Whether you want to admit it or not, for many people, Christmas is about presents!  Children run to the tree on Christmas morning, hoping to see lots of gifts from Santa!!  Some adults start buying gifts early in the summer while others who procrastinate, run to the mall in the week before the holiday!

Christmas’s gift-giving tradition has its roots in the Three Kings’ offerings to the infant Jesus. The magi traveled to Bethlehem to present Christ gifts. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches and European countries still celebrate the traditional date of the Magi’s arrival — January 6 or Three Kings’ Day — with a Christmas-like gift exchange.

Santa Claus, the popular bearer of gifts, started popping up in ads and stores about 1850. By 1867, the Macy’s department store in New York City stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve, allowing last-minute shoppers to make their purchases.  Today, Christmas is a bona fide gift-giving bonanza.

Many fans of Clay Aiken try to shop for gifts that have more meaning than some other presents.  They look at the different organizations that have meaning to Clay and see if there is a way that they might help.

The following sites all have interesting gifts for Christmas.  Each site has many things that would put a smile on faces on Christmas Day.  Please check them out.  It’s a win-win situation!

How about some Tried & True Concert tickets?

The Mesa Arts Center offers Black Friday ticket discounts. What a great way to attend a concert, or introduce Clay to some friends.  And, Arizona is a great place to visit in the winter.

From their site:

If you’re the type that thinks giving an experience is far more memorable than giving a pair of Christmas boxers or a singing Ninja hamster, this is a Black Friday sale for you.

Tickets to select shows will be discounted to $24 during Mesa Arts Center’s Black Friday Sale. Good for all upcoming “Performing Live” shows, the deal includes concerts by Dave Koz, Lang Lang, Josh Bell, Wynton Marsalis, Clay Aiken, Steve Tyrell and Nikki Yanofsky. Performances include “Menopause The Musical,” “Girls Night: The Musical,” “The Aluminum Show” and “Video Games Live.”
Tickets will be available 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday at mesaartscenter.com. They will also be available 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday by phone at (480) 644-6500 or in person at the box office, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. In any case, you must use the code “BLACKFRIDAY” at checkout.

Tickets will be available in limited numbers. To see which shows are included in the sale, hover over “Performances,” then click “Performing Live” at mesaartscenter.com.

Clay donated a lot of time to raise money for BroadwayCares/Equity Fight Aids. This wonderful organization has lots of wonderful gift ideas in their store.  How about….

For $10.00:

If you’re a Broadway musical lover, then this shirt will fit you to a “T”! With over twenty of your favorite Broadway musical logos emblazoned on the front, this black 100% cotton tee will be the envy of all your friends.

Logos include:
The Addams Family, American Idiot, Billy Elliot, Chicago, Come Fly Away, Fela!, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, La Cage aux Folles, The Lion King, A Little Night Music, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Memphis, Million Dollar Quartet, next to normal, The Phantom of the Opera, Promises, Promises, Rock of Ages, South Pacific, West Side Story, Wicked and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

This store offers anything you would like from Broadway…anything from special Playbills to posters, shirts and Christmas decorations. Visit them at BroadwayCares

When was the last time you visited the store at the National Inclusion Project? They have some very nice merchandise that would be great for Christmas gifts.  Look at this great shirt for just $35.00

Be sure and visit their shop at NationalInclusionShop

We all know that Clay Aiken is involved with UNICEF. This wonderful organization helps children throughout the world.  This is a wonderful place to pick up this years holiday cards or some wonderful packages for under the tree.

This is a gift I am getting for my grandchildren:

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, UNICEF’s Eminent Advocate for Children, co-authors a lively picture book about finding common ground amid cultural differences. Includes pre-printed letter from Queen Rania. 32 pages. Hardcover. Ages 4–8. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan campaigns for the rights of children everywhere, particularly focusing on education. Recently, she co-authored The Sandwich Swap to spread a goodwill message of cross-cultural understanding.  This book is priced at $16.99.

Please visit this extensive store for clothing, jewelry, cards and many other wonderful items.  You can link right HERE

I hope that these suggestions will make your shopping just a little bit easier for all of you.  Each site is fun to see and a great place to shop for the holidays!