As the holidays approach, many people struggle to find the perfect items to add to their wishlist. With endless options and different unique trends each year, choosing the right gifts can be challenging and feel more like a chore than a fun and festive activity. However, all hope is not lost, many people already have their Christmas wishlist ready and are able to provide guidance as to what to include on the list.

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Everyone enjoys getting gifts from their friends, but no one likes getting a strange and dissimilar gift, especially if the person doesn’t know the gift giver that well. Many prefer the closer and thoughtful gifts from their loved ones, even if it’s an inside joke or a special interest that they may have, they know that it’s from the heart and not out of the interest of being polite.

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“The best Christmas gifts are things that feel personal, like something the person will actually use or something that fits their hobbies or personality. Gifts like cozy hoodies, books, candles, or hobby-related items show thought and effort,” sophomore Aaptika Baratam said.

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As gifting someone a gift from the heart, it shows the person how much they care and love them, whether it be gifting them a character from a movie they like or a painting from their favorite artist, as long as they like and enjoy the gift, it’s really all that matters.

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“I personally like Legos because they’re so fun to build, you can build them in your free time when you’ve run out of things to do,” junior Madeline Peska said.

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However, as much fun as getting playful gifts may seem, others prefer the more practical gifts that you can actually use to your advantage, instead of a gift that you can only use once.

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“Something I think people should add could just be gift cards to their favorite stores. I’m saying this because if you get a gift card, then you can decide what you want to get instead of someone else picking something you don’t like and would never use,” sophomore Advik Mocharla said.

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Of course, everyone has their own opinions on what’s deemed a greater gift, many students across Tompkins ask for completely different things.

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“I’m asking for Pokémon cards since I’ve been into Pokémon since I was a kid, and I’ve gotten back into opening packs with friends, so even if I get bad cards from the packs, I still enjoy opening them with friends,” Mocharla said.

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Pokémon cards are a classic gift, they’ve been around for nearly 30 years and still continue to shape new memories today, although Pokémon cards can’t necessarily be used to lighten up or enhance a room.

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“I am asking for room decor, especially fairy lights, so I can make my space feel more cozy,” Baratam said.

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In the end, Christmas gifts don’t have to fit into a certain aspect or genre, as well as being in trend. What people all around the world truly want are gifts that are meaningful and fun, but most importantly, sent from the hearts of others, not just the mind. Whether that’s a vacation to someone’s dream destination or a video game, the holiday season is about connection, not what’s on a list.