Christmas Presents

The History of Gifts

We all know the excitement we feel at Christmas - there's a certain pleasure in giving gifts as well as receiving them. In some ways, giving gifts at Christmas is a very ancient tradition and in other ways, giving gifts at Christmas can be seen as a relatively new development.

Doing some research on the subject, there appears to be many sources when it comes to finding out how the tradition of giving presents at Christmas actually came about.

Here's a few to get you started - some are traditional, some you may already know and some that may surprise and interest you.

Early references go back to ancient Rome when high-ranking officials gave gifts to the Emperor around the time of the Winter Solstice during the feast of Kalends - the New Year feast. The gifts celebrated the birth of the Sun God who they believed the Emperor to be a descendant from.
Traditionally, in the Christian tradition, the practice of giving gifts at Christmas is traced back to the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that were given to the baby Jesus by the three Kings.
Another common narrative dates back to St Nicolas who is remembered for his charitable giving. He was a child of wealthy parents, and when they died and left him a generous inheritance, St Nicholas was determined to use his fortune to help the less fortunate. He lived in Turkey and his legend spread far and wide across Europe. He became the patron saint of Russia and it is believed that it was the early Dutch settlers to America who carried his legacy across the Atlantic.
Modern gift giving can be traced back to America and the 1800s when Christmas gifts first began to be advertised. It was also in the 19th Century that works by the likes of Charles Dickens and Thomas Nast began to help shape our concept of Santa Clause and the bringer of gifts.
The Christmas card was introduced in 1843 and we cannot overlook printed Christmas cards when we discuss Christmas presents. Cards were either simple or highly decorated and mostly importantly, made a superb gift.

And so, here we are, in the modern day when gifts can represent many things. For some, it is a way to celebrate the Christian holy day. For others, it is a special time to let family and friends know that you care by giving gifts - no matter how big or small.

Finding the Right Gift

Finding the right presents for everyone is just one of the tasks which befalls most of us at this time of the year. This can be both time consuming and expensive but this doesn't have to be the case.

This year the financial climate might just bring home the realisation that Christmas and presents don't have to be so commercial or expensive.

Here's a handy hint - since gifts are always given to those you cherish the most and those that are closest to you, a neat trick is to just make little mental notes as and when you spend time with them throughout the year. No matter how inexpensive - just the thought that you remembered will make it the most cherished gift this Christmas!