Hostess Gifts for Thanksgiving and the Holidays

A good hostess gift is small, ready to use and asks nothing of the host on the day: a candle, a pair of candlesticks, a serving piece or something for the bar. Bring it wrapped, with a short note saying it's for them to enjoy later, so nobody feels they have to put it out in the middle of dinner. Choose by the kind of host they are, and it will fit Thanksgiving and December gatherings alike.

Below are a few etiquette basics, then ideas grouped by host, with pieces from our collection.

Quick list

• Thanksgiving dinner: a pumpkin-shaped candle in a glass jar.
• A host who sets a beautiful table: crystal taper candlesticks or flameless tapers.
• A host who loves to cook: a glass lazy Susan or a pair of small nut bowls.
• The friend who makes the drinks: a crystal bottle stopper with the wine you bring, a carafe or rocks glasses.
• A big family gathering: wood centerpiece bowls or a glass ice bucket.

Hostess gift etiquette, briefly

• Bring nothing that needs work. Loose flowers send the host looking for a vase while the oven timer is going. Bring them already arranged, or skip them.
• Say it's for later. "This is for you, no need to open it now" takes the pressure off.
• Wine doesn't have to be served. If you bring a bottle, mention it's for another night.
• Add a note. After a busy holiday, a tag with your name helps the host remember who brought what.
• Staying the weekend? A slightly more generous gift is a kind way to say thanks for the guest room. Our holiday hosting checklist for the dining and guest room shows how much goes into getting one ready.

For a Thanksgiving host

A seasonal candle is the classic Thanksgiving hostess gift, and a jar makes it easy to set on a mantel or side table. The 4-inch brown, orange and white mini pumpkin candles come together in one clear glass jar: small pumpkin shapes on a soy wax base, in an autumn harvest scent, per the listing. The jar is listed at 3 inches high and 4 inches wide.

For a smaller gift, or one for each of several hosts, the 3-inch tan mini pumpkin candle holds a single pumpkin in a 4-inch-tall glass jar, in the same autumn harvest scent.

One note: keep scented candles off the dinner table itself, where they compete with the food. They belong in the living room or the entry.

For the host who sets the table

Candlelight is the easiest way to make a long dinner feel special. The set of two clear crystal taper candlesticks is listed as handmade and stands 3.25 inches tall. Holders this low disappear on a full table, and with shorter tapers the light stays below eye level, so guests can still see each other across it.

If the host has young children, pets or a rule against open flames, the set of two ivory flameless taper candles gives the look of tapers without the flame. They're listed at 9 inches tall with a flickering effect meant to look like real candlelight.

For a family-size table, the set of two brown solid wood beaded edge centerpiece bowls lists an 85-ounce capacity for each bowl. Fill them with clementines, small gourds or pinecones in November, and greenery in December. To judge how much centerpiece a table can hold, see our guide to what size dining table fits 4, 6 or 8 people.

For the host who cooks

A serving piece that comes out at every holiday is a gift the host can think of you with each year. The 13-inch clear and gold glass lazy Susan is listed as hand-crafted crystal with a chiseled edge trimmed in gold and a food-safe finish. It spins, so a cheese plate, cranberry sauce or condiments can reach everyone without being passed.

For a gift with something inside, the set of two 6-inch taupe and white alabaster glass bowls is listed as European handcrafted alabaster glass with soft square corners, 2.5 inches tall. Fill them with spiced nuts or chocolates you made, and the bowls stay after the treats are gone.

For the host who makes the drinks

If you're bringing wine anyway, add the 4-inch clear lead-free crystal bottle stopper. It's listed for wine and spirits, and it turns the bottle into a gift that lasts after the wine is gone.

• The mouth-blown glass wine carafe holds 32 ounces and is listed as lead-free, enough to pour a full bottle and let it breathe before dinner.
• The set of four clear crystal rocks glasses is listed at 4 inches tall, for whiskey, cocktails or water.
• For a big gathering, the 9-inch clear mouth-blown crystal ice bucket is listed as handmade and doubles as a bottle cooler.

You can browse more in candle holders, serving bowls and drinkware.

Wrapping it simply

A hostess gift doesn't need much: a paper bag with tissue, or a ribbon tied around the box, is enough. Glass and crystal travel better in their original packaging, so wrap over the box rather than unboxing to show the piece. If several guests are going to the same dinner, one shared gift from all of you can be more generous than several small ones.

FAQ

Do you bring a hostess gift to Thanksgiving?

It's common and usually appreciated, even if you're also bringing a dish. Something small is enough.

Should the host open a hostess gift right away?

No. It's fine for them to set it aside and open it after everyone leaves, and a note saying so helps.

Is wine a good hostess gift?

Yes, as long as you make clear it's for another night. A bottle stopper or carafe alongside it makes it feel more considered.

Ordering, delivery and returns

Holiday dinners come up quickly, so order early. U.S. delivery usually takes 4 to 10 business days, plus 1 to 5 business days to process the order, with tracking by email and free shipping on orders over $120. We ship to the contiguous U.S. and to Canada (not to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico); Canadian orders usually arrive in 4 to 13 business days including processing, with free shipping over $500. Returns are accepted within 30 days for items that are unused and in their original condition and packaging. Questions before you order? Email help@FurniFindUSA.com or message us on WhatsApp at +1 484-459-6889.