RNS holiday gift guide 2022: Ideas for the kids, adults and Pastafarians on your list

Because not everybody celebrates a religious holiday in December, but everybody loves presents.

(RNS) — Sure, not everybody celebrates a religious holiday in December. But everybody likes presents.

That’s why every year Religion News Service rounds up a few gift ideas for the people of faith — or no faith — of all ages on your holiday gift list. Some are silly, some sincere, but all come with our best wishes for happy holidays and a wonderful new year.

So whether you’re shopping for one of the end-of-year religious holidays — Christmas, Hanukkah and Yule (also known as the winter solstice) — or just looking for gifts for the special people in your life, we’ve got you covered with this year’s gift guide. And, hey, it’s not too early to plan ahead for Ramadan!


This post includes some affiliate links.


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Holiday sensory kits

Make some magic with your kids this holiday season with Christmas and Hanukkah sensory kits from Etsy store Little Hands and Nature. Each kit features a “nature inspired mindfulness potion” to help kids over the age of 3 feel all the Christmas magic and Hanukkah miracles in their hearts.

Matching family Hanukkah pajamas

Every holiday should come with matching pajamas for the whole family! Caden Lane’s “I Love You A Latke” pajamas come in all sizes and can be personalized with each family member’s name.

“Luke and the Longest Night”

Little witches can celebrate the turn of the Wheel of the Year at Yule along with the title character of Kathleen Converse’s picture book “Luke and the Longest Night,” now available for preorder from Moon Dust Press. It’s the latest in a series of children’s books about Pagan holidays.

Magnificat T-shirt

Mary gets her moment at Christmas. Treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart in this unisex T-shirt featuring the iconic woodcut by Ben Wildflower, which includes imagery from Genesis and the Virgin of Guadalupe alongside the words of the Magnificat, the song sung by Mary in the Gospel of Luke.

Flying Spaghetti Monster tree topper

Know a Pastafarian who still likes to decorate a Christmas tree? Gift them a made-to-order Flying Spaghetti Monster tree topper from Etsy to deck the halls with this year. Don’t forget the matching ornaments!


“Religion Around the World”

Give the kids on your list the gift of curiosity this holiday season. Beaming Books’ “Religion Around the World: A Curious Kid’s Guide to the World’s Great Faiths” introduces children ages 8–12 to the traditions, beliefs, practices and history of each of the world’s major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and more.

Kwanzaa learning blanket

Stay warm and cozy and remind yourself and your loved ones of the seven principles of Kwanzaa as you celebrate with this plush blanket from Ebony Heritage Co. on Etsy, designed by a former teacher.

Hanukkah gift box

Spread some winter cheer with this Hanukkah gift box, sold on Etsy, that includes a hand-poured candle, snowflake-shaped soap and small succulent plant, plus a “Happy Hanukkah” greeting card with your message typed on the back.

Spirit Daughter lunar calendar

You and your friends can stay in your magic in 2023 with Spirit Daughter’s wall calendar. Not only will it look pretty hanging on the recipient’s wall, but also it features the dates of all the moon phases for the coming year.

Personalized Christian journals

Know somebody who could use some inspiration to journal in the coming year? Paper Sunday Christian journals feature cover designs by a number of different artists and Scripture verses throughout its lined pages that are personalized with the recipient’s name.

‘Godless Heathen’ earrings

The perfect gift for your atheist friend with a sense of humor: These “Godless Heathen” earrings listed on Etsy. (They’re less appropriate for your actual heathen friend, who may have many gods.)


‘Two Holidays Are Better than One’ ornament

If your family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, or Chrismukkah, you might want to make room for this “Two Holidays Are Better than One” ornament on your multifaith tree.

Eighth Generation socks

Socks are a classic holiday gift item that fits everybody on your holiday shopping list. Eighth Generation’s “Faith” crew socks are inspired by the Apsáalooke (Crow) name given to designer Bethany Yellowtail of B.YELLOWTAIL as a young girl: Ammaakeealaachelibaachiilakaacheesh. It translates to “Overcomes through Faith” and is an acknowledgement of her name, her family, the people and the prayers that have guided her.

And for the runner on your list, check out the Sasquatch Collection, a collaboration between Eighth Generation and Brooks Running.

Build-A-Bear’s eight nights of Hanukkah surprises

Kids will find a new surprise each night behind the eight windows of Build-A-Bear’s Hanukkah box. They include two mini plush friends and six mini accessories.

Mushroom Tarot

Winner of this year’s “Witchie” (the 2022 Witchcraft and Occult Media Awards hosted by Modern Witch) for outstanding tarot of the year, the Mushroom Tarot deck by Sporelust! updates the typical tarot deck “in the name of The Hyphae, The Spore and The Holy Host.” It’s a limited printing of the Major Arcana cards, each carefully matched to a different fungal species.

“That Baby in the Manger”

What do you tell your child when the baby Jesus in your church’s nativity scene doesn’t look like them? “That Baby in the Manger,” a picture book by Anne Neuberger, shares one story about a group of children’s curiosity about their church’s creche.


“Axial Tilt is the Reason for the Season” card

Don’t celebrate any particular holiday season? You still can observe the meteorological season of winter by sending this greeting card, available on Etsy, with the sentiment “Axial Tilt is the Reason for the Season.”

BB Becker Jewelry

BB Becker’s sterling silver necklaces have a little something for everyone, including pendants with quotes from Gandhi, Rumi, Anne Frank, Joan of Arc and Buddha, as well as other inspirational messages like “#ChooseKindness.”

Diwali Rainbow Candle

Diwali may already have passed this October, but we can always use a little more light. Share wishes for a bright season with loved ones with this Diwali Rainbow candle, available on Etsy, which can be personalized with different scents and your own message.

Crescent moon wooden tray

Ramadan is still a few months away (it begins around March 22, 2023), but you can plan ahead for iftar meals or celebrate everyday occasions with these crescent moon and star wooden trays, available on Etsy.

KiwiCo holiday kits

Who says developing important STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) skills can’t be festive? With KiwiCo’s holiday craft kits, kids of various ages can build and wire a light-up menorah for Hanukkah, learn about aerodynamics as they construct a spinning Christmas candle carousel or engineer a miniature, mechanical ice-skating rink anybody can enjoy!


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