Last-minute shopping: Lalitah (left) with her husband Bertie Phil Selvam, 42, and son Aaron Davinesh, 9, looking for headpieces to buy for their annual family Christmas dinner party, at Gurney Plaza in George Town, Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: As Christmas gift exchange remains a beloved tradition with people of all ages, many were seen rushing on the last weekend before Christmas to buy gifts and enjoy the festive fun.
Housewife Jolin Teh, 44, was seen helping her daughter select Christmas-themed globes for a gift exchange activity.
“My daughter is meeting her friends tomorrow (today) for an early gift exchange, so we are here picking out something.
“We also bought Christmas-themed wrapping paper to make it extra special.
“It’s a bit rushed but we are glad we found something perfect.
“The excitement of choosing the perfect gift and the warm feeling of giving and receiving makes Christmas gift exchanges a cherished custom that transcends generations,” she added.
Teh said going out as a family and choosing gifts for one another have always been fun as it fosters a sense of togetherness.
“We’ve made a family day out of it,” she said.
Engineer Henry Ong, 39, was spotted comparing mugs featuring Santa Claus and reindeer designs while picking out gifts for his church members.
“It is for our white elephant gift exchange.
“This is something fun we do. We buy gifts within a budget of RM15 to RM20 and place them under the tree.
“Whether it is the white elephant games, secret Santa exchanges or simply exchanging meaningful gifts, this tradition is always the highlight of the holiday season,” he said.
Ong said he bought two different mugs for two exchanges, ensuring they were priced the same but offered some variety.
“I believe it’s a practical gift as they can use it every day,” he said.
Medical representative Lalitah Kondiya, 40, was seen browsing for festive ornaments and headbands with her husband and son, preparing for their annual Christmas party.
“We are looking for Christmas-themed items to complement the decorations at home.
“It is going to be a large gathering, nearly 15 of us, so it will definitely be fun.
“We’re still picking out accessories to match our outfits,” she added.
Lalitah said while her Christmas gift shopping is done, she took advantage of the seasonal sales for some last-minute purchases.
“There are plenty of promotions and I still need to buy groceries for the party,” she said.
On her Christmas plans, Lalitah said she and her family would be heading to Indonesia for a holiday on Boxing Day.
“We always try to take a trip around Christmas to celebrate together,” she said.
