I have a problem. A big problem. An embarrassing, big problem. Or an embarrassingly big problem. It all depends on how you look at it. And as always, I hope that you, my readers, will be able to help me.
You see, I’m a pathetic gift giver. I never know what to give and when I do give something… well, let’s just say that my ability to select a suitable gift leaves a lot to be desired. So normally, in a very uncouth way, I tend to give money. Or a gift card to some store, if I’m trying to be really fancy.
So whenever I am faced with choosing a gift for someone, I try to delegate the responsibility, normally to my husband, who then very conveniently forgets about buying a gift altogether. Yeah, I told you I was pathetic.
But when stresses me more than anything is when I have to buy a “Polish” gift for a person in another country. Eeee gadz!
“Hey, that’s easy!” I hear you say. “Żubrówka and your work here is done.”
And under normal circumstances I would agree, but what do you buy for a person who doesn’t drink?
Help me out here, please!
When you visit Poland what kind of gifts (prezenty) do you buy to give to your friends and family back home? Amber? Sweets? Hand-made traditional something-somethings?
Your comments and suggestions will be much appreciated!!!
Comments:
Andreas:
I usually buy chocolate or sweets. Last time I bought Krówki (Wawel’s) to a friend and she liked them.
Kuba:
I try and buy things you can’t get in the US i.e. Amber, Krupnik, Zubowka, Boleslawiec, lace table cloths.
russ:
An offbeat idea that’s light and easy to pack is “kapci” the knitted colorful slippers/houseshoes that old women make and sell on the streets. I took a bunch to the US and gave them to various family and friends. People enjoyed picking out colors they liked. (The later people had less selection. 🙂
Mchl:
Being a non-drinker I adore receiving sweets in general and chocolate in particular. We have some quite original sweets in Poland, so you should be able to choose something interesting (Śliwka Nałęczowska w czekoladzie? yummy!)
Basia:
obviously, my own abilities in this area are severely limited.
When I returned from Poland I brought: nike soccer shirts with bialy orzel insignia for my boys, my husband got some primo wodka, and my mom got anti-wrinkle cream.
But, on reflection, I like the chocolage-plum confectionary combinations. Very unique and very yummy.
John:
Boleslawiec cups and other china are great and we bought some recently. Little pottery gifts include soup spoon holders, napkin holders and tea bag dishes that can easily be transported. Krowki are always great and if you forget to buy them or need more, quite a few stores in the USA carry them. Polish soccer scarves are a great gift especially if you can find them from the town you are in or your relatives are from, but they are hard to find.
Michael Bernardoni:
Witaj !!
Not ever having been to Poland(retirement soon!!) I would love folk art….pottery …specialty foods. My Matka has a nice collection of Pottery.
It is so beautiful!!!
Dziekuje!
Mike
Theresa:
I loved the duck story, as for prezenty, i love buying thngs for people, but a great one besides little food things, would be small carved polish boxes, non poles just love them… also I once saw a website with polish film posters, it was great….I want some of those myself/
Bill:
I’ve had great success with amber necklaces or earrings(a lot of Americans don’t know the story of amber and they “ooh and ahh” over it when they learn of its antiquity). On the comestible side, my mom always loved receiving “Delicje”, light fluffy biscuit-like cookies with a disk of orange marmalade on top with a layer of chocolate on top of that. If I ever failed to bring her a package or two, she was visibly disappointed. There’s always the carved wooden boxes and pisanki found at Cepelia store. Polish embroidery is also elegant and famous. Last, but not least, is a carved wooden “Frasobliwy Chrystus”, a worried sitting Christ.
Thomas F. Westcott:
Hi Anna,
You did not say what other country and you did not say if you were giving a present to a Pole or not.
If the person is not a Pole then any of the typical Polish items mentioned above by others would be ok.
But, if the person is a Pole then any Polish foodstuffs that cannot be had easily in that country would make an excellent present.
For me something as simple as a small or large package with an assortment of GORĄCY KUBEK. ( Knorr brand) Individual instant soups – Barszcz czerwony, Pieczarkowa z grzankami, Pomidorowa z ryz.em etcetera. If it is a family that you are sending a present to then Knorr does have SUPER PRZEPIS na odwrocie such as Zupa fasolowa, Zupa Cebulowa and my favorite Zupa ogórkowa.
When one is in a foreign country and is eating their cuisine then there is nothing like an ocassional taste of the old country.
dobre jedzenie,
Thomas.
Daniel:
On a recent visit I bought a Wisła football scarf for a sport loving friend and my Mum received a variety of Polish herbal teas. I did buy my Dad a tall glass beer mug but he recently informed me he’s going teetotal, so the glass is now acting as a vase in my living room!
