Cultural Figures as Gifts

For the holidays, cherubs and angels in the form of figurines, ornaments, statues, and even sitting at the top of the Christmas tree are a time-honored, classic gift. These cultural figures have been adored for centuries because of what they symbolize to the people who collect them.

Most of our representations of cherubs consist of chubby babies with adorable faces and little wings, frolicking up in the clouds, occasionally shooting an arrow of love into the hearts of lovers. In the Bible, cherubs are actually the size of full grown men with wings. People who are drawn to cherubs associate them with Cupid and love. They symbolize innocence, and perhaps a touch of fate. In the Bible, angels are messengers of God; archangels are warriors doing God's bidding, and they serve as the middleman between human beings and God. Angels have a similar appeal to us as cherubs. In pictures, sculptures, and stories, angels stand for someone pure who is watching over us. Sometimes t hey stand for someone we loved who died young or unexpectedly and therefore watches over us from above in heaven. When we give someone an angel as a gift, it stands for the protection we wish to bestow upon them.

A very popular way to top off the Christmas tree is with an ornate angel with the inside of the bottom of her dress hollowed out, so as to fit on top of the Douglas fir. Many people collect angel and cherub figurines; Precious Moments and Thomas Kinkade are among the top collected sets. Willow Tree collectible angels from and cherubs, made by Hallmark, are among the most varied and expressive angels; their blank faces and varied positions and props make them a touching and versatile gift.

Another excellent choice for adorable collectibles as gifts is the Sherrat & Simpson line of dogs and cats collectibles. These tiny, intricate sculptures are as varied as they are detailed; there are many brands from which to choose, such as a bulldog, Jack Russell terrier, or German Shepherd. The Sherrat & Simpson brand also branches out to other precious animals; you can find a black bear, a lion cub and even a seal and pup.

If you're buying gifts for those who are n't particularly sentimental, but still have the desire to collect something spiritual, there are voodoo dolls. Voodoo dolls are as old as slavery, as they came into existence with the Voodoo religion in New Orleans, Lousiana and partly from the Voodoo religion in Haiti. Voodoo dolls originated as messengers to the afterlife when someone who was still alive wanted to contact those who had passed away. The general perception today is that Voodoo dolls are used to get revenge on someone who has harmed or disadvantaged the owner of the doll. In movies and pop culture, voodoo dolls were made with a lock of hair or something the person owned and then stabbed, beaten or otherwise harmed in order to exact the revenge. In either case, they are a great collector's item for strong believers or novelty gift for casual collectors.

There are "authentic" New Orleans Voodoo dolls that start around $27.00 and can go upwards of $250.00. www.igiftToys.com is a terrific place to start. For the collector who isn't interested in authenticity or revenge, the Dayu series of Voodoo dolls are an excellent choice. They are made in China and are whimsical, cute dolls. There are several series of Dayu Voodoo dolls, such as the "Love me Tender" series, the "Sooth Healing" series and the "Angelic Devil series."