Like it or not, "re-gifting" has been a part of Christmas for years. People re-gift for a variety of reasons: to get rid of unwanted items that they'll never use, because they're short on cash or simply because they don't have enough time to go out and purchase new gifts. While not everyone agrees with the practice, it's acceptable to participate in it, as long as you follow a few basic rules.
1. First and foremost, don't tell the recipient. This likely won't accomplish anything other than hurting the other person's feelings.
2. Don't make it obvious that your present is re-gifted. You can't just go through your closet, kitchen or living room looking for items to present to someone special. Your gifts shouldn’t be worn, dirty or totally out of date. It's okay to send Christmas decorations as gifts, but not if you plucked them from your own tree or mantle.
3. Always do your own wrapping. Believe it or not, some people think it's perfectly okay to give gifts in their original, opened, torn and crinkled paper – albeit with some creative taping. This even includes the gift card in some cases! If you're re-gifting, always wrap it up like new and include a personalized card.
4. Don't make the gift random. If you receive a movie, CD or cooking tool you know you'll never use, don't just give it away to someone without thinking about his or her interests. Doing so will raise eyebrows when you give a blender to someone who never cooks or a bottle of champagne to a friend who doesn't drink.
5. Keep in mind who gave you the gift in the first place. The last thing you want to do is give it back to the original giver. You should also avoid giving the item to close friends or family members of the person, just in case they knew about the present or would show it off to them.
As long as you take the time to think about your re-gifts, you shouldn't have any embarrassing issues. If you're not sure about the etiquette, you might want to play it safe and send flowers for Christmas. Ordering doesn't take much effort, yet the gift will be unique and special.