With Christmas upon us I just wondered if anyone had any idea what to buy the locals for Christmas? I have thought of a few things including an English cook book but then they won't be able to read it in most cases and bottles of wine would not go down well since most make and prefer their own. So are you buying you neighbors a present this year? and if you are what are you buying them ? or are you stuck for ideas like me

Many years ago when my grandmother lived in Bulgaria she loved: a warm or elegant scarf, beautiful, colourful, warm socks for the winter, a nice napkin, or something for the kitchen. My grandfather loved to receive tools because he needed to repair stuff all the time, so they were very happy with these sort of presents.

I have bought picture frames, table cloths, house plants in a pot, a salt and pepper mill, a saucepan, a carving knife, some glasses, for one elderly, and quite poor lady I gave a bag containing oil, salt, sugar, loo roll, coffee and some dried milk, tools are definitely much appreciated.

I tend to stick with household items - but probably something a bit more special then they would normally be able to buy. Good luck - I think that anything given to most Bulgarian village folk, is much appreciated.

our elderly neighbours, bless, dont use much toc (electric) we have given led tiny torch to get outside in the dark, a cast iron bell for the front door to alert visitors, always a box of chocolates as they always give guests a chocolate and flowers in the winter as there are few in the garden in winter. no matter what you give as stated they are so grateful , its not what you give thats important, its about the fact that you gave them thought in the first place.

Mince Pies always go down extremely well with our neighbours, perhaps because the Bulgarian's do seem to have a sweet tooth!

Hi
We have given all the usual things but soething that was really appreciated was a hot water bottle with knitted cover!!! Also if you can find the wind up torches - they love those too - no need to pau out for batteries!!

We usually give our immediate neighbors an English Christmas cake and some home made mince pies which they seem to love followed down with some mulled wine.

Try some English stuffing cheap to make and they love the taste



Mike

Well I'm starting to think I am a 'ba humbug' person. We help and give where we can all the year. Our villagers are not remotely interested in anything English. Christmas comes and goes with little celebration except for the Pensioner's party and family gatherings. Our choir will be entertaining as usual and that's it. I really don't think that giving gifts to people who you really do not know is the way forward. How do you know what tools they want or what scarves they need? It could be seen as being a 'patronising Brit' in my book. It is how you are perceived as a person that is important and villagers are very good at spotting body language. I really think that once a year is not just about giving of gifts - it should be involvement the whole year and that is the biggest gift we can give.
I have enjoyed reading what folks on this forum are giving in the way of gifts and it should be applauded but it so much depends on where you live and who your neighbours are. Today my neighbour gave me half a dozen eggs and a jar of pickled meat and i will give her some diabetic choccies and that's it as we have already given 7 hens and a rabbit. I have already mentioned that we do give some things to the less fortunate but its not 'gifts' as such just thoughts at this time of year and we leave it on the doorstep. Much as I applaud charity, it is not always welcomed.

Yes, you do need to be careful as some people are very proud and will feel obliged to give something in return, which can defeat the object if they are very poor. The idea of giving things like surplus produce from the garden, home made jams and pickles etc throughout the year is probably a safer bet than trying to create a commercialised Brit Christmas for Bulgarian neighbours.

:Good post:Entirely agree Fido. Hope you had a Happy Christmas.