How to choose Christmas gifts for men that they won''t forget for a long time?

Already know how you''re going to gift them?

Although the stronger sex is usually less demanding than women, Christmas gifts for men still take some time and ingenuity, especially if you want a gift that''s tailored to the recipient''s personality. The gender of the recipient and the relationship we have with them play a big part in this, of course. However, we will not give our brother, father or grandfather the same gift as, say, our husband or boyfriend, so a brief consideration of the gift is necessary before buying or making the gift itself.

How to choose an appropriate gift?

Christmas gifts for men are a great opportunity to express our affection for the male part of the family in a slightly different way. We can use our imagination when choosing gifts, but it''s important to decide whether to give the man the gift he needs or the gift he wants.

It''s usually easier to choose a gift that the recipient needs: you can write a list of the recipient''s hobbies and interests on a piece of paper and start the hunt for the right gift. You can start by checking what he doesn''t have yet or what he would like and go from there.

It''s a bit harder to choose the gift the recipient wants: many people don''t explain what they want to others, or don''t think about it at all. If you know the person so well that you can work out for yourself what they want, but they may not know it yet, you''re definitely on the right track.

What gives gifts their special value?

• Personal history

Nostalgia is undoubtedly one of the things that gives gifts their special value. Especially when it comes to gifts that represent family heirlooms, such as personal items from an ancestor or old photographs that everyone may have forgotten about. Such gifts add a special charm to gift-giving, especially when they symbolise a special bond between the giver and the donee.

• Time invested in giving

Handmade gifts require a little more time and effort from the giver, letting the recipient know how much they mean to them. The easiest way is to go to a shop, but of course it takes a little more time to make the gift. A handmade greeting card, a scarf or socks, or the giver''s favourite pastry may not have a monetary value, but they have inestimable personal value. But there is usually no correlation between the monetary value of a gift and how much it means to the recipient.

• Knowing the donor''s interests

The perfect gift is one that your recipient wants, needs, deserves and appreciates. Most often, it is a gift that will be remembered for years after the gift has been given, as it will have a special value for him or her. If you know his/her wishes, values, interests and lifestyle well, choosing the right gift will be a piece of cake.

• Surprise

What if you could surprise your brother, father, grandfather, boyfriend, husband or friend by taking him to a place he likes or giving him something he doesn''t expect? An unexpected gift will be special just because he or she is not expecting it, and by including an element of surprise, you will make sure that he or she will not forget the gift or gesture for a long time to come. As long as it includes something that means a lot to the recipient, you won''t go wrong.

Don''t forget about the outside of the gift

Whatever the contents of the gift wrapping, don''t forget about the outside of the gift. In a way, it reflects what''s underneath, so it''s important to put just as much effort into the wrapping as you do into the purchase or making of the gift. This year, instead of buying boring gift bags, wrap your presents in festive-themed gift wrapping paper, which can be complemented with a cute bow or ribbon. If you''re not a creative person, a simple way to make your gift wrap look handmade is to dress up an old shoebox with gift paper.