Are you already in the Christmas spirit – or do you feel more stressed than contemplative and are already more than ready for a holiday?

It wouldn’t be surprising, because 2024 was and is an eventful year – and now that it’s coming to an end, many of us are counting down the days until the festive season and the little breather that comes with it.

‘Basically, it is the connections with people that give life its value’, as the writer and researcher Wilhelm von Humboldt once said. This has been confirmed once again in recent years, with the many challenges we have faced worldwide.

With thoughtful gifts, we show our love and gratitude to those who accompany us. However, the choice of gift for our loved ones is not decided so quickly. We have put together a selection of ideas so that you don’t get caught up in the Christmas rush unnecessarily in 2024.

1) For the sporty and fashion-conscious among us: hat, scarf and gloves. A thick jumper and snowshoes!

For some, it may go far away into the sun, while others may be drawn to the snow and the nearby ski resorts. However, without the right clothing and the perfect sports gadgets, the ‘Winter Wonderland’ is only half as much fun.

For style on the piste, the winter collection from Bottero Ski in Limone Piemonte – a hidden gem in Italy – is the perfect choice for the cold temperatures. A waterproof snowsuit is a must, as are cool ski goggles and warm boots for walks in the snow.

Skiing is being criticised in view of melting glaciers. Winters are getting warmer and the ski season is getting shorter, so: short eco-friendly journey (about 170 km from Nice to Limone by car; there are regular connections via/from Ventimiglia by train, Limone serves as a gateway to the stunning mountains and ski slopes that make the town famous), eco-friendly food (delicious local cuisine, several starred restaurants).

You may be able to borrow your ski equipment or even wear last year’s (the year before)!

Protect what you love and don’t ski off-piste, because if you ski off-piste or cross-country ski or hike cross-country on snowshoes, you are invading the habitats of wild animals.

I think that’s good!

This also applies to forest bathing. If you simply stop for a moment, lean against the rough, coarse bark of a tree and perhaps even hug it, you can experience forest bathing in a particularly intense way.

On one of those winter days when the sun has enough power to tickle the tip of your nose, but the fresh forest air quickly draws in under your jacket in the shade, it’s time to consciously enjoy these sunny days once again. Sturdy shoes that can withstand a dip in a puddle or two, a warm jacket and perhaps a scarf are perfect for a trip into the forest, which should last at least three hours. If you like to stay longer, treat yourself to a long walk in nature. Soak up all the little moments of happiness that the sun, wind and air give us.

Photo by Gerd Eichmann

Give yourself the gift of inner well-being.

I think that’s good!

2) You want to spend Christmas at home this year? Christmas under the mistletoe: Give me a kiss!

Some love a tree decorated with colour-coordinated baubles, others love a chaotic collection of sentimental decorations.

Mistletoe is a popular Christmas tradition and festive decoration that has been inviting people to give it a kiss for decades. However, mistletoe is also a firm favourite with florists at Christmas time.

So what exactly is the meaning of mistletoe? The evergreen plant, which grows towards the sky, is a symbol of love and fertility. According to legend, couples who attach importance to kissing under mistletoe will continue to be happy together. Single women and girls were promised a partner for the following year through this romantic gesture. In the meantime, the significance of the mistletoe above the door has diminished somewhat. Even a less intimate kiss, for example on the cheek, is now celebrated among friends and colleagues as a simple good luck charm or as a sign of mutual affection.

Photo by Gerd Eichmann

‘Druid or not‘’ – the motto is: ‘Go  for the mistletoe!’

I think that´s good!

3) Designer books and coffee table accessories

Ultimately, the Christmas season is not just about making our homes as cosy as possible. Colours such as red, green and gold provide the traditional Christmas atmosphere we want. To achieve this, you can swap out individual objects, for example with a golden lamp or an extra book on the coffee table! Whether classics or must-haves for the art shelf – we think you might like our ideas!

For the elegant reader:

We recommend Vittoria Caterina Caratozzolo’s Irene Brin: Italian Style in Fashion

In our eyes, the artist Irene Brin is a ‘benchmark of style’ – not limited to fashion, because with Irene Brin nothing can be narrowed down. Cin Cin on Irene Brin!

Irene Brin was the pseudonym of Maria Vittoria Rossi, a lifestyle and fashion journalist. She was a woman of great culture and refined elegance who stood out in Italian journalism between the 1930s and 1960s. Early on, she reported on the development of Italian fashion for various Italian and foreign magazines, observing and describing her time with a visionary spirit. 1937 Marriage to Gaspero del Corso and moved to Rome. Founded the art gallery L’Obelisco in Rome in 1946. Here in Rome she experienced how art, consumption, business and politics are interwoven with fashion and began to analyse her high-profile international clients and current trends in the (fashion) world and to describe events and personalities.