Brigitte:
Visiting Poland every now and then, I’ve seen enough beautiful stuff you can give to not-poles:
What to think of someth. made of glass, from Krosno; and indeed, Amber is always beautiful. I myself got from a dear polish friend a very nice book. I love reading and he gave me a book, writen by Adam Zamoyski “Poland, a history”.
In Holland, where I come from, we have the commercial : Buy a book! A Book! Books you can never have enough of! It’s great 🙂
Karen:
My favourite treats from Poland include Pierniki – I adore Strawberry more than Plum, but that’s just a personal taste!
One thing you can’t bring back from Poland is their rather tasty ice cream. It has a wateriness about it, but it is so refreshing and delicious!!
Depending on time taken to travel back home, I also miss Makowiec – poppy seed cake and would love a recipe if anybody has one?? It only stays fresh for about a day so needs to be eaten up really within 24 hours of purchase!
Speaking of recipes – does anyone know how to make normal Polish bread? It has a unique flavour that I just cannot replicate!
Thanks, Karen xx
Mary:
If they are not a great friend or you are getting them as a thankyou if you are staying then a selection of chocolates etc would be fantasic – i personally am a wedel fan but i like both.
The Amber is a great idea and it always looks fantastic and it’s not all jewellery, if you are buying for a Man then a nice paperweight might be a good idea.
If you are buying the gift for christmas or for someone who collects christmas things (like my mum) then in Krakow, there is a christmas shop which sells these big balls that normally hang off the tree but these are too big. The one i bought was painted with the Castle and was a snow scene – very nice.
Another Krakow thing could be from the salt mine, if i remember correctly, they make scupltures out of it.
I always get given chocolate with nuts in from my husbands family, then i have to hide it from them!! 🙂
If i had more info about the recipient, i would give you more detailed and close ideas! 🙂
Lucie:
I buy wycinanki (colorful and beautiful Polish paper cuttings). While visiting Poland in 2005, I bought at least 30 of assorted sizes and designs to bring home as presents and they took up a minimal amount of space (flat paper…unbreakable!.. and light!) [Krakow had a great store in Old Town as did Zakopane]… smaller towns might not have them… they can be hard to find in Poland.
The base layer of the wycinanki is always black… and then other, colorful layers are piled up. Often the designs are of roosters — representing good luck — but the various regions of Poland have variations on their wycinanki patterns.
I frame the wycinanki with black frames (the paper the wycinanki rests on is always white) so the result is eye-popping!
And they come in various sizes — from really small (4″) to really large (13″+)
I bought a variety of sizes and color combinations of roosters and then purchased frame kits in bulk (that you assemble yourself)… and I keep the wycinanki on hand to give as presents for occasions that arise during the year.
They are really unusual, beautiful, and always are appreciated by the recipient (especially if they have any Polish blood in them!)
In Poland they were astonishingly cheap… the equivalent of $2 to $3 each… Purchasing them in the states is much pricier… but still affordable. The frames can cost as much as the wycinanki but I think it’s important to give a “completed” set… not just the unframed wycinanki.
Here’s a link for a great place to buy them in the States or just to see what they are:
http://www.polartcenter.com/Wycinanki_Paper_Cuts_s/169.htm
The site above also had handmade wycinanki bookmarks… and I gave some of those as presents also.
You can also google “wycinanki” for more information on the entire folk art.
Regards,
Lucie
Susan:
I have brought back amber, which was greatly appreciated by my friends.
I would really like to know about gifts going the other way: what is best to bring to Poland for gifts for friends & family? Last time I brought maple sugar candy, which was made right near my home here in New England & that was a big hit, but I don’t want to bring the same thing every time I go! 🙂
slconnor:
I know your post was sometime ago but there is a fantastic new company selling contemporary Polish gifts and home accessories online http://www.beetrootonline.com
Polish Pottery:
Polish Stoneware is always good for any occasion
unusualweddinggifts:
We have a polish shop up the street so it is an easy job for me!
frances criswell:
I am very much enjoying your information.
I am Polish. I am in Huntsville, Alabama.
I am interested in many Polish things. My grandfather came from Stupsk near Mlawa.
Thank you.
frances criswell:
Frances again. Any way i can buy things from Poland. Polish things are very expensive here.
I love wycinanki// . a bookmark is ten dollars or more here.
Gifts:
You really help me on what I supposed to give to my love one. This saves me a lot of time. I am looking forward to your other gift ideas.
Soil From Poland:
most unique polish gift idea is Polish Soil. You can buy it in combination with hand made pottery and rye seeds here: http://www.soil-from-poland.com
It will for sure bring back memories of homeland of every grandparent, parent or any other Pole, who is longing for Poland
Ana:
I would suggest a souvenir with Polish Eagle or Polish Folk Art. Check out this website for some ideas: http://www.tasteofpl.com