Christmas Gifts for Mom or Grandma: How to Choose a Snow Globe She'll Love

Ask Mom or Grandma what she wants for Christmas and you'll often hear "Oh, nothing." The gifts that end up meaning the most are often the ones she brings out again every December. A snow globe is one of those: it lives in a box most of the year, then comes back each winter with the same scene and the same music.

This guide covers how to choose a snow globe she'll actually use, the practical details worth checking, and a few short card messages to go with it.

A gift with a long history

Snow globes have been around for well over a century. They were already on display at the 1878 Paris Exposition, and an Austrian instrument maker, Erwin Perzy, made them popular at the end of the 19th century. His family business in Vienna still makes snow globes today. Part of the appeal is that they feel a little old-fashioned in the best way, which is often exactly what moms and grandmas love about Christmas.

Start with what she loves

The scene inside matters more than anything else. Pick one that matches something she already cares about:

• Her faith: a Nativity or church scene puts the meaning of Christmas at the center. See our Nativity & Church snow globes.
• Someone she misses: many people see a red cardinal as a sign that a loved one is near. If this is her first Christmas without someone, a cardinal can say a lot without words. Our guide to what a cardinal means at Christmas covers how to choose one.
• Small-town Christmas: a snowy village, a little church or a Christmas tree scene suits someone who loves a traditional, nostalgic look.
• A sense of fun: snowmen and Santa scenes are cheerful and easy to place anywhere in the house.

Practical details worth checking

• A timer, so she doesn't have to remember. Many of our snow globes have a 6-hour timer: switched on in timer mode, they glow for 6 hours, turn off, and come back on 18 hours later, so the light returns at the same time every day.
• Music, or light only. Some globes have a switch with a light-only setting. That's useful if she enjoys the glow every evening but doesn't want carols on repeat.
• Power. Most of our snow globes run on a USB cable or on batteries, so they can go near an outlet or anywhere on a shelf. Batteries are not included, so tuck a pack in with the gift.
• Size. Check the measurements against the spot you have in mind. A 13-inch lantern makes a centerpiece on a dining table; a smaller globe fits a bookshelf or side table.
• Where it will sit. Keep it out of direct sunlight. Sunlight passing through the water can discolor it, and a water-filled globe can focus sunlight like a magnifying glass. These are indoor decorations, not toys.

A few we'd start with

Every figure inside our snow globes is painted by hand, and each one arrives in a gift box.

• Village Church Snow Globe Lantern: a hand-crafted village church, Christmas tree and red bird inside a 13 x 5.5 x 5 inch lantern. It plays Christmas songs and has the 6-hour timer, and runs on a USB cable or 3 AA batteries.
• 12.6-Inch Nativity Snow Globe: a Nativity scene in a round lantern that plays "Silent Night". It comes with a USB cable or takes 3 AAA batteries, and has the 6-hour timer.
• Christmas Village Snow Globe: a village with Christmas trees and a snowman. It plays 8 Christmas songs, includes a USB cable (or takes 3 AA batteries), and has a light-only setting.
• Cardinal Snow Globe Lantern: an 8.2-inch lantern with a hand-painted cardinal, 8 Christmas melodies and the 6-hour timer.

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Card messages for Mom or Grandma

• "For the evenings you sit down after everyone's gone home."
• "So a little of Christmas morning stays out all season."
• "Thank you for every Christmas you made for us."
• "For the one who always makes the house feel like home."

Sources

• Wikipedia, Snow globe (1878 Paris Exposition; Erwin Perzy's family business in Vienna)