# Unusual gifts that you got at Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 18, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112 "2014-01-18T00:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rahne\_McCloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rahne\_McCloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rahne_McCloud)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/1 "2014-01-18T00:08:49Z")
I was making a cup of tea with my Tardis tea infuser that I got at Christmas and wanted to know if anyone else had got any unusual for Christmas. I also received a sonic screwdriver pizza cutter. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/2 "2014-01-18T00:19:14Z")
My mom bought me introductory falconry lessons. A complete surprise as I’ve never expressed an interest, but I’m very excited about them! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/3 "2014-01-18T01:14:37Z")
I got a brick of tea. And it is hard like a brick. Internet research has revealed that you’re supposed to use a stout needle to pry bits of tea off it. I intend to try this soon… knives and pliers have failed so far. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/4 "2014-01-18T02:08:45Z")
> [@Rahne\_McCloud](#): > > I was making a cup of tea with my Tardis tea infuser that I got at Christmas and wanted to know if anyone else had got any unusual for Christmas. I also received a sonic screwdriver pizza cutter. I got a Doctor Whooves figure for my desk. 🙂 Also a small antique accordion and some tuned wine glasses. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/5 "2014-01-18T04:37:27Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > My mom bought me introductory falconry lessons. A complete surprise as I’ve never expressed an interest, but I’m very excited about them! This is AWESOME. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/6 "2014-01-18T04:45:01Z")
I got a gift certificate for a high-end butcher shop and a shirt that says “PUNK - Professional Uncle, No Kids” which is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![mortal\_wombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mortal\_wombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mortal_wombat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/7 "2014-01-18T11:48:36Z")
I don’t think it’s classed as “unusual”, but I got Ron Burgundy’s autobiography for Xmas. Just sayin… ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/8 "2014-01-18T12:31:47Z")
I got some things that are not exactly weird in themselves, but I just think of them as “old lady presents”, like a mug with a wagtail on it and a scarf with woodpeckers. Also one of those blankets with arms. I hadn’t really thought of them as presents that people would give to _me_. Guess I’m old now? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![catflea12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@catflea12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catflea12)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/9 "2014-01-18T13:17:29Z")
I got a fart gun for Christmas. Also, I gave a giant pair of footy football team pajamas to an 82 year old friend of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/10 "2014-01-18T19:07:23Z")
I don’t know how unusual it is, but I’m geeked about the butterfly feeder I got for Christmas. Could just be because it’s 14 degrees out and we have about a foot of snow on the ground, and butterflies make me think summer. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/11 "2014-01-18T19:42:49Z")
Nothing too weird on my end (well, [this guy](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417Jal%2BnLxL._SY300_.jpg)), but my mom received two dead bats for Christmas, from two different people. One freeze dried, the other skeletonized and sealed in Lucite. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/12 "2014-01-19T00:58:20Z")
Nothing odd this year, but the Falconry lessons sound really interesting, as does the pair of dead bats [I think bats are fascinating.] We got a boring Amazon gift card, so I bought 2 chromecast dongles, one for each tv and a 5 lotus flower soap/chocolate mold, a tiny snowflake candy mold, a slightly larger snowflake candy mold and a small maple leaf candy mold. I plan on using teh lotus mold to make ma’mouns and moon cakes rather than soap. And possibly filled marzipans. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/13 "2014-01-19T18:36:05Z")
A flannel bathrobe with the Peanuts comic strip characters printed on it. It is a very comfortable bathrobe 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/14 "2014-01-19T22:05:58Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I got a brick of tea. And it is hard like a brick. Internet research has revealed that you’re supposed to use a stout needle to pry bits of tea off it. I intend to try this soon… knives and pliers have failed so far. Was this gift courtesy of your local ER? > [@Deeg](#): > > I got a gift certificate for a high-end butcher shop… _whimpers in jealousy_ that’s not unusual, that is AWESOME. > [@gracer](#): > > … Also one of those blankets with arms. I hadn’t really thought of them as presents that people would give to _me_. Guess I’m old now? 😕 My former grandboss got all of us those for Christmas a couple years back, and they are … Sigh … Surprisingly nice. Especially in chilly offices, which is where we worked at the time and what gave her the idea, but, damn, if they aren’t cozy in wintertime book-reading (or SDMB-surfing) marathons. > [@Miller](#): > > Nothing too weird on my end (well, [this guy](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417Jal%2BnLxL._SY300_.jpg)), but my mom received two dead bats for Christmas, from two different people. One freeze dried, the other skeletonized and sealed in Lucite. How wrong of me is it that I’m kinda jealous? (And … curious. Details plz?) ETA: a doper gave me a pickle ornament for our secret Santa exchange. Not too terribly unusual for those of us with ze German blood, but maybe weird for those who aren’t familiar with the tradition? ETA 2: you know who else had ze German blood…? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/15 "2014-01-20T02:29:48Z")
Goat’s milk soap. At least I hope it’s made from their milk and not their tallow. ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/16 "2014-01-20T13:32:51Z")
A book called “What’s Your Poo Telling You?” My stepmom spends all year collecting funny stocking stuffers. Last year I got a Justin Bieber singing toothbrush. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/17 "2014-01-20T14:26:57Z")
So … What IS it telling you? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/18 "2014-01-20T15:35:31Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I got a brick of tea. And it is hard like a brick. Internet research has revealed that you’re supposed to use a stout needle to pry bits of tea off it. I intend to try this soon… knives and pliers have failed so far. Having never heard of a tea brick prior, I googled and found :Pu-ehr tea, and a YouTube video showing the use of a letter-opener device used to wedge in and pry off thin layers of compressed tea. Some of those bricks appear to be beautiful works of art. Nothing in the unusual gift department here, snowshoes. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/19 "2014-01-20T15:42:03Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Also one of those blankets with arms. I hadn’t really thought of them as presents that people would give to _me_. Guess I’m old now? 😕 Maybe they think you look young, I keep seeing those advertised for grown-ups but only see or hear of them being used for kids. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112/20 "2014-01-20T15:47:16Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Maybe they think you look young, I keep seeing those advertised for grown-ups but only see or hear of them being used for kids. Huzzah! **Nava** is now top of my favourite person list! 😃 (And the yellow wagtail mug? I don’t know why, but to me mugs with birds that have the name of the bird on them just say “old people”. It’s an old people thing. I need a Justin Bieber toothbrush asap.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-gifts-that-you-got-at-christmas/679112.md?page=2)