Camila Fernández's 6 Gift Picks for a Heartfelt Holiday
Welcome to the COCINA Holiday's Gift Guides, the ultimate gift inspiration from Latinx artists, chefs, and creators. Discover their must-haves and favorite picks to make your gifting extra special!
Singer Camila Fernández shares with us her personal picks and the family story (and trust us, she comes from a family with lots of history!) behind each of them.
Being someone who has been surrounded by my family my whole life, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed Christmas Eve and other family activities we do at the end of the year, such as the Mexican tradition of “posadas.” I think every single detail of these family gatherings is amazing, from the delicious food—like turkey, bacalao, and all sorts of tasty dishes—to the main thing: reuniting with my family.
When I was a child, I was always so excited about the presents; I would run under the Christmas tree to start looking at the gifts with my name tag on them and marvel at the different sizes. Now that I have children, when I see them looking at the presents and sneaking under the Christmas tree, I remember the excitement I felt as a kid, so I understand them perfectly.
A Memory Box
My mother always used to ask me, “Camila, what would be the perfect gift for you?” When I was younger, I thought about material things like electronics, makeup, and clothes, but as I got older, I started to realize that what really meant something to me were the thoughtful gifts that had deep meaning. I remember when I was 19 years old, on Christmas Eve, my mother gave me a little box. At that moment, I was very sad because I was finishing high school and had to say goodbye to many people. Inside this box was a little note that said a quote about everlasting friendships, and the box was filled with different printed pictures of my high school years with my friends. That was the perfect gift because it touched my heart like no other gift ever has.
Polaroid camera
A few years later, I didn’t know what to give my cousin, who was going through the same phase of finishing college. I didn’t want to replicate the same gift my mother had given me. So instead, I offered him a Polaroid camera with a little note that said, “Make sure to make great memories; take pictures to remember them, but most importantly, keep them all in your heart.” When I gave this to my cousin, he started crying and was so excited. That’s when I realized a disposable camera will always be a great option.
Family video
Another thing that often happens in big families like mine is that you can’t have a gift for everyone. A couple of years ago, my uncle did something that caught everyone’s eye: he made a recap video of the whole family’s best moments. This was such a great gift because instead of giving us a typical present, he gave us an experience. We took 25 minutes out of the family dinner to watch the video he created for us. It brought back so many memories, and we were all crying and laughing. After this gift, we established a new family tradition where each year everyone must bring a video to remember the most important events that happened in the family that year.
Handcrafted candles
Another easy and effective gift idea is handcrafting candles. This is a beautiful and memorable gift that everyone can use. If the candles have a special scent, they can make someone’s home feel more inviting and help them with something they didn’t even know they needed.
Vinyl Records
Coming from a very artistic family, a great way to express gratitude is by offering a vinyl record from one of the artists they appreciate. We usually exchange vinyl records because it’s an easy gift to find, and if someone doesn’t like it, they can easily trade it for another vinyl they enjoy.
Experiences
For me, if you really want something specific and material, it’s better to buy it for yourself because not everyone will know exactly what you want. That’s why I am a firm believer in giving experiences instead of physical gifts. For example, instead of giving your cousin a new hoodie that you’re not sure she will like, consider giving her a coupon for a shopping day where she can choose a hoodie of her choice.
This way, not only are you giving her a nice gift, but you’re also spending more time with your family. This concept can also apply to activities, like giving her a coupon for a day at a water park or a day trip to a nearby town. It doesn’t have to be complicated; I’m sure it will enhance your time with your family.
Editor’s Note: Neither the author nor Cocina receives any commission or compensation from purchases made through these links. These recommendations are solely based on the author’s genuine preferences and personal favorites.