Some holidays come with a shopping list, and every gift giver knows the pressure that follows. This One Gotta Go card puts four gifting occasions together: Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and graduation season. Each one has its own traditions, its own budget and its own kind of pressure to find the right thing.
Three stay on the calendar, and one never needs a gift again. Think about which occasion stresses you out, which one you love shopping for and which one you could happily skip. Then make your pick and share the best gift you have ever given or received.
Christmas vs Valentine's Day vs Mother's Day vs Graduation Season
A. Christmas
Christmas is the biggest gifting holiday of the year, with lists for family, friends and coworkers. It is joyful. It is also the most expensive and stressful, which makes it a bold but understandable pick to cut.
Keep it if: You love wrapping gifts, finding the perfect present and watching people open them on Christmas morning.
B. Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day means flowers, chocolates and romantic plans, with a lot of pressure to get it right. It is sweet for couples. Single people often feel left out, and prices go up, which makes it a common cut.
Keep it if: You love planning something romantic and think a day dedicated to love is worth celebrating.
C. Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a chance to thank the moms and mother figures in our lives. It is meaningful. Some people say moms deserve thanks every day, not just one, which makes them willing to cut the gifting part.
Keep it if: You love spoiling your mom or the mother figures in your life with a gift and a day just for them.
D. Graduation Season
Graduation season comes with cards, cash and gifts for every graduate you know. It celebrates big achievements. It can also mean a lot of parties in a short time, which makes it the easiest to cut for busy schedules.
Keep it if: You love celebrating hard work and helping graduates start the next chapter of their lives.
Our take
We would cut Valentine's Day as a gifting holiday. Love deserves celebrating, but the pressure and the price hikes can take the fun out of it, while the other three celebrate family, mothers and big achievements. The most fun debate usually comes down to Christmas against Valentine's Day, since both are about showing love through gifts. Ask everyone which holiday they find the hardest to shop for and why. Then share the gift you are still proud of finding for someone else, because a great gift story is half the fun.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which gifting holiday has drifted furthest from its original meaning?
- What is the best gift you have ever received?
- Is cash a good gift or a lazy one?
- What gifting holiday would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Gifting Holidays: quick answers
Who started Mother's Day?
Mother's Day in the United States was promoted by Anna Jarvis, who held a memorial for her mother in 1908. It became a national holiday in 1914. Jarvis later spoke out against how commercial the day had become, which makes it a fun fact for this card.
What is a good graduation gift?
Popular graduation gifts include cash or gift cards, items for a new apartment or dorm, a quality bag or briefcase, books and personalized keepsakes. A heartfelt card with advice is often remembered long after the gift itself. Practical gifts are often the most used.
