How Millennials and Gen Z are redefining gifting during the festive season

While Diwali the lsquoFestival of Lightsrsquo has always been an occasion for heartfelt generosity the festive season is seeing a profound generational shift in values with the exchange of gifts The act of gifting is no longer a simple transactional exchange of goods it is a statement of personal philosophy blending utility with ethical consumptionWhile Millennials often gift for practicality and health their younger counterparts Gen Z prioritise experience and ethical sourcing leading to a delightful clash of kitchen appliances and upcycled candlesThis festive season readers reveal the most awkward and functional gifts theyrsquove received which predictable ones should be retired and dwell on the generational disparity of this customary exchangeThe hilariously awkward giftThe most memorable Diwali gifts are frequently the most mismatched creating a delightful albeit sometimes awkward clash of intentionsMillennial student Praneet Bomma recalls receiving a set of handmade candles from a Gen Z cousin ldquoExcept they were made from melteddown leftover wax from old onesrdquo His initial reaction was disbelief but the surprise turned to appreciation ldquoWhat I had really thought was a weird gift for Diwali ended up being one of the most creative and memorable gifts Irsquove received It made me realise that the younger generation really knows how to turn simple ideas into something meaningful and sustainablerdquoOn the flip side Halle Kotian was less thrilled with a practical offering from the older generation two Borosil pans The 22yearold shares ldquoI mean donrsquot get me wrong theyrsquore nice practical and Irsquoll probably use them someday but when I opened the gift all that builtup Diwali excitement fizzled out faster than a sparkler in the rainrdquoKotian joked that the gift made her feel very mature ldquoI was halfexpecting something a little more festive chocolates a candle set maybe even something quirky or personal It made me feel like yoursquove officially crossed the threshold into adulthood when people stop giving you sweets and start giving you kitchenware Although to be fair maybe for some people that is fun But for me Letrsquos just say I didnrsquot see myself getting emotionally attached to ovensafe glassware this DiwalirdquoHowever sometimes the old school gifts come through Niraj Bomma client servicing executive at Better Communications admitted that while receiving a big box of assorted dry fruits from a relative felt super traditional at first the 24yearold ended up loving it ldquoIt lasted weeks and became my goto snack during latenight Netflix binges Sometimes the oldschool gifts actually come throughrdquoThe thoughtfulness scale Intention over indulgenceWhen judging how thoughtful a gift is both generations agree on one thing price matters less than personalisationFor Praneet a thoughtful gift is one that feels personal He shares ldquoSomething that shows the person actually paid attention to what I like or need Itrsquos less about how much they spent and more about the thought behind itrdquo He believes this is where the generations overlap valuing intention over indulgenceNiraj strongly echoed this sentiment saying ldquoFor me itrsquos all about how well the gift matches my personality and values Even something small feels meaningful if it shows that the person actually knows me like a book Irsquove been wanting to read or a handmade itemrdquoHalle crystallised the feeling stating the top criterion is how well the gift aligns with her personality and values ldquoItrsquos about that subtle sense of they really know me To me a thoughtful gift is one that says I see you I know what makes you smile and I picked this with that in mindrdquoThe adulting gift Utility is the new luxuryFor Millennials many of whom are now established homeowners and young parents the most valued gifts are those that simplify life promote health and add genuine longterm utility to their domestic spaces Gifts are viewed as investments in quality of life a concept that often translates into practical household appliances and wellnessfocused consumables While Gen Z might roll their eyes at the Borosil pans millennials have embraced the utility gift as a sign of progressPraneet confessed that the most adult gift he received was an air fryer ldquoAt first I laughed because it felt too practical But now I use it almost every day and swear by it What once felt like a boring utility item now feels like the smartest gift everrdquoSimilarly fellow millennial and public relations executive at Nidhi and Mihir PR Henali Meghani found an emotional connection with her new appliance ldquoThe coffee machine I got for Diwali felt personal Itrsquos when I realised grownup gifts can be emotional too Nothing says welcome to adulthood like being genuinely thrilled about brewing your own perfect cup every morningrdquoEthics and sustainability rank high for Gen ZGen Z approaches gifting through a lens of conscious consumerism and ethical value For this generation a gifts storymdashits origin environmental impact and social benefitmdashoften outweighs its price tag When asked if its more important for a gift to be sustainable and ethical or expensive and highquality Niraj was clear ldquoFor me sustainability definitely wins over pricerdquoHalle expanded on this noting that a gift that is ecoconscious or supports local artisans feels more personal and aligns with celebrating responsibly She even tackled the tricky question of preowned items ldquoA vintage silk scarf a carefully restored piece of jewellery or a preloved coffeetable book with a story behind it those can feel elegant and meaningful At the end of the day the magic lies in the thought and emotion behind the gift not its retail valuerdquoThe future of gifting Ditching the predictableThe most unified sentiment across both generations is the widespread rejection of the massproduced factorystyle sweet boxMillennials Praneet and Henali both agreed to let go of the sweet boxes with Henali noting ldquoTheyvelost their charm somewhere as it feels too transactional now We all know what happens to the soan papdi gift boxes we usually receiverdquoHalle thinks of the standard factorystyle boxes as a safe option that feels more like a formality than an actual gift Niraj also advocates for gifts that feel fresh and thoughtful ldquoI will skip the predictable gifts that everyone gives every yearrdquoThe message is clear the modern Diwali gifting landscape is no longer defined by grandeur or cost but by intentionality Whether youre gifting a healthy air fryer or a sustainable artisanal hamper both Millennials and Gen Z demand gifts that are functional meaningful and reflective of a shared value system