The short answer: the treat gift goes to whoever finds the whole almond in the rice pudding, and the gift should be able to delight everyone from great-grandma to grandchild. That's why many choose a small, fun or shared gift, and the traditional marzipan pig is still a safe choice.
Dims Studio's own figures: From November 2025 to October 2026, more than 40 piggy banks were sold at Dims Studio. 51% had pink as one of the colours, and half of the piggy banks sold cost under 340 DKK.
Contents
- The short answer to what a Christmas treat gift is
- What is a Christmas treat gift, and where does the tradition come from?
- How to choose the right Christmas treat gift
- The classic Christmas treat gifts that never fail
- The fun gift that stays around
- The shared Christmas treat gift: something the whole table can use
- Christmas treat gift for adults: a bit more personal
- When there are children at the table: how to cheat a little
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
On Christmas Eve, young and old gather around the same table, and that's exactly what makes the Christmas treat gift tricky to choose. It needs to delight everyone from the youngest to the oldest, without anyone feeling left out. In this guide, you'll find ideas in categories, so you can choose based on who's at the table this year and how much you feel like spending.
The short answer to what a Christmas treat gift is
The Christmas treat gift is the little gift that goes to whoever finds the whole almond in the rice pudding. Since the gift could, in principle, end up with anyone at the table, from great-grandma to the smallest grandchild, it's wise to choose something that doesn't require knowing the finder's age or taste in advance.
That's why the choice often falls on something classic and edible like the marzipan pig, something fun that stays around after Christmas Eve, or a shared gift like a Christmas puzzle that the whole party can join in on. If only adults are at the table, the gift can be a bit more personal.
What is a Christmas treat gift, and where does the tradition come from?
The Christmas treat gift goes to whoever finds the whole almond in the rice pudding at the Christmas dinner. According to tradition, there's only one whole almond in the entire batch, and part of the game is that the finder keeps their find hidden for as long as possible, so the rest of the party has to finish the whole dish first.
The custom has roots far back in time. In the 1500s, a bean was hidden in a Twelfth Night cake among distinguished French circles, and whoever found the bean was crowned king for a day. Around 1800, the bean in Denmark was replaced by the almond, and the Twelfth Night cake became rice pudding. Rice pudding with almonds is known as a Danish Christmas tradition from around 1900, but it only became the most popular Christmas dessert during and after the Second World War, when a shortage of almonds led some families to replace the whole almond with a button.
In several parts of the country, there's been a tradition that the winner of the treat gift gets to hand out the first Christmas present, making the find quite the achievement at the table. In Sweden, tradition has it that whoever finds the almond will get married before the year is out, while in Germany, people give each other marzipan pigs at New Year to ensure good luck in the year ahead.
How to choose the right Christmas treat gift
Before you choose, it can help to think about a few things: who's at the table, whether the gift should be shareable among several people, and how much you want to spend. Dims Studio has gifts in price ranges from 1-200 DKK and right up to 1000-1500 DKK, so there's room for both the small symbolic gift and the slightly bigger experience.
| Who's at the table | Idea | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Only children | A fun piggy bank shaped like an animal | It's playful and child-friendly, and it stays around long after Christmas Eve |
| Adults only | A gift card or something for wine and the table | The gift can be tailored to individual taste without becoming too personal |
| The whole family | A Christmas jigsaw puzzle or a marzipan pig | Everyone can join in, no matter their age, and no one is left with a gift they can't use |
The classic Christmas treat gifts that never fail
Most of us know the classic almond gift: a marzipan pig, a bit of sweets or chocolate, a chocolate heart or a small book. Other families have a tradition of a small board game that can be opened straight away and used for the rest of Christmas Eve.
The marzipan pig still wins, and there's a good reason for that. It doesn't require knowing the finder's age, taste or interests. Both great-grandma and the smallest grandchild can be happy with a marzipan pig, and it's easy to find and quick to go to once Christmas dinner is over and everyone is waiting eagerly.
Tip: Always choose the gift that both the fussiest and the least fussy person at the table can be happy with. That's exactly why the marzipan pig still wins.
