The festive season is a time for gift-giving, sharing and indulging in all that’s fun, heartfelt and delicious. While most will be celebrating Christmas a little differently this year, the last few months have highlighted the very reasons to find happy moments wherever we can, and this festive season, Woolworths can help you do just that.

This year, Woolies Christmas has fashion and accessories that are on-trend, delicious food, decorative homeware, fabulous foliage and a wonderful variety of gifting options of everything from the best presents for foodies to luxury beauty brands and Woolworths own range of beauty products, WBeauty. All of these things and heart-warming community spirit come together in true festive splendour. Happy little moments are born from care, connection, kindness, loads of fun and sweet surprises. Let Woolies help you share the magic with the ones who matter most – yourself, your loved ones and all the amazingly colourful individuals who call our country home.

A countdown to the end of the year has never seemed more alluring, so a Woolies Christmas Advent Calendar will appeal to kids and adults alike! Get the little ones into the spirit in the month leading up to the big day, with Christmas-themed platters, plates and cups. Breakfast is bound to be even more exciting with a festive animal or Santa printed mug and bowl. Our range of novelty headbands will put a smile on the most serious of faces, and have them add their own crackers and baubles to the Christmas décor. A cuddly companion will never go amiss, so pop an adorable friend, like a stuffed reindeer, llama, Santa Clause or little elf, under the tree on Christmas morning.

Even if you’re having a family Christmas via Zoom, it’s a great excuse to add some festive cheer to your backdrop. Wherever you are, set the celebratory scene with the splendid range of decorations and Christmas-themed homeware items. For something a little different, this year’s range is big on summer fun and features an Afro-jungle theme, with bold tropical and animal prints, florals and brightly coloured characters taking centre stage. Greens, blues and dashes of turquoise and red, in both matte and lustrous shine, bring just the right amount of special spirit to the range of crackers, baubles and tree ornaments – with elegant touches of gold and silver to add the obligatory Christmas sparkle.

And who knew that playful-chic was even a thing? Adorable animal ornaments add a quirky element to an elegantly decorated tree. Deck your home in bright and fabulous foliage for some added Christmas cheer, and adorn the front door with a pine, star or heart-shaped wreath. If you’re not one for an extra-large tree in the corner of your living room, why not consider one of our delightful little miniatures – glitter trees with LED lights, or perfect simplicity in a cement base, to add that Christmas charm to a living space of any size. (Hint: a forest of minis looks fantastic).

Speaking of trees, sustainability is at the heart of Woolworths’ business. Reducing waste, reusing and recycling resources are highly valued. Our Christmas lights, packed in recyclable packaging, are L.E.D, so they last longer than regular lightbulbs and are kinder to the environment. All Woolworths (FSC N002141) wrapping paper (locally produced) and gift bags are made from Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-certified paper, which helps take care of forests and the people and wildlife who call them home. Woolworths also gladly paves the way to endorsing and developing extraordinary talent, nurtured and grown on South African soil. We try as far as possible to employ and empower local talent and creativity, adding authenticity to products and creating employment opportunities. Our Christmas crackers are made locally in a Fair Trade certified factory and our boxes are made from FSC-certified and fully recyclable materials. It’s also great to know that our cracker gifts for 2020 are single use and plastic free! Our Christmas stockings are locally made by unemployed youth, creating opportunities for skills training and education.

We have once again collaborated with an inspiring empowerment project, this year in the production of some extraordinary Christmas baubles—they’re made from recycled water bottles and other plastics. Essay Gifts employs people who are immune compromised with issues related to HIV, and assists them in perfecting a craft. These individuals are sole breadwinners often supporting up to seven dependents, and having this opportunity not only equips them with a practical skill, but it also creates a platform for them to sustainably support their families. Customers will be able to lend their support by purchasing these beautiful baubles to display as part of their Christmas home décor.

It feels good to do good, even when it’s for yourself. Make sure the festive feels begin with you, with Woolies’ range of personal care and beauty items. All products in our WBeauty range are 100% vegan and are endorsed by Beauty Without Cruelty—the day and night creams, toners, cleansers and masks will make sure you and your loved ones feel fresh and revitalised as the holiday season kicks in. And trusted brand favourites such as Clarins, Nuxe, Clinique, Lancôme and REN, available individually or in gift sets, serve as the ideal gift for anyone who knows their skin deserves star treatment. For a visually vibrant gift set, Woolies has you sorted with Longmarket gift boxes in multiple variants; and the Longmarket bath bomb crackers or bath trio sets pack a punch of colour and pretty scent.

