How Gift Giving Started and Why We Do It

Most people would agree that best time of the year would have to be Christmas. Aside from the season being a time of raging gift exchanges and stress, it is also the period of the year when most families get together and enjoy each other’s company. For others, it is a momentous occasion to celebrate the birth of our Savior, but as the birth of commercialism, this religious basis is often missed. Nonetheless, several people wonder as to how Christmas began, and especially gift giving in particular.

Christmas celebration owes its origin from the ancient winter festivals. At that time, Christianity was trying to curb the tradition and have more people to convert. But soon they realized that more people would likely follow the religion if they do not have to lose their beloved customary winter festival.

In the Middle Ages, celebrating Christmas comprised of drinking, merrymaking and caroling. However, Puritans were abhorrent with these feasting, that was seemingly in Christ’s name. Thus, Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas 1654 on these grounds. On the other hand, gift exchanges were done on New Year’s Day in England.

The most popular icon being correlated with Christmas is no other than Santa Claus, who is also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Pere Noel and Sinterklaas. This representation of him was created by Thomast Nast, a cartoonist, in 1863, and in 1920s it was standardized by publications. The myth of Santa Claus emanates perhaps from the stories of Saint Nicholas – although the image was thought to symbolize drunkenness and merriment in 15th century Britain. Presently, Santa is considered to be a big man in red suit who brings gifts at Christmas to those kids who have been good for the past year. However in South America, legend has it that he makes toys to be delivered by baby Jesus.

The impression of gift giving during Christmas is one of the primary queries here and it has a very clear-cut answer. The tradition takes its roots in the magi (or wise men) who brought presents to the infant Jesus. As a matter of fact, some Eastern Orthodox Churches and countries in Europe still commemorate the original date of the Magi’s arrival – 6th of January – with some sort of gift exchange. In history, the Romans swapped gifts as part of their Saturnalia festival, and French nuns (in the 13th century) bestowed presents to the poor on the Eve of St. Nicholas’ Day.

However, the Christmas gift exchange that we are accustomed to today did not really come about until the end of 18th century. Simply speaking, the tradition was a reminder to the people of the magi’s gifts to baby Jesus, and by extension God’s gift to man – His Son Jesus Christ. As we know it today, the more social facet of gift giving took over, as a way of showing care to family and friends for example, but the origin of the custom should always be kept in the heart as a Christian religious practice.

In contrast, the commercial facet of yuletide season has turned into a gigantic and profitable business as gift giving persists to be a major tradition. Many stores publicize for an extended hours just to make sure that those who look for last minute shopping do not get disappointed. Moreover, with the advent of technology and internet, the shopping aspect of gift exchange has been further made simpler, and the wide array of selection online makes this scheme a pretty attractive one. Another plus is that personalized gifts are readily and widely available over the web compared to shopping centers. Additionally, more creative presents are more easily booked online such as spa weekends and fly experience.

As a whole, it is fair enough to note that the tradition of giving gifts during Christmas has come a long way from Epiphany to what it is today.