Miracles with your own hands!
The first days of December, the first frost, fir-trees imperceptibly grown up on the streets, brightly decorated shop windows, all these things evoke a thrilling feeling of forthcoming New Year’s celebrations, the long-awaited holiday. It turned out to be the major holiday in Russia, so no wonder that many people, being busy in numerous preparations, look forward to it. They hustle to finish the important things in the old year, and bustle to decorate the Christmas tree, to buy New Year’s presents. But how many of them can see the sense of these gifts, understand their meaning, read the hidden message? How do people treat the gifts? Would they like to see the miracle or to get the expected attention? Maybe everything and at once! 
It seems that recently the attitude of giving and receiving presents has changed. Every year the trend is observed to spend on gifts much more money. Is it an index of an increasing prosperity and the common weal or changing traditions? Probably it is just a complex of two factors. Besides, a financial component of the feast there is a contextual one that seems to be the most significant. Unfortunately it can not be seen in our days. It looks like people are less appreciate, enjoy less the “giving-receiving” process, often taking it for granted. Was it the same twenty, forty years ago? Definitely not. Most of us heard from our parents and grandparents that fragrant orange fruit named tangerine was an aroma creating the feeling of New Year, favorite sweets and candies were an instant of happiness and a rare record or a book lying under the Christmas tree gave an unlimited joy for a receiver for the whole coming year. Everybody realized that every single present was bought after a persistent search and a long standing in line that made it so dear to the heart. Today you will not surprise someone with a tangerine or a sweet. It is not an exotic thing anymore. We are given a big choice and we are surrounded with array of opportunities.
However, do not run to limits. Creative thinking is the best way to give pleasure to yourself, your friends and relatives, present-receivers in a word. Turn on your imagination and go!
First of all, take into account the tastes of your nearest and dearest, their idiosyncrasies and habits.
Remember all the hopes and desires of this person. Probably it is time to work as a magician, because dreams should come true on New Year’s Eve. It does not mean you should pay for a ticket to Prague if your friend wants to go there. You can just buy a guidebook that will be helpful in his trip.
Make clear to yourself how much money you are going to spend. Do not feel upset if you can not afford much. You can always use your head and hands to make up something unique. New Year’s cards, toys, decorations, small statuettes made of salty dough, toys sewn of rags… That is only a tiny part of those things that you can do.
Do not neglect the new technologies. We live in the 21st century. Do you like taking pictures? Do you know the basics of Adobe Photoshop? You can always convert usual pictures of your friends or colleagues into a collage. If you are ready to look at your faces all year round you can make a calendar marking lucky days, super lucky days and hyper lucky ones in it.
If you feel a lack of time and decide to buy a present there is a little detail that will make it unforgettable. Make up a story about the gift, explain the “sacred” meaning of the object and the benefits to its possessor. For instance, giving a wallet, you can say that it will both multiply financial welfare of the possessor and grant him wisdom to spend money. Actually the explanations can be various.
The other way to give a present is just to hide it and make the person find it after coming through different contests. This variant is especially liked by kids but for grown-ups it will be much fun as well.
No matter what present you are going to give, keep in mind that the most important thing is your attention, your thoughts of this person.
Make miracles with your own hands!