Bitcoin as a Christmas gift?

[Elwar]

I was thinking about giving Bitcoins out for Christmas to my family in a way that is as easy for them to spend or keep as possible.

What would be the best way?

[casascius]

Give a physical bitcoin or print a paper wallet from bitaddress.org.

"This year I got you Bitcoins, a new kind of money you can spend on the internet.  They also go up in value.  These have gone up in value every year for the past four years, and I believe these will go up in value a lot over the next four.  Put it in a safe place and let's find out.  They will either be worth a lot, or absolutely nothing.  If they end up worth nothing, you'll have a token that I'm a sucker for stuff like this."

[minorman]

Last christmas I gave Cassacius coins as presents. The faces of my family when I tried to explain that the "code" behind the hologram was worth 3 dollars were entertaining. They surely thought I was crazy.

Can't wait for this years christmas when I tell them what last years coins are now worth.

Also I'm seriously considering buying all this years christmas presents for bitcoin (bitmit stuff, alpaca socks, etc.)

[Phinnaeus Gage]

A row of alpaca socks with the Bitcoin logo embroidery on them line up on a mantle would be impressive.

[novusordo]

I was considering doing the same thing, probably with Casascius coins. I figure it'll get family and friends interested in Bitcoin and get them started at the same time, killing two birds with one stone! Maybe I should offer to buy them back off of them if they'd rather just have the fiat cash... I'd gladly take 'em back. 

[abracadabra]

"A donation has been made in your name to The Human Fund"