Glam up or be the reason someone looks and feels like the best version of themselves, with something special from WBeauty, like the WBeauty Lipstick And Nail Polish Set, or Woolies’ range of branded makeup items and sets, like the Elizabeth Arden Blockbuster Make Up Collection, Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick or the Smashbox Cosmetics New Metals Cover Shot Eye Palettes. There’s also the fabulous new range of products made in collaboration with international makeup artist Sir John.

Woolies’ selection of fine fragrances make for a thoughtfully elegant gift; perfect for someone right at the top of your gift list. Be it perfumes from brands such as Narciso Rodriguez, Givenchy or Yves Saint Laurent, or Longmarket Fragrance sachets, for a luxurious aroma in your living space and wardrobe, your senses will be delighted.

If food is your love language you’re spoilt for choice. You can’t go wrong with gifting a DIY Foodie kit, such as the flapjack mix that comes together with a perfect pancake pan. Or perhaps you’d like to stock up on a few gifts for your own pantry, such as bake-your-own veggie bread (packaged in a handwoven basket made out of renewable raw materials), do-it-yourself soft cheese, beer bread mix, traditional malva pudding or decadent butter biscuits.

Sweet treats are always a win! Our wide selection of deliciously delightful biscuits, beautifully packaged in charmingly detailed printed boxes and tins are sure to treat the eye and satisfy collectors of the annual designs. All butter plain or chocolate dipped shortbread, hand decorated gingerbread biscuits in a festive wreath tin, chocolate chip biscuits and a delicious selection of oat and oat & choc chip crunchies are but a few items from a wide range that will leave you salivating. And the quaintly packaged traditional soetkoekie biscuits, made with condensed milk and dusted in sugar, will take you right back to your childhood years.

There are handcrafted tins of chocolate, crunchy peanut brittle and handmade traditional fudge made with butter, and let’s not forget the handcrafted nougat. Woolies’ Holiday Treats comes in all shapes and tastes – Soft Eating Gums, Candy Coated Mallow Pops, Fantastical Eggs, Chuckles and Jellybeans. More novelty sweet treats like the Giant Mallow Pies (made with real chocolate and free-range eggs) or the Santa or Unicorn Wand filled with Fantastical Multi Coloured Eggs will delight little recipients.

Striking, yet contemporary classic. This best describes the ceramic mugs which house aromatically rich blends of tea in our Tea Ceremony kits. Each mug in these kits was handcrafted by a young artisan from Macassar Pottery, learning a new craft and securing an income. If you’re more of a coffee aficionado, maybe the Coffee Caddy is just the thing – organic, ground coffee blend, housed in an elegant blue container. Perhaps the wood-aged Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, or the Morgenster Estate Olive Oil with herbaceous and grassy notes will pique your fancy.

It might interest you to know that the cocoa in our chocolate is responsibly sourced; better for farmers, their families and the planet. All our biscuits are locally baked, and our extra-special shortbread is made with free range eggs and butter for a rich, caramelised flavour. Our confectionery is handcrafted, with time-honoured recipes, using real butter, free range eggs and badger-friendly honey.

And since the ban has been lifted, what would a celebration be without an elegant bottle of wine or bubbly? Choose from greats like Pierre Jourdan Sparkling Tranquille Blush, exclusively available at Woolies, or Woolworths Signature Vintage Reserve Brut Cap Classique – our premium Cap Classique. Whatever your selection, it’s sure to add that bit of dazzle to the table and be the perfect tipple to toast to the New Year.

Since so much of the significance of the season is to share a little bit of happiness and make meaningful gestures, it’s fitting that Woolworths is still very much committed to help in the fight against hunger. The business has set a goal to help feed our communities by giving one million meals this Christmas. It takes so little to do so much—R10 feeds one person three meals for one day —so we’re inviting customers to give what they can between 2nd November to 31st December 2020 to achieve this goal. There are multiple ways to donate (you can swipe, scan, buy a cause related bag or bracelet or donate via EFT, credit or debit card), so we really have made it easy to give back and make a big difference. Visit www.woolworths.co.za/zerohunger for more information about this initiative.

Whatever your needs – delightful, delicious or different – Woolies has Christmas sorted for you, and no matter how you’re celebrating, it’s time to spread a little happiness. And although you’re spoilt for choice, if you just can’t decide, a Woolies gift card is always guaranteed to make your intended recipient smile. Of course many will continue to practice social distancing this festive season, so it’s a great option to use Woolworths’ convenient and contactless Click & Collect service, or you can opt to get everything you want delivered straight to your door from www.woolworths.co.za.