Christmas is a celebration of love, joy, and peace. Above all, the occasion is mainly about the spirit of giving. But have you ever wondered why do we give gifts on Christmas? When and how the tradition was discovered?
Giving and receiving beautiful gifts on this laudable occasion is one of the greatest joys of this festive season. You will be surprised to know that people have been giving gifts to each other in winter since before the occasion. There are about a gazillion of items available for the people you love, but choosing the right gift for everyone is surely a big hassle.
However, gift-giving is essential and plays a pivotal role in celebrating this beautiful occasion. But before knowing what gifts should you give and how should you celebrate the occasion, it’s important to know why do we even give gifts on Christmas and what’s this tradition all about.
Christmas Gift-Giving Tradition:
Gift-giving is a beautiful tradition. It allows us to express love and appreciation for each other. So, when the occasion is Christmas, the excitement gets doubled. Christmas gift-giving is a tradition that goes back millennia. It was first started as a way to share different food items during winter. Ultimately, the solstice gift-giving tradition was transformed from a pagan tradition to the Christmastime practice which still exists today.
Now let’s talk about when, where, why, and how this tradition started.
Historical Significance of Christmas Time Gift Giving:
Are you aware of the fact that Romans had their tradition of gift-giving during the Saturnalia festival? This festival began on December 17th and remained for seven days until 23rd December. Common traditions included in the Saturnalia festival were hosting a big feast, giving gifts, game-playing, and others.
St. Nicholas was probably one of the most popular Christmas gift-givers in history because he was famous among children and adults and he usually left beautiful surprise presents in the shoes that were kept outside.
After that in the 13th Century, French nuns also gave gifts to the deserving ones on the evening of St. Nicholas.
Continued since that, gift-giving became an unavoidable tradition during the Christmas festivities.
Gifts that were presented to the loved ones on this occasion were just to remind people about the difficult journey of the King and to help everybody who needs help but couldn’t ask.
5 Reasons to Give Gifts on Christmas:
Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate love, peace, and humanity with our dear ones. There are lots of reasons why should you give gifts on this beautiful occasion. Though the motivations could vary by person, some common reasons why do we give gifts on Christmas are listed here:
1. Religious Reasons:
Gift giving is mainly considered a religious thing during Christmas because when you study history and learn about the Three Wise Men, or Magi, in the Biblical context, you can und erstand the importance of giving gifts during the Christmas season. The Magi brought some spectacular gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Baby Jesus in the manger.
2. Express Love, Peace, and Affection:
Giving gifts on Christmas is a very respectful and kind gesture to surprise people we love. When you choose something useful and perfect for your family or friends, it automatically strengthens your relationship with them. You can choose different items for your loved ones based on their preferences or simply buy a bouquet of roses with add-ons to make the occasion extra sweet and memorable.
3. Copying the Old Tradition from Three Wise Man:
The heart-touching gifts presented by the Three Wise men showed tremendous respect, love, and reverence for the Son of God. By following that tradition, the Christian community bestows wonderful gifts on family members and friends as a way of remembering the Three Wise Men to honor the Christ Child.
Christians all around the world celebrate the occasion with pure love and enthusiasm as it is Jesus’ birthday. Since they cannot present materialistic items to Him, they give gifts to each other for celebrating the day perfectly and lovingly.
4, Business Promotion:
Many businesses take advantage of this festive season and use it for advertising and promotion. They send different presents to their potential clients so they can thank them for considering their business. Gift-giving is simply a way to advertise your brand and promote public relations.
5. Strengthens the Bond:
Christmas gift-giving is not only a tradition, but it is also a way to strengthen your bond with each other. You cannot only send presents to your family and friends, but also your co-workers, bosses, neighbors, and other people in connection.
And it’s also not important to buy expensive gifts for your loved ones. After all, “the greatest gifts are not wrapped in paper but in love.” You can choose items that suit your budget and yet make your recipient happy.
Say Thank You with Christmas Gifts:
Christmas is also a wonderful occasion to say “Thank you” to the ones who have also been there in your rough and tough times. You can give gifts to a wide variety of people which also includes your teachers, postmen, delivery guy, or a domestic worker.
Many companies also give thank-you gifts to employees as a way of expressing appreciation and thankfulness.
Send the Best Christmas Gifts to Your Loved Ones:
The tradition of giving wonderful gifts to your loved ones on Christmas is centuries old. It reminds people about the birthday of Jesus Christ long ago and gives us a lesson of love, peace, humanity, and patience.
Though there are lots of platforms that offer a variety of items, if you are looking for insanely cool gadgets or best Santa gifts for co-workers and you are short on ideas, then have a look at this list at Gift Hacker and get insights into tips, unique gift ideas, and other interesting information.
Last Updated on August 14, 2023 by Emily Scott
