Star Wars and mince pies. But mostly Star Wars. That’s what comes to mind in my earliest recollections of the holidays: Along with The Morecambe & Wise Show Christmas special (probably just a British thing), there was an overriding obsession with a galaxy far, far away.
Like most children of the late ’70s and ’80s, I collected Star Wars figures and vividly recall re-creating the planet Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back on my bedroom floor back in the U.K. Wrapping paper was strewn about me, doubling as the rebel base, as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in his navy parka did battle against the evil stormtroopers before breakfast on Christmas morning.
Over time, I tuned in to the particular pleasure of giving presents, too, although I wasn’t terribly good at keeping them secret. In fact, I doubt my mom and dad were genuinely surprised by anything I gave them until I was a teenager, thanks to my habit of blurting out not-so-subtle “hints” at every opportunity. I’m still pretty poor at that: As I write this, in November, I’ll admit to having given my wife one of her gifts already, just because I knew she’d like it.
So, to this year’s Giving Issue, which combines, in part, all of the above. While I can’t offer Star Wars toys, the list of wonders in our Ultimate Gift Guide this time around is spectacular. The team have really outdone themselves, working with some of your favorite brands to create one-of-a-kind items or experiences—and often both together—that are simply not available anywhere else in the world.
There’s a week with chef Eric Ripert in Grand Cayman, foraging, fishing, and cooking, with private jets and yachts sprinkled liberally throughout the experience. We’ve secured exclusive access to jeweler David Yurman’s private vault, from which you can select a unique gem and collaborate with him and his son, Evan, to design your custom piece. And there are driving lessons from F1…