Sometimes a memory pops into my head that I really never would think one would remember. One such thing happened yesterday. I was talking with the girls at the office and we were debating -- do you wrap a gift or do you use gift bags? I guess I would say I do both -- but the gift bag is certainly easier and can most often be re-used.
Anyway, I am so old that I can remember back before the invention of the giftbag. When a gift needed to be wrapped in the Engel household, we would trek to the garage where a HUGE box was in the corner (i mean about triple the size of a refrigerator on its side, and could hold several bodies). This box was filled with odd shaped boxes. My mom saved every box that ever entered our house! The box her checks arrived in, little jewelry boxes, shirt boxes, every size imaginable. We would dig and dig to find the perfect box for the present that was to be wrapped. It was not uncommon for the empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls to be used.
Once you found the perfect box, you would come into the house to a HUGE wrapping station that my mother had set up. Every ribbon, every paper, every color. There were no pre-packaged ribbons, you would roll the ribbon around your fingers, snip in the middle, and tie, then fluff into a beautiful homemade bow. If a box had to be mailed, the bows would be left off, but ribbon would be placed, and an old used Christmas card was glued to the front to make the package presentable. We had the prettiest packages on the block, and as I think now -- must have taken hours to wrap.
Anyway, I am so old that I can remember back before the invention of the giftbag. When a gift needed to be wrapped in the Engel household, we would trek to the garage where a HUGE box was in the corner (i mean about triple the size of a refrigerator on its side, and could hold several bodies). This box was filled with odd shaped boxes. My mom saved every box that ever entered our house! The box her checks arrived in, little jewelry boxes, shirt boxes, every size imaginable. We would dig and dig to find the perfect box for the present that was to be wrapped. It was not uncommon for the empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls to be used.
Once you found the perfect box, you would come into the house to a HUGE wrapping station that my mother had set up. Every ribbon, every paper, every color. There were no pre-packaged ribbons, you would roll the ribbon around your fingers, snip in the middle, and tie, then fluff into a beautiful homemade bow. If a box had to be mailed, the bows would be left off, but ribbon would be placed, and an old used Christmas card was glued to the front to make the package presentable. We had the prettiest packages on the block, and as I think now -- must have taken hours to wrap.
As I sat and watch Mary wrap several gifts last night -- I thought -- I have failed in passing on this tradition of wrapping to my daughter. Her presents were a wadded up mess on the ends, with half of a roll of tape used just on one end. It was hilarious and I had to chuckle. I myself worship the inventor of the gift bag. Toss it in the bag and stuff in some tissue! Now that is what I call efficient! However, what a sweet memory of the big box, and the times spent with my mother wrapping our Christmas gifts! Thanks Mom.
So, what are you, box or bag????
So, what are you, box or bag????
5 comments:
I learned to wrap the best from Beverly and Don. They made you use double stick tape so no tape even showed! It does take longer, but it looks really nice, and that matters to me. Beverly would have loved glue dots.
My mom taught me how to wrap! I love using wrapping paper, but like Mary, the ends are tricky for me. I am getting better though. Gift bags are nice too. They are much quicker, and can be reused.
I hope you had a great Christmas!
My mom has always been a "pretty" gift wrapper. She finds deals on paper and ribbon and buys in bulk but still. I just can't spend $10 on a gift and another $2 on the wrapping paper and then another $2 on a card. SO... I'm a big believer in the bag and I love to reuse them. You should see me at christmas. If anyone tries to take back a bag and put all their gifts in them. I find a way to reclaime the given bag. I also re-use tissue. I iron it. I do I really do. I also like to wrap in tissue paper too. Especially at Christmas when you can wrap soft gifts ie.. clothes and socks and stuff.. you just roll it up in the tissue and twist the ends. Tie it off with streamer ribbon and viola. That only takes 1 piece of tape! And most of the time... I make my own card..I think I'm what you would call a "cheap" wrapper!
Somehow some of all this has escaped my memory. I do remember the ribbon. Karen and I talked this year that we still have some of the "Fire Sale" sasheen ribbon, circa middle 1970's.Iit was a special time.
i cherish things like that. what a wonderful memory of your childhood with your special mom.
i must say, gift bags are so convenient...nothing even comes close to a beautifully wrapped package.
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