MAMP’s Last Minute Multicultural Gift Guide

Hello Meltingpot Commuinity,

If you’re anything like me, even with your best intentions, you’ve waited until right this minute to start your holiday shopping. Whether it’s Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah you’re shopping for, have no fear, I’ve got some great Meltingpot gift ideas for you. Gifts that reflect our love for the multicultural but also won’t break the bank. Gifts that are meaningful and hopefully won’t end up in a landfill before the 12 days of Christmas are even over.

And yes, I’ve got ideas for your mama, your daddy, the kids and you best friend too.

Books

I’ll start with my favorite gift idea: Books. I just don’t think there’s any way to go wrong with giving the gift of a story well told. Picture books for the littles, the latest, greatest best-selling fiction for your BFF, a super self-help book for your significant other who you know needs help. A cookbook for your mom that takes her back to her childhood or country of origin. Personally, I just love reading multicultural cookbooks for inspiration and armchair traveling. If you’re stuck trying to figure out what books to buy for who, check out my suggestions on my bookstore page. I have ideas for everyone. Or, google some best books of the year lists for inspiration. Don’t forget, when you buy from my online shop, you’re supporting this blog and podcast and independent booksellers across the country.

Subscription Boxes

I love the idea of a gift that keeps on giving. It used to be subscription boxes were limited to fruit of the month clubs and romance novels, but these days, you can literally get clothes, tomorrow night’s dinner and beauty products curated and sent to your door every month. Without going to the mall, you could select a whole bunch of different subscription services for everyone on your list.

I haven’t personally tried any of these, but have heard great things about: Little Passports which sends educational activities to kids ages 3-12. I love their global focus.

And then for those like me, who are always looking for good children’s books in Spanish but can never find enough, check out, Booklandia. I love their commitment to sourcing their materials from publishers in Spain and Latin America and that it’s a mommy-owned company.

And finally, something an entire family could love, a subscription service that sends you sweet and savory snacks from a different country each month! How meltingpot and delicious is that? Universal Yums gets great reviews, you can choose how long you want to receive the service, and it’s not too pricey. I may order one for myself my family.

Meaningful Memberships

Last year I bought my cousin and her family a membership to the African American museum here in Philadelphia. It was actually a pretty cost-efficient gift considering this one gift would be for four people. And like a subscription box, it’s a gift that keeps on giving for an entire year. Much has been said in the media recently about giving experiences instead of products and I couldn’t agree more. For the price of an electronic gadget, you could give someone the gift of being able to go to a science and technology museum every day for 365 days if they wanted, or to an art museum where they could be surrounded by beauty. Bonus, museums need people to buy memberships to stay afloat, so you’re really doing a double good deed with this gift idea.

But memberships don’t only have to be to museums. You could buy someone a membership to a co-working space, a dance studio or a food coop. And don’t stop there. If you’re thinking memberships, also think classes. Buy someone a painting class, a how-to-read-tarot-cards class or a cooking class. Once you start thinking experiences instead of consumer products, you’ll realize that there are so many options out there to give your loved ones truly meaningful, life-changing and long-lasting gifts.

Good luck shopping, Meltingpot community. Tell me what are some of your favorite gift ideas…because I still have some people on my list.

Peace!

(Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels)