Gifts are the most important part of the holiday season, don’t even TRY to fight me on this. Cute ice skating dates are nice, Christmas cookies are delicious and everyone loves a good family dinner. But, when boiled down, Christmas is really just a big gift exchange.

Scented candles are one of the most popular Christmas gift items, and I find them to be absolutely pathetic. Getting a scented candle for Christmas is basically the equivalent to finding a plain rice cake in your lunch. It is probably the most impersonal gift that could be given during the holiday season. Anyone who ever purchased a candle for another person did it at the last minute–no exceptions.

This article is for the poor souls who either give or receive scented candles as gift; the people who need a gift-giving upgrade.  

The act of giving and the act of receiving a gift are in a direct relationship. A good gift given results in a good gift received: this is the karma of Christmas.

Giving gifts is all about personal connection. It requires dedication and super-sneaky-spy-skills. To buy a gift for a specific person, look through old snapchats and memories to see what kind of inside joke could be made into a tangible present. If being featured on “Stalker Files” is what it takes to buy a best friend the perfect gift, so be it. 

Another strategy for gift buying is to simply observe and note what that friend is passionate and excited about. This could be anything from art, to a TV show to even–God forbid–Fortnite.

If none of these strategies work to formulate the perfect gift, just ask the person what they want. This might be a little redundant, and may ruin the element of surprise, but it ensures success. People will often appreciate the thought, and it could turn into a tradition or even an inside joke.

The holiday season is when a lot of people realize how truly broke they are. If the perfect gift is just a little too much “moolah”, homemade gifts are the next best option. These kinds of gifts can sometimes be a gamble; after all, homemade crafts don’t always look how they do on Pinterest. However, it’s the thought that counts.

“I’m broke so I make stuff that people will hopefully like,” said sophomore Hailey Gregg. This type of thinking truly embodies a sentimental, yet penniless Christmas.

For those who are incompetent at crafting, this next strategy is perfect. About 2 weeks before Christmas, steal a personal possession from a close friend that you would like to give a gift to. Return this possession to them on Christmas day.

Sophomore Kera Nelson, who has used this strategy on multiple occasions, said, “Not only will they appreciate the gift, they will be relieved that it was not truly lost.”

Strategies for receiving gifts are harder to master than those for giving the gifts. If you want to make sure the perfect gift is given to you, you have to be at least a little socially adept.

“It’s all about dropping hints,” said sophomore Izzy Werner.

Everyone has an obsession, something that makes them laugh and passes the time. Sometimes, these can be a little embarrassing or odd, but it is the perfect recipe to getting a gift that will make your day.

Do NOT hide your obsessions! Bring them up, talk about them regularly. People will eventually pick up on the interest and buy things related to that topic.

The holiday season is also the perfect time to bring up previous inside jokes. This repetition of something funny that may have been forgotten due to the stress of school will be fresh in that person’s mind just before they buy the presents.

The gift exchange is an important part of Christmas and the relationships that strengthen during the holiday season. Become your own Kris Kringle with these carefully thought out and scientifically proven gift exchange strategies. Keep scented candles far, far away from your shopping list and enjoy your holiday season!

What’s the worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received? Comment below.