Christmas Gift Giving History - An Expression of Our Love and Gratitude

Christmas Gift Giving History
An Expression of Our Love and Gratitude

Gift giving, like many of our Christmas customs, has it origin in an ancient pre-Christian traditions. Small candles and clay figures were given during the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia or harvest festival. More elaborate gifts were exchanged at Calens, the Roman new year. Popular gifts were fruits, honey, and cakes, because the Romans believed that sweet gifts would ensure a good year. Evergreen boughs were also given as symbols of continuous good health and strength. Even though the three kings gave presents to the baby Jesus, gift giving did not become a part of the Christmas tradition until several centuries after the birth of Christ.

Because the early Christians shunned gift giving as a pagan practice, gift giving at Christmastime was rare in Europe and America until the middle of the 19th century. At that time the gifts were usually hand made by the giver and were practical in nature. But today, gifts tend to be more fun, frivolous or luxurious. Gift giving is a way of expressing love or gratitude, but can sometimes create feelings of obligation although there were no such intentions on the part of the giver. Many people simply restrict their Christmas gift giving to children.

Today, gift giving is almost a universal part of the Christmas celebration, with the concept of a mythical figure who brings gifts to children around the world. Although he goes by many names, in America he is known as Santa Claus and arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He leaves the children gifts and eats the food they leave for him and the rest of the year he is busy making toys and keeping lists on who is being bad or good. In some versions, elves make the toys in a workshop and he is married to Mrs. Claus. Many shopping mall have a holiday mall Santa Claus that the children can visit to ask for presents. Most families give Christmas gifts in the morning on Christmas Day, but some give the gifts at night on Christmas Eve.

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