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Tis the season for a stogie, fa la la la la, la la la la''

For the past few holiday seasons, I've found that gifts are getting harder and harder to give. Not only has creativity fallen through the cracks, but presents are not as monetarily feasible as they once were: there are televisions for sale that cost more than my car. Because of this, holiday shopping has become an increasing burden, not only for me but for many others. As we find ourselves trapped somewhere between the shopping mall and the holidays of yore when the true meaning wasn't showcased on a display stand at Macy's, we think about how it used to be.

There was a time when the holidays were about more than purchasing the latest brand of technology or the most expensive cashmere sweater. It used to be so easy. A tie, a purse, even a bar of soap attached to a rope all fell into the category of a suitable gift for, back then, it was merely the thought that counted. But lately, these gifts have lost their ability to be accepted, and they aren't the only ones. I have found that even the hand made card I give my parents as a gift each year is becoming met with less and less enthusiasm, no matter how much glitter I add..

Still, we haven't lost this battle yet. With the onset of the season we are given the opportunity to reinvent the true spirit of the holidays; we are given the ability to give a gift that says something grander than simply, 'I have a huge limit on my credit card.' One way we can do this is by giving the gift of cigars.

Why Give Cigars as a Gift?

Cigars may not seem like a run-of-the-mill holiday gift but, in this age of overblown commercialism, their lack of reputation should work in their favor. Instead of representing brand name hand bags or a clothing line overseen by a professional rapper, cigars represent what the holidays are really all about: friendship, celebration, and happiness.

Giving a cigar as a gift conveys that some actual thought, and not just your paycheck, went into the gift giving process. Cigars, possessing a meaningful stigmatism, are often exchanged in the same manner friends exchange a knowing glance, or a comforting pat on the shoulder: they are exchanged in a way that makes them about something more than simply a meeting resembling a swap meet.

What Kinds of Cigars to Give?

The type of cigar to buy simply depends on the recipient. For a cigar novice, cigar samplers make excellent gifts, giving the novice the ability to sample a variety of cigars, finding one he or she truly enjoys. If you don't purchase a sampler, then a box of mild cigars ' such as the Macanudo from the Dominican Republic or the Casa Tora'o from Honduras - usually works best for beginners. For the cigar connoisseur, purchasing a box of their favorite brand ' or a brand you know they are dying to try ' is an excellent way to go. And, for novices and connoisseurs alike, enrolling them in a cigar of the month club will almost always be met with enthusiasm: it's the gift that never gets extinguished, at least not while the membership is valid.

What are Some Unique Cigar Gifts?

You may find that some of the people who you know love cigars are already well stocked, seemingly having more tobacco reserves than Cuba. For these people, a more unique cigar gift may need to be purchased.

From a custom made cigar box to an ashtray engraved with a sentimental message, from an inscription laden cigar cutter to a leather cigar case, any kind of a cigar accessory makes an excellent holiday gift. Perhaps you know someone who could use a humidor or a person who, forever asking others for a light, is desperately in need of a Colibri.

For those who want to add in even more sentiment, purchasing a cigar lover one of their favorite brands and having the band engraved is a present that likely can not be rivaled, providing you with the rare opportunity to give a gift that can be both used and cherished.

Where to Buy Them?

The holidays are a time of mayhem, as people crowd shopping malls, the masses fill department stores, and those with a dial up Internet, surfing the Web to look for gift ideas, wait an hour for a page to load. However, a great amount of this can be avoided if you know what you are buying before hand, giving you the ability to get in, get out, and get home in time to take the turkey out of the oven.

Cigar gifts are one of the easiest gifts to buy, with many local cigar and tobacco shops having a large variety of cigars, and a large selection of accessories. The Internet, a portal that allows you to avoid lines and crowds, also provides several online resources that enable you to purchase any tobacco related item under ' or grown in ' the sun. Many of these online shops offer discounted prices and shipping for free.

Giving the gift of cigars or a cigar related item rarely goes up in smoke. Getting away from what has become the new traditional idea of holiday gifts ' designer jeans, video games, car stereos ' ironically evokes some old holiday tradition, a tradition filled with goodwill, friendship, bliss, and, of course, tobacco seeds.