Christmas we are told is about giving and receiving. Those opting for the standard shop bought gift, rather than the mushy handwritten doggerel poem, or the burnt offering 'special' dinner,  can get inspired by the list we've compiled below. From traditional, Romanian gifts, to gifts for children, some novelty ideas and high-tech, big price tag gadgets, we've got them covered. 

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Religious icons

Generally based on Byzantine originals and available in most Romanian Orthodox Churches. For high quality icons, try the Patriarchy in Bucharest, near Piata Unirii. Depending on what it is made of, a religious icon can cost from RON 10 to a couple of hundred RON (sometimes even more than EUR 100 if it is made of wood and hand painted)

Romanian wooden spoons with stories

Buy Romanian traditional crafts and find the stories behind them. The price of a spoon varies between EUR 25 and EUR 35.

Romanian traditional food

Buy some traditional Romanian food for your loved ones from the Christmas fair  held at the Peasant’s Museum in the capital city, between December 21 and December 23, 2011, or from the 'Traditional products for Christmas' fair held every week-end between December 2 and December 24,in Bucharest National Park.

Traditional Romanian clothes and crafts

Traditional Romanian clothes for your family and friends at the 'Artizanat Romanesc' store in the Unirea Shopping Center, Bucharest. Traditional clothes - such as the women's 'ie' can also be found at various fairs in Bucharest and in crafts markets in mountain resorts in Romania. This is an interesting website that presents costumes from various areas of Romania. Costumes like these are usually hand sewed, so they can get rather pricey.
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Self-print a cookbook (or simply a photobook)

For lovers of Romanian food and international recipe collectors, this is an interesting option. Put all the recipes together on your computer and go on this site - tastebook.com  to turn scattered recipes into a professional looking cookbook. This could also be a good corporate gift for foreign partners or foreign colleagues who enjoy Romanian food. For 25 recipes, it costs USD 20 to print. Fairly expensive to deliver if you are in Romania - almost USD 200.

Alternatively, you can upload your content to Lulu.com or Blurb.com. They have options for cook books, wedding books and all sorts of other printed books.

Wooden Chess and backgammon sets

Can be found in Bucharest - in Obor store, for example - or, for those who travel around Romania, in most of the mountain resorts, sometimes in small markets on the side of the road. Other wooden products - sometimes traditional, other times just kitsch, will be on sale in these places. A wooden backgammon set starts at RON 30-40 in the Obor store in Bucharest.

Voucher for gourmet cooking classes

Choose a personalized voucher for gourmet cooking classes for your nearest and dearest. Cost varies on what's included in the set. More details here.

Personalized wall clocks

These personalized wall clocks can be the right Christmas gift for family and friends. With different shapes and colors, the amusing wall clocks can be bought online here.

Personalize your gift

Everybody likes a gift personalized especially for him/her. Make and buy one here.

Eco-friendly gifts

Go green for Christmas with the eco-friendly wallets and watches from here. The price of a wallet is around RON 70 (about EUR 15)

Jackson Pollock: Convergence Jigsaw Puzzle

Choose one of the 1000-piece puzzles from Carturesti bookshop on 13-15, Arthur Verona street, from the newly-opened store in Afi Palace Cotroceni shopping center, or order one from here.

Tea and tea products

Pick from the wide range of products offered by Demmers Teahaus located on 9, Academiei street in Bucharest. The price of a tea box can vary between RON 17 (about EUR 4) and RON 27 (about EUR 7). An interesting selection of teas and some gift baskets are found at Tea Forte - their website is in Romanian.

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High tech gifts

Amazon's Kindle reader 

You can order the new Kindle reader device from Amazon directly - check whether they ship it to Romania - or take the shortcut and order it from a local retailer. It costs RON 1,099 (around EUR 255) at emag.ro.

iPhone 4S

Romanian telecom companies Vodafone, Orange and Cosmote have recently brought the iPhone 4S to Romania. You can buy it from Orange here , Vodafone , Cosmote .

Wireless HP Photosmart e-All-in-One 

This ePrinter from HP prints whatever e-mail it receives on a specially allotted e-mail address. Prices for these types of printers range between EUR 95 and EUR 350, depending on the technology used: ink or laser.

Sony Bravia KDL – NX 720

One from the Sony stable; the special Christmas promotional package includes two pairs of Assets Shutter 3D glasses. This model is available in Sony-partner stores in Romania. Its price varies from RON 5,400 to RON 6,600 (EUR 1,255 to EUR 1,534) depending on vendor.

Blu-Ray Disc Player

Sony's Blu-Ray Disc Player’s BDP-S185 model, which, because of its small dimensions, might be a perfect Christmas gift. Priced up to EUR 100.

Micro Hi-Fi CMT-G2NiP

Quality sound quality and elegant appearance, the Micro Hi-Fi CMT-G2NiP can play music from iPhone/iPad and iPod, as well as from iTunes, through its 'Airplay' function. The system also has DAB / DAB + radio.

Handycam HDR-PJ10

Handycam HDR-PJ10 is not a simple video camera. It has a built in projector, allowing content to be viewed on any flat white or light colored surface.

Nex 5N digital photo camera

This is a small camera, handy for trips, with a range of features, including background and effects functions. This allows some picture editing without connecting to a computer with image editing software.

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Lego toys

Choose one of the lego toys offered by Toyplex, located in Baneasa Shopping City, in northern Bucharest. A Lego City can be purchased for prices between RON 20 (about EUR 4.5) and RON 400 (about EUR 100)

Rent a Santa Claus

Rent a Santa Claus to put a smile on the faces of loved ones from here. It costs RON 250 (EUR 57) for one hour for a solitary Santa, and RON 600 (around EUR 137) for the whole Santa family, for one hour and up to 30 kids.

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Banyan jewelry

Rings, bracelets, or earrings made of glass, wood, resin, silk and metal, or try one of the gift sets. The Gabrielle Set costs EUR 38, while the Aleksandrina Set will set you back EUR 54. Find more here.

Leather purses and accessories 

Romanian Dan Coma creates gift-able leathers purses and accessories. Check out the collections here.

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Tickets to UEFA final in Bucharest 

One interesting gift for soccer fans is to pack then off to the UEFA league final that will take place next year in Bucharest. Ticket prices are between EUR 200 and EUR 350 and can be bought here.

Spa vouchers 

This can be a practical gift at this time of the year, after months of intensive office work. Most spa centers in Bucharest offer it at this time of the year: World Class,  Pescariu Sports& Spa, Eden Spa.

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Name a theory

By far the most creative gift idea and it came from one of our readers reader. For GPB 15 you can name a (mathematical) theory after your loved one. The mathematical theorem is newly generated by one of the world's most advanced computerised theorem provers (a kind of robot mathematician). More details here.

Buy a goat

For those suffering the pangs of their social conscience, Oxfam offers a range of charitable gifts, including the buy a goat scheme. The goat costs GBP 25 and will live out its days in an African village. The charity provides information about the goat and its whereabouts.  More info on this website.

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