subject: How Gift Exchange Began and Why We Do It [print this page] Christmas is joyous seasonChristmas is joyous season. No wonder many people have it as their favorite time of the year. Putting aside the strain on gift exchanges, Christmas is a time of reunion, as families get together and enjoy. For some, it is a festive commemoration of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, as Christmas comes face to face with commercialism, religious basis of the celebration is often forgotten. But, a lot of people wonder as to how Christmas had begun, and the gift giving in particular.
The original celebration of Christmas takes its roots from ancient winter festivals. At that time, Christianity was gaining popularity and Church leaders were trying to get people to convert along with curbing the winter tradition. But they soon grasped that more people would follow the religion if they won't have to lose their beloved winter festivals.
In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebration was composed of feasting, drinking and caroling. But the Puritans disliked these that were supposedly in Christ's name. For these reasons, Oliver Cromwell, a self-styled Lord Protector, cancelled Christmas in 1654. On the other hand, in England, Christmas gifts were traditionally exchanged on New Year's Day.
It is undeniable that the most popular icon of Christmas is, of course, Santa Claus himself, who is also known for other name as Sinterklaas, Pere Noel, Father Christmas, and Saint Nicholas. The big and fat guy on a red suit that we know him of today was envisioned by a cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1863, and later in 1920s it was standardized by advertising. The myth surrounding Santa Claus has probably sprung from the stories of Saint Nicholas, though the image was popularly thought to symbolize merriment and drunkenness in 15th century Britain. In the present time, Santa is known to be the man who creeps into the living room at Christmas Eve to drop the gifts, though the South American legend tells that he makes the toys and baby Jesus delivers them.
The perception of Christmas gift exchange is a concern here, and not surprisingly it has a simple answer. The tradition has its roots on the scene of Nativity where the magi brought gifts to baby Jesus. Indeed, some European nations and Eastern Orthodox Churches still memorialize the traditional date, when the magi arrived 6th of January, by exchanging presents. Looking into history, the Romans swapped gifts in commemoration of their Saturnalia festival. Furthermore in the 13th century, French nuns offered presents to the poor on St. Nicholas' Eve.
But the customary giving of Christmas gifts that we are familiar with today hadn't really come about until the late 18th century. Thus, the act of giving gifts was meant to be a memento to us all of the magi's gifts to the infant Jesus who lay on the manger, and not to forget God's gift to mankind His Son Jesus Christ. Nowadays, as we know it, the more social part of gift giving took over, as a means of showing gratitude and care to loved ones, such as family and friends. However, one should always remember that gift giving is a Christian religious tradition.
Looking on the commercial aspect of the gift giving custom, it is highly noticeable that the niche has become a gigantic and highly profitable operation which is primarily due to the persistence of the tradition. Several shops advertise up to wee hours to ensure that last minute Christmas shoppers do not get frustrated. With the birth of internet, the shopping portion of gift exchange has been further simplified with stress free browsing. Furthermore, an extensive array of selection makes this method more attractive, not to mention the high availability of personalized and more creative gifts such as spa weekends and flying experience.
To sum up, it is fair enough to say that giving gifts during Christmas has come a long way from the magi's presentation of gifts to what it is today.