The experience at Galerie L’Obelisco had a dual purpose in her life: it helped to bring foreign artists to Italy (in New York, Brin forged close links with the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, introducing artists such as Alexander Calder, Francis Bacon and Robert Rauschenberg to the Italian art scene) and, conversely, to publicise Italian art to the world; but it also helped to promote and disseminate Italian fashion culture. She was soon recognised as the ambassador of Made in Italy. In 1950, she became the Rome editor of Harper’s Bazaar, a link between the American markets and the Italian fashion industry, a role she held until 1969. Irene Brin epitomised the combination of aristocratic lifestyle and non-conformist revolution for the American society depicted in Harper’s Bazaar. After recognition from America, recognition also came from Italy in 1955: she was honoured with the title Cavaliere ufficiale dell’ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana (Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic) for the invention of Made in Italy.

She died on 31 May 1969 in her beloved Sasso di Bordighera. After her death, fashion designer Alberto Fabiani dedicated his spring/summer 1970 collection to Irene.

What drives? What blocks? Moving the world forward with ambition and talent, all of Irene Brin’s books are for discerning, intelligent readers with a taste for consumption. We chose this book because it is available in English and Italian. Vittoria Caterina Caratozzolo Irene Brin: Italian Style in Fashion

I think that’s good!

4) For the music lover, vintage photo fun and a look behind the scenes! Vintage creates anticipation!

Looking forward to Christian Simon’s ‘Paul McCartney – Up Close’

Christian Simon has an almost friendly relationship with Paul McCartney.

Christian’s book ‘Hautnah’ was published in 2020. He produced the English translation himself and sent it to Paul McCartney. He, Paul, replied with an email and was flattered to be the protagonist of such a good book.

Christian’s wife Monica, her photos document all the events, and Christian have worked with Paul and Linda McCartney and Paul’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts for 15 years since 1991.

Molino Verlag, Matthias Slunitschek, ‘Paul McCartney – Up Close’ will be published worldwide in March 2025!

I think that’s good!

5) For the gourmet friend:

Slow food editore is a light in the food and recipe darkness. Delicious nutritional delights and food trends all about healthy eating. Love goes through the stomach or You are what you eat ?! What women/men find sexy is a man/woman who can cook and mix healthy drinks. It doesn’t always have to be exquisite, but we like to award plus points for home-cooked and home-mixed food, especially if it also tastes good. Healthy eating and enjoyment as the goal of a balanced lifestyle, then you won’t have to mumble Botox when you look in the mirror in the morning……

Culinary gifts that fill you up, make you happy and are an original gift idea for little money

Farm-to-fork – I think that´s good!

6) Terre Bianche – A sip of culture

If you want to give a little more than just a bottle or box of wine as a gift, Terre Bianche is well worth a try. Due to its quality and variety of flavours, we find this wine particularly recommendable. The ideal companion not only for your Christmas dinner this year, no matter what is on the menu. The wines are of course also suitable for pure enjoyment.

Courtesy Terre Bianche

Let yourself be inspired, because with these wines you are guaranteed to please the gourmets in your family and circle of friends.

I think that’s good!

7) A tattoo, the world of creativity in black lines and curved shapes

No hype. Not a trend. Tattoos are a way of life. Identity. Art. And perhaps the last unique form of human expression – in a world where everything is interchangeable.

Why are tattoos suitable for everyday use and still a speciality? In the office, in the bank, on the building site, in the boardroom or in the operating theatre – body art in the form of tattoos can be found everywhere. In all professions, in all social classes and in all age groups – even the cult doll Barbie has one. But around 20 to 30 years ago, they were still frowned upon. They were reserved for sailors and jailbirds. If you wanted to demonstrate a bad boy (or bad girl) image, you got a tattoo.

I think Marco Manzo is cool! You can recognise the Italian’s work by the very precise and exact execution of his ‘ornamental tattoos’. He has already won several prizes for his art and has even made it into museums such as the Gagosian Gallery in New York.
A tattoo can be something you have lost. Something you still have, but want more of because it makes you happy! How about a partner motif, mother and daughter, father and son, Barbie and Ken, the names of your pets or what are you thinking of?

I think that’s good!

8) Do you love the sea and its inhabitants? Befriend a whale!

Sabina Airoldi cares about the sea and its inhabitants, and it’s about protecting it, not curing it when it’s sick. The Pelagos Marine Protected Area off the Italian-French-Monegasque coast is home to around 2,000 whales. There is a ban on drift nets and offshore motorboat racing in this region. But despite this marine protection zone, the whales are in danger, especially from collisions with ships.

Sabina’s work could be described as an interface between science and a human audience. No, she is not a documentary filmmaker but a project manager at Tethys and a catalyst to bring her cause to a wider audience in the hope of inspiring that audience to feel connected to these causes and take action.

Join Sabina Airoldi in protecting the blue migration routes and campaigning for the protection of these fascinating marine mammals and their habitats!

It is up to all of us to inform ourselves and take action. Either by supporting non-profit organisations, through our own consumption and behaviour towards the oceans and by sharing the message.

Protect what you love!

I think that’s good!

