vintage market or an antique shop that you think your family will adore? Get it packed up and shipped, then await the happy photos on Thanksgiving Day.
Food and drink hampers
There's really never a bad time to receive a food and drink hamper, but at a time when you're expected to cater for more people than normal like Thanksgiving, they're particularly welcome. This is why they make such great gifts!
Big spreads of cheese, bread, muffins, cakes etc. are ideal, but remember that there are restrictions of what you can send in the post. Generally, commercially packaged teas, coffees, candies, condiments and spices are fine; fresh produce like meats, however, are highly restricted as they could go bad during shipping.
Depending on what you'd like to send in your parcel to the United States, you may need to file prior notice, which you can do here. Also, check out our blog on sending food and drink abroad for general advice.
NFL Jerseys
Here's one for the sports fans. Every Thanksgiving there's an NFL game which enthrals people across the US and around the world (in 2014, Fox's Thanksgiving Day Game - Eagles vs Cowboys - drew an astonishing 32 million viewers). Therefore, getting your friends and family a new NFL jersey would make for a great Thanksgiving gift.
There's no guarantee that their favourite team will be playing that day, but let's face it; on a day like Thanksgiving, being neutral and being able to watch the game purely for the fun of it (rather than squirming and sweating every decision) means there's more time to eat and drink!
Kitchen and dining equipment
Just like the centrepieces and the food and drink, any gift which helps out the host on Thanksgiving Day will be warmly welcomed and appreciated. New kitchen and dining equipment is perfect.
Whether it's a gorgeous set of wine glasses, a large pie tray or a sturdy casserole dish, make sure it's packaged appropriately and that it arrives with plenty of time for the recipient to unwrap, enjoy and use it.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! Remember to check out our lowdown on sending parcels to the United States, or get a quote for your Thanksgiving parcel now.
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