Key facts for Chile
Christmas is the main corporate gifting occasion, alongside year-end parties.
How companies in Chile give year-end gifts
In Chile, companies give employees a canasta navideña or caja navideña in December, often with pan de pascua, cola de mono ingredients or other seasonal products, and many also pay an aguinaldo de Navidad, which is common though not universally mandatory. A second gifting moment exists around Fiestas Patrias in September. Clients and partners usually receive branded items, wine, chocolates or gift boxes with a card in Spanish. Gifts are delivered in the first half of December, before year-end parties and the summer holidays that begin in January and peak in February. Large companies and public bodies have compliance policies, and Chile's corporate liability law encourages documented gift controls. December is summer, so chocolate requires attention in transit. Office parties take place in mid-December, often outdoors because of the summer weather.
Gift occasions in Chile
Christmas (Navidad)
Main occasion; employers commonly give staff a Christmas basket or bonus.
Fiestas Patrias
Another traditional occasion for employee bonuses and gifts.
Good practice
- Deliver in the first half of December.
- Write cards in Spanish and address named contacts.
- Consider Fiestas Patrias in September as a second gifting moment.
- Plan for summer heat when shipping chocolate.
Avoid
- Avoid gifts to public officials; Chilean law imposes corporate liability for bribery.
- Avoid overly expensive client gifts, which may conflict with corporate policies.
Design and wording
Christmas wording is fully appropriate.
Gift policies
Law 20,393 establishes corporate criminal liability for bribery, and public officials face gift restrictions.
Delivery to Chile
Imports clear Chilean customs and IVA applies; the EU–Chile trade agreement can reduce duties for EU-origin goods. Food imports are subject to sanitary controls, so food shipments are checked before quoting. December is summer here, so chocolate needs fast transit and should not sit in hot depots; tea, plush, baubles and empty calendars travel more safely.
Planning dates for Chile
| Order personalized stock advent calendars by | 6 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Order Christmas hampers by | 13 Nov 2026 |
| Fully custom calendars for 2027 — order between | 01.2027 – 08.2027 |
Indicative planning dates; exact dates are confirmed in your proposal.
Recommended formats for Chile
Tea & coffee calendars
A tea or coffee advent calendar with your logo is a measured, practical gift for clients and colleagues who prefer to avoid sweets.
Plush & merch calendars
A merchandise advent calendar distributes your branded items across 24 doors: socks, pins, stickers, small plush and treats, each carrying your logo.
Empty calendar boxes
For companies that already have the filling: custom printed advent calendar boxes in bulk, designed around your products and delivered flat or…
Beauty calendars
A beauty advent calendar is a premium December gift.
Baubles with logo
Most promotional items are discarded within weeks.
Christmas plush
Plush is made in our own workshop in Biała Podlaska, Poland: ready Christmas teddies with your embroidered logo, and custom plush mascots based on…
Frequently asked questions
What is a canasta navideña in Chile?
A Christmas box of food and treats that many employers give to staff in December.
Is 8 December a holiday in Chile?
Yes, the Immaculate Conception is a public holiday.
Can we send chocolate to Chile in December?
Yes, but it is summer, so fast transit is important; tea or non-food gifts travel more safely.