Love, Kat: Special Gifts, Traditions, and Ideas for a Memorable Holiday Season

Welcome to my personal column Love, Kat. If you’re new here, I’m the kind of person who fastidiously saves, screenshots, and catalogs information, and I envision this column to be a place where I can share my finds, particularly the under-the-radar ones, from the most stylish corners of the internet. I want it to be a visual feast as well as information rich and hope that some of what I share ends up in your reference folders, too.

One thing about me: I tend to collect experiences—experiences that are memorable, change you, and bond you to a place, person, or time. In my book, it’s what makes life a little richer. I often seek out these experiences through off-the-beaten-path travel (see my piece on art-inspired vacations for the creative), but also from attempting to make the mundane extra special. With another holiday season upon us, today’s Love, Kat is dedicated to making time with your loved ones a little extra meaningful this year.

Thanks to my mother, one tradition my family has done for as long as I can remember is something called “pass the present,” which can work for any observance. Each participant sits in a circle with a present in hand, and a designated person reads aloud an on-theme story. For my family, it is The Night Before Christmas, but it could be a book about Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or even the winter solstice. Every time a common word is read aloud (we used the word the), you pass the gift in hand to the person on your left. Once the story is over, with a big dramatic “The End!” you open up the present that has landed in your lap. The best gifts are usually a bit universal, silly, and/or interactive.

A few years ago, for Chanukah I hosted a Latke Social gathering, which I humbly called “the event of the season.” It had two elements that can be successfully translated to any gathering. First, a “build your own [insert relevant item]” bar. My husband fried up latkes, and I made a hand-painted sign with topping combination suggestions such as pomegranate seeds, rosemary, sea salt, and hot honey and sour cream, caviar, and chives. It’s just a little more fun than a standard grazing board. A hot chocolate bar would also be high on my list to try. The second element is introducing a little friendly competition through a game. The Latke Social had a dreidel spin-off, where people gave themselves silly monikers (like picking your name for bowling) and competed bracket-style (have a whiteboard, markers, and magnetic dry erase labels) to win the ultimate prize of a Helen’s Wines gift basket and all-you-can-eat gelt, of course.

A couple of other traditions I haven’t road-tested myself, but love the sound of: a living room slumber party complete with a movie screening, pajamas, and cozy beverages, and a family walk with bird seeds, carrots, and stale bread in tow so local wildlife can have a holiday meal too.

Pictured: Scribble and Daub Bow Christmas Decoration ($19) and Rose Christmas Decoration ($19); Rönner Design Equestrian Stationery Set ($65); Susan Alexandra Painterly Dreidel ($28); Misette Hand Painted Taper Candles Set of 4 ($120)

Whether you’re hosting or a lucky guest, I have a few ideas for how to make the most of gathering around a table. First: my favorite hostess gift, a vintage coquillor, which is a silver French butter press. Depending on the pattern of holes, the press transforms soft butter into a mini sculpture of curls and flowers. It’s visually appealing and so much more fun than a typical butter dish. I find them on sites like Etsy and eBay. Another item you can bring to make a meal more memorable: party crackers. I made some DIY ones stuffed with mini versions of my favorite beauty items for my birthday several years ago, but these store-bought ones are gorgeous and will do the trick. Additional ideas: anything really from Gohar World, but these lace-and-pearl-bedecked coasters are especially precious. I also think this playful vase would certainly earn you an invite back, and a card deck that encourages storytelling is a great way to help guests bypass the small talk.

If you’re hosting, break out a fresh table cloth, and have guests take markers to the material, doodling a little artwork or imparting some brief words of wisdom. Have each person sign their contribution, and then have their creations embroidered to immortalize that particular gathering with those special guests for years to come. A former colleague did this at her wedding (pictured middle left), and I’ve seen the idea on TikTok, too.

Pictured: Galerie Was x Menorah Sculpture by Hannah Polskin Studio; Tales Interview Kit ($39); Casa Shop Venetian Glass Vase ($300); Gogo Cockle Shell Serving Spoon ($110); Lazy Jamie Upward Spiral Tea Spoon ($9); Houses and Parties Set of 6 Marbled Party Crackers ($98); Gohar Personalized Lace Coasters With Pearls ($132); Vintage Coquillor French Butter Curler ($210)

I collect gift ideas all year long, and here are some of my favorites sure to make the recipient feel seen.

1. Edie Parker Jelly Tabletop Lighter ($146)
For your most whimsical friend.