If you’re like me and procrastinate on holiday shopping, this time of year can be a bit daunting. However, with some assistance, you can swiftly check off friends and family on your list and that’s where I come in. I’ve returned with a revamped edition of my Macabre Holiday Gift Guide. It’s ideal for anyone you know that has an appreciation for all things strange and unusual. The items featured here are more likely to be delivered by Krampus and are sure to appeal to those who are dreaming of a black Xmas. Season’s Screamings, everyone!
Note: This blog post contains NO affiliate links. I’m just linking to websites for readers’ convenience and reference.
Dark Art
Ah, one of my great loves is macabre artwork and because I’m a patron of the dark arts, I must include a section for it on this list. For those who don’t know, I have a mini dark art gallery in my home, which holds special significance to me. I’ve attended plenty of dark art exhibitions over the years, so I want to recommend a few artists to check out. I know original paintings can carry a hefty price tag, but many of these artists have budget-friendly print versions of their work available.
David Van Gough: Read my interview with the artist in this blog post.
Karikatura: Get a look inside her solo exhibit at the Dark Art Emporium.
PeeMonster: Another dark artist who hosted a solo art exhibition at the Dark Art Emporium.
Fashion
Who doesn’t appreciate getting new garment pieces to add to their wardrobe? It may come as no surprise that black dominates my closet, but there are splatters of blood red, deep purples and other dark shades. Following are a few brands that specialize in styles that are gothic and alternative. For instance, La Femme en Noir just dropped a Dracula-inspired collection this fall. Get ready to shop till you drop.
Eclipsed Emporium: Learn more about the goth boutique and the owner in this blog post.
Toxic Vision: This is fashion that’s not for the faint of heart. Definitely for all those who are on the naughty list this year.
Food & Drink
If you want to satiate the cravings of the foodie in your life, I have some ideas on how you can do that. Whether they enjoy cooking, drinking, eating or all of the above, they’re sure to die for these goodies.
Beetle House Reservations: If the person you’re gifting lives in or around Los Angeles or New York City, then treating them to dinner at the Halloween-themed restaurant Beetle House would make for a fun outing. I’ve dined at the LA location several times and love it.
The Horror Movie Night Cookbook
Miss Havisham’s Curiosities: Proper and killer fine china, including teacups, plates and more.
Petals & Poison: This lovely shop specializes in a variety of tea blends and embodies a Victorian aesthetic. For the holidays, they’ve released The Winter Manor collection, but they also have a Halloween Forever series and a range of haunting trinkets.
Vampire Wines: Before I gave up alcohol, I tried a selection of wines from Vampire Vineyards. I love vampires and I had an appreciation for wine, especially reds. Although I no longer imbibe, their varietals are quite nice. You can read my review in this blog post if you want to get a better sense of the brand. They also have gourmet coffee, chocolate and their own absinthe cocktail.
Games
Games make great gifts for spooky kids and adults. Of course, there are classics, like the Ouija board, which may be too morbid for some. Here are a few board games, video games and other items that are sure to entertain and send chills up your spine.
American McGee’s Alice: This video game was released in 2000 and puts a demented spin on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I first learned about it during my freshman year in college where we studied it alongside the original story in my literature class. I’m no good at video games and never tried this one out, but the trailer is amazing. It may be tough to get your hands on a copy today, but I noticed PC versions on ebay and there is related merch on sale too.
Funko Games Scream: The Game Party
The Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly
Vampire the Masquerade: This role playing game debuted in 1991 and is very popular within the goth and vampire subcultures. The brand, World of Darkness, has other macabre role playing games as well.
Home Décor
As someone who has a gothic and Victorian-inspired living room known as the Vamp Lounge, I’m all about dark home décor. And it makes for an excellent gift because there are many types of pieces you can look for, from wallpaper to bedding. Check out these recommendations.
Aurelio Voltaire: New York Times dubbed him the “Martha Stewart for macabre homemakers” due to his popular YouTube series Gothic Homemaking, which I absolutely adore! Well, he also has an online store filled with all sorts of gothic pieces for your home, including coffin-shaped cabinets and horror-inspired storage boxes.
Vamp Manor: I interviewed the lady of this shop on my blog. She and her husband handcraft beautiful bespoke pieces that are one-of-a-kind.
Literature
I love sinking my fangs into a good book, so here are some suggestions the bookworm in your life might cherish.
Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles: Any lover of vampire fiction has a place in their heart for Anne Rice who sadly died in December 2021. Her legacy lives on and her series The Vampire Chronicles would make a heartfelt gift. I’ve read all of them; I should know.
The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth: A good read for anyone interested in learning about the goth subculture. Check out my interview with the author, John Robb, in this blog post.
Rose Sinister’s This Crimson Debt: This vampire historian came out with her own vampire story earlier this year titled This Crimson Debt. I read it and it’s fangtastic! Read my interview with Rose Sinister in this blog post.
Movies & TV
There are so many horror films and scary movie collections that would make great holiday presents. Here are some other ideas inspired by both the big and small screens.
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: If you know someone who is a fan of this drag competition show that embodies horror, filth and glamour, then snag them some merch from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula online store.
Talk to Me Party Hand: Yes! This is a replica of the creepy hand from the film. Caution: You may make contact with spirits.
Wednesday: Hot Topic and Netflix have some merch inspired by the TV show. My little sister surprised me with the Wednesday Nevermore Academy Mini Backpack from Hot Topic for my birthday, and I love it.
Music
There’s nothing like having a dark soundtrack playing in the background to get me in a sinister mood as I work, read or just relax. Although you can listen to a lot of music on streaming platforms these days, sometimes it’s still nice to have a physical copy of a beloved album, like a CD or vinyl record. They also make neat collector’s items. Here are some musicians to check out.
Midnight Syndicate: Midnight Syndicate produces horror and gothic instrumental music. They released a new album called The Brimstone Club.
The Sixth Chamber: The gothic metal band recently dropped their third LP titled Beyond the Night Veil.
Spirit Tomb: This artist produces beautiful gothic, ethereal music. Don’t miss my interview with him in this blog post.
Spirituality
If the person you’re shopping for is on the path to enlightenment, items that support their spiritual hygiene will be much appreciated. Whether they’re a witch, Satanist or part of another spiritual practice, the following are brands to peruse.
Auralign: The shop is now selling 2024 astrology planners. These are great for individuals who enjoy working with the moon. I plan to get one for myself.
The Crooked Path: An occult apothecary based in Burbank, CA, but they ship across the U.S. Not sure if they ship internationally though, so if you’re outside of the United States, you may want to contact them to find out.
The Dreamkeepers Tarot by Liz Huston
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
Good post jenn vamp- seem to be having difficulty ‘ liking ‘ posts. Liked your post but not sure it got through.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries. The app gives me trouble too. Thank you for checking out my guide!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved American McGee’s Alice…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never got the chance to play the game, but from what I saw, it looked so cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, it was amazing! I probably should have hung onto it, but I couldn’t find a system that it still worked on anyway, so…I have the soundtrack too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The soundtrack is awesome! I bought the CD of the first one. Years later, they came out with a sequel called Alice: Madness Returns. That soundtrack is on spotify and is really good too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that would be awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person