Christmas time – a time for giving?

Christmas time is traditionally a time for giving - and for receiving!

But despite the best intentions, not every gift is well received. How often have you torn apart the wrapping hoping for one thing, and you find yourself holding something entirely different?

Maltatoday asks around to see who is happy with their gifts, and who is not.

David Agius, Nationalist MP and candidate

What is the best Christmas present you've received?

It would almost certainly be the Scaletrics set I received when I was between seven and eight years old. I had been hoping to get it for ages, and when I was given it for Christmas, I spent ages playing with it and had an amazing time.

What is the worst Christmas present you've received?

I appreciate all presents, but off-hand I cannot remember one that stood out especially.

If you could give a Christmas present to anyone who would it be? Why? What?

Good question. What I would like to do is have many small presents and give them to children coming from institutes. When I was younger I always tried to visit them and help out, so I always felt a bond with them.

This is because this is that time of year when such children feel the need to be an integral part of our society and feel that they belong. That is why I take part in annual activities like Istrina.

Who would you give your lump of coal to this year?

I don't really think that Nobody anyone deserves a lump of coal. Even if they might do ill, everyone has some good in them, so nobody really deserves a lump of coal.

***

Jessica Muscat, singer and actress

What is the best Christmas present you've received?

A diamond ring, a couple of years ago.

What is the worst Christmas present you've received?

An ugly top that I never wore, or maybe wore it once while I was washing the house.

If you could give a Christmas present to anyone who would it be? Why? What?

I would sent a flight ticket to Malta to Lady Gaga, so she could fly down here and have dinner with me at my house.

Who would you give your lump of coal to this year?

I would give it to my brother as a joke!

***

Deborah Schembri, family lawyer and Labour Party candidate

What is the best Christmas present you've received?

The best Christmas gift ever came in 2005 with the birth of my son Ryan since motherhood gave Christmas and the festive season a whole new meaning to me.

What is the worst Christmas present you've received?

Being told that I had to sit for my warrant exams between Christmas and New Year 2001. I therefore sympathise with law students who are going through it this year whilst wishing them the best of luck.

If you could give a Xmas present to anyone who would it be? Why? What?

There is nothing my parents enjoy more than having the family together on Sundays and holidays so this Christmas I will give my family my undivided attention since my Sundays have been taken over by political activities and I have been missing out on family gatherings.

Who would you give your lump of coal to this year?

I would give it to Dr Lawrence Gonzi for putting the Nationalist Party before national interest causing this country to go through a tough period of unnecessary instability.

***

Trevor Zahra, established author

What is the best Christmas present you've received?

Normally one remembers the most recent ones most. I just received Samsung Galaxy Tablet from my children. I love gadgets, and even in my work as a writer they come in handy. It is something that is already very close to my heart, and I hope to be able to use is as much as possible.

At the moment I'm still learning how to use it!

What is the worst Christmas present you've received?

I tend to not look at gifts as simply objects, but the intention behind them. So I doubt if there ever was a gift I was unhappy or disappointed by. Even if a given gift might not have been useful in itself, I still appreciated the intention and the thought behind it.

If you could give a Christmas present to anyone who would it be? Why? What?

Firstly I like giving books. I come from the literary world so I think books that are among the best gifts one can give.

However I am always saddened by those countries where children are still illiterate due to the circumstances they find themselves in. If I could, I would gift them with the knowledge of reading, because I believe that literacy is the key to all learning and progress

Who would you give your lump of coal to this year?

I am a person who is tolerant and very accepting. However those I do not agree with are those who are intolerant. They clash with my temperament. So while I do not like people who are intolerant, would still 'give' my lump of coal to the notion of intolerance, rather than those people who choose to be intolerant.

***

Mario Vella, singer

What is the best Christmas present you've received?

It's hard to pinpoint one gift, but the gifts I appreciate most are offers to go out to eat somewhere. I don't appreciate other things as much, but food and drink is a sure winner with me. This is also because of the obligation to return the gift that other sorts of gifts come with. My favourite place to eat would Salvio's, in Valletta.

What is the worst Christmas present you've received?

I'd have to say that the worst Christmas present would be free tickets to go se the Panto.

If you could give a Xmas present to anyone who would it be? Why? What?

I don't even give gifts to my Christmas gifts to my girlfriend, why would I give one to someone else?

Who would you give your lump of coal to this year?

I'd give my lump of coal to Peppi Azzopardi, for having dumbed down TV to horrific depths.