10 Secret Santas for around 10€

Did you see that Happy Pills lists “Secret Santas with no imagination” as a treatable malady? Can’t be too dire of course because the recommended treatment is candy to lift the spirits, but still, what pressure –come up with a cute present on a budget or you could be a cause of depression.

Here are some hints to help out.

1) Muji introductory pack
A pack of their ubiquitous semi-transparent pens for 6,75 and two pocket-sized lined notebooks for 1,50€ each will be a hit for any list-making friends or colleagues.
Muji – Rambla de Catalunya, 81
L’Illa. Avinguda Diagonal, 545 - 565

2) Dr. Hauschka Travel Kit
Dr. Hauschka is always followed in print by, “the cult brand,” so these kits for face or body are an introduction for the uninitiated. The aluminum box and little tubes make a great looking present and the all natural creams and unguents are apt for all skin types. Give someone a glow for 9,96€.
Farmacia Coliseum – Balmes, 18 (esq. Gran Via)



3) Sweets for the sweet
Papabubble has plenty of options for a sweet tooth. Their large glass jar full of beautiful handmade hard candy is 9€, and a test tube full of mini candy is 8€, as is a shiny candy ring.
Papabubble – Ample, 28

4) A rose by any other name
If you’d like to brighten someone’s day, or their table at Christmas, Au nom de la rose has your number. A dozen European roses are 11€ (just a tiny bit over budget,) and so are two single roses in zinc tubs or mini-baskets. Make sure to ask for a gift bag and rose petals.
Au nom de la rose – Valencia, 203
Ganduxer, 26

5) Baby it’s cold out there
It looks like this winter will be a doozy, so anyone would be glad to receive Cacao Sampaka’s chocolate shavings prepared to make Spanish-style hot chocolate (it’ll only set you back 6,30€). Add a liter of Granja Can Bordoi’s fresh milk from Biospace for 1,37€. You’ll have enough left over for a pretty gift bag – give the perfect excuse to stay in on a cold afternoon.
Cacao Sampaka – Consell de Cent, 292
Ferran, 43-45
Biospace – Valencia, 186

6) Easy come easy go
Does your little elf cry at sappy movies? Give El hilo de la vida (Serge Bloch and Davide Cali, Ediciones B), a beautiful illustrated book about all the waiting and hoping that makes up our lives. You’ll find it at La Central for 9,95€.
La Central – Mallorca, 186
La Central del Raval – Elisabets, 6

7) The little man on the traffic sign
Did you ever wonder what he does on days off? Quasibolo, José Antonio Millán’s biography of this, one of the best known symbols in the world, uses real images from signs or street art from all over the world. Look into Quasibolo 2.0, where the story continues or the Farsi translation soon from Caravan. Only in Spanish, but a picture paints a thousand words, so... Try La Central.

8) Jack Sprat’s Wife
Remember, the one who could eat no lean? At Vilaviniteca you’ll find Tastet de Berga (a hard cured pork sausage) for 11,60€/k and Sobrasada de Ferradura (either spicy or not,) for 17,50€/k. With one of each you should have something left over for a baguette to make the snack complete.
Vilaviniteca – Agullers, 9

9) Japanese Jewels
At Nunoya you’ll find little wallets handmade from kimono scraps for 8€ to 10€. It’s a one of a kind thing.
Nunoya – Banys Nous, 20

10) A taste of their own medicine:
If nothing else convinces you, give Happy Pills’ large bottle of mixed candy (choose from gummy bears, gumballs, lollipops, etc,) as preventive medicine against the holiday blues and “Secret Santas with No Imagination”. At least you’ll show you’ve got a sense of humor and comes in right under budget at 9€.
Happy Pills - Arcs 6