The fun gift that stays around
If you'd like to give something that lasts longer than Christmas Eve's dessert, a piggy bank in ceramic or stoneware shaped like an animal is an obvious choice. It's a smiling nod to the traditional marzipan pig, just in a version that stays on the shelf long after the marzipan has been eaten.
A wild boar piggy bank in stoneware is the pig's slightly wilder cousin and is perfect if the finder fancies something with a twist. If you'd rather have something cuter, a guinea pig piggy bank in stoneware is a sweet alternative that works nicely for both children and adults.
Find more fun piggy banks for the almond gift in the shop.
See piggy banksThe shared Christmas treat gift: something the whole table can use
Some families prefer the almond gift to bring joy not just to the finder, but to the whole group. Here, a Christmas jigsaw puzzle from ViSSEVASSE is an obvious idea. The puzzle can be laid out on the table over the Christmas period, so everyone can join in, and the winner isn't left alone with a gift they can neither share nor show off.
It also means the almond gift becomes part of the togetherness, rather than a gift that's only about who won.
Christmas treat gift for adults: a bit more personal
If it's only adults sitting around the table, the almond gift is welcome to be a little more personal or have a touch of humour. Something for the wine or the table often works well, as it suits the evening's mood without requiring you to know the finder's exact taste. A wine stopper or a salt and pepper set are both examples of gifts that are practical and a bit fancier than the classic marzipan pig.
If you're unsure, or want to avoid getting it wrong, a gift card from Dims Studio is a handy fallback. It's available in several amounts, including 100 DKK, 250 DKK, 500 DKK and 1000 DKK, so it can be tailored to whatever you'd like to give.
When there are children at the table: how to cheat a little
In many families with children, the almond gift is a firm and much-loved tradition, and there's often a bit of cheating along the way. Some put an almond in each child's portion, so every child gets to experience finding it, while other families drop the competition altogether and instead give a gift to all the children at the same time.
If you choose that approach, it's a good idea to find several small gifts that can be handed out without one gift standing out noticeably from the others. Here, it's a good idea to look for fun and inexpensive gifts that the children can all be equally pleased with.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give as an almond gift?
The classic is a marzipan pig, but many also give a bit of sweets, a chocolate heart, a book or a small board game. The most important thing is that the gift can bring joy to everyone at the table, from the youngest to the oldest.
What's a good almond gift for adults?
When it's only adults sitting around the table, the gift is welcome to be a little more personal or humorous, for example something for the wine or the table. A gift card is a handy fallback if you're unsure.
Why is the almond gift often a marzipan pig?
Because the marzipan pig can bring joy to everyone, regardless of age and taste. It's easy to find, simple to enjoy, and it's been part of the tradition since the old days.
Where does the almond gift tradition come from?
The tradition is believed to stem from a French custom from the 1500s involving a bean hidden in a Twelfth Night cake. Around 1800, the bean was replaced by the almond, and the cake became rice pudding, which later became risalamande.
What do you do with the almond gift when there are several children?
Many families with children cheat a little by hiding a whole almond in each child's portion, so everyone gets to experience finding it. Others choose instead to give a gift to all the children at once.
How much should an almond gift cost?
There's no fixed rule, but Dims Studio has gifts ranging from 1-200 DKK up to 1000-1500 DKK, so you can tailor the price to what you feel like spending.
Summary
The almond gift doesn't have to be hard to choose. Think about who's sitting at the table, and go for either the classic marzipan pig, a fun money box that stays put, a shared Christmas jigsaw puzzle or something a bit more personal for a table with only adults.
Read also
- Money boxes: Fun and decorative storage boxes
- Christmas table setting: how to lay the Christmas table
- Gift wrap and wrapping: make the gift complete
- Gift-swapping game for adults: gift ideas without blowing the budget
- Mulled wine: how to make it, and what goes with it
- Hot cocoa: make it with cocoa powder or chocolate
- Christmas lunch menu: the classic menu and good planning
Ready to find this year's almond gift?
Whether the table includes great-grandma, children or only adults, there's an almond gift to suit. Get inspired by the whole range at Dims Studio.
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