9) Practical and fabulous at the same time, design of course from Italy! Sgabello barbecue

The cleverest gifts are not only stylish, but also practical! If you don’t want to give yourself a present and don’t seem to need anything, the matter of stylish gift-giving can be more of a challenge. Classic gift ideas can bring great joy – provided they are made from the best design and materials.

With the mood makers from Fabrizio Alborno from Bordighera, you can create a colourful ambience for your family and friends. Pure, simple, tactile, handcrafted, colourful, cheerful and yet chic and festive for a relaxed atmosphere at Christmas and the turn of the year. Just as fine for outdoors, because please note: They are designed to be used all year round! Indoor becomes outdoor – and vice versa.

Photo courtesy of Fabrizio Alborno, Sgabello Barbecue

The ubiquitous currency that describes design is awards. Find out more about Fabrizio and his work

An elegant and unusual idea, when in doubt, classics never disappoint. Gifts that last are always a good idea. Of course, it’s often fun to treat your loved ones to the latest trendy pieces, but it’s not for everyone.

I think that’s good!

10) Give yourself the gift of style and beautiful old craftsmanship once again: calendar by Louis Lucien Lepoix

Even if the year 2025 is still written in the stars, let’s welcome it with a tribute to beauty, design and function!

At the same time, with the joy of analogue drawing techniques: without a computer and without an ‘undo’ command, but with the elegance of handwriting and the feel and smell of the materials: paper, ink, ruler, eraser.

In 1948, Lepoix bought a Simca chassis at an auction of confiscated cars and built a sports car on it on his own initiative with a colleague. With this vehicle, he visited the manufacturer Bugatti in Molsheim, Alsace, to submit drawings. Bugatti’s director at the time, Pierre Marco, liked the designs. He commissioned Lepoix to design the body of the new Bugatti Type 101.

Courtesy Lepoix

Rare, previously unknown drawings by Lepoix for Bugatti. These unique works provide an insight into the designs for one of the most famous automobile manufacturers. The drawings are of interest to collectors, car and art lovers. Every detail shows the craftsmanship and innovative spirit. A piece of automotive history that demonstrates the fascination of the Bugatti 101.

14 sheets plus cover sheet
A3 Premium Felt 220g, shrink-wrapped in foil

For all Riviera Buzz readers, the calendar is available with the discount code: RIV25K for €98 instead of €114

I think it’s good!

11) Portrait at Marta’s

Not a lame classic. Elegantly designed and framed portraits of our loved ones have always been an absolute guarantee under the Christmas tree and for many people belong to the category ‘I would never do it myself, but I would love to’.

Without a doubt, one of the most exciting challenges of taking a photo is the composition. To play with the surroundings and oneself in such a way that the world to be photographed does not appear as a world of yesterday, but as ‘love in progress’ or ‘work in progress’ or ‘kids in progress’.

Whether in basements or on a motor yacht – casual, sporty or elegant, Marta offers a platform for creativity and expression.

A portrait is an excellent way of conveying feelings and processing life experiences photographically. Happiness and euphoria, but also great pain and resilience…..Marta transports emotions to the portrait and even if we have been preoccupied with the past this year, we look curiously into the future. The beat goes on!

I think that’s good!

12) More for vintage fans: Discman

What relic from the past exudes more nostalgia than the CD player or a Walkman from which we once listened to music everywhere and at all times? The zeitgeist of the 80s and 2000s brings back happy memories. To revive this nostalgia, let’s step into a time capsule and give a portable music player in the form of cassettes, a Walkman or a portable CD player in a cool retro design. Every great innovation begins with someone leaving familiar territory and crossing the border into something new, we like the Discman because it is a constant despite the many changes. And beautiful memories characterise a person.

I think that’s good!

Sony CD Walkman (Wikimedia Commons)

13) Suitable for everyday use – mobile phone chain

Do you regularly misplace your mobile phone and panic when you can’t find it again within two minutes? To save you a few grey hairs next year, give the practical mobile phone chain from Magic Pearls as a gift this year. Not only do they look super cute, they also create a look that will stylishly upgrade your winter wardrobe.

And if you’re still in the mood for glitter and party style after the festive season and New Year’s Eve celebrations, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in this whirlwind of colours! Magic Pearls rock all year round and offer plenty of selected pieces of jewellery as shimmering accents.

I think it’s good!

Photo by Gerd Eichmann

Giving is the art of appreciation. But what makes a good gift? I enjoy (potted) flowers and time with my loved ones, cuddling dachshund Heini, hugging a tree, getting to know the world of art and culture better and a (large) glass of champagne! Beauty is the reason why I am drawn to all these art forms. I wish you a wonderful festive season with lots of beauty, love and champagne and all the best for 2025!

What are you actually wishing for this year?

Lead image by Tim Gouw on Unsplash; tattoo photo by Jasmin Chew on Unsplash; photo of Sony CD Walkman by User:Lcarsdata – Own work using Kodak DX6490 Digital Camera, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link; all other photos as credited