A Little History of Gift Giving Gift giving, as a holiday custom, pre-dates Christmas which wasn't established in December until 350 AD. Many pagan festivals were held during this month and it's said that the selection of December 25th for Christmas was a means to compete with and overshadow the pagan customs. One of the cultures giving gifts were the Romans who celebrated the Saturnalia in December from the 17th through the 24th. The festival of Saturnalia was to honor Saturn, god of grain and agriculture. Even the slaves of the times were given a day of freedom where they became masters and the masters became slaves. (That was a real gift.) But on the last day of the festival it was common for everyone to exchange gifts such as small dolls of pottery for the children and candles for the adults. Later, on the Roman New Year, January 1st, gifts were given to children and the poor. Gift giving is one of the focal points of the holiday season all over the world. In some European countries children traditionally receive gifts on January 5, the eve of Epiphany and in a few northern European nations gifts are given on December 6. (See the Celebrations pages about Traditions Around the World.) Gifts have been left for children in stockings, shoes and more recently under the Christmas Tree. Some say the tradition of leaving stockings hung on the mantle for Santa dates back to the original St. Nicholas. It's believed that the first gifts he left were gold coins for three poor girls who needed the money for their wedding dowries. The girls had hung their stockings by the fire to dry and St. Nicholas tossed the coins through an open window into the stockings. A more complete version of this legend is linked here. In some European countries it was more common in the past to leave ones shoes by the fireplace for Santa to fill. This, like the stockings on the mantle, originated as a means of drying out your things overnight. Stockings have also been hung from bed posts. Although the necessity of hanging stockings to dry is gone, when you find a home with children, there are sure to be stockings hung for Santa to fill. In times past, it was more traditional to find small, inexpensive gifts in your holiday stockings. Often gifts were simple hand-carved toys, fruit, nuts or candies. Today, it can be a shock to see the prices of items suggested as stocking stuffers. Anything from traditional stocking stuffers to diamond jewelry and key to expensive sports cars are touted as appropriate "trinkets" for your holiday stocking. © Copyright 2000, Katie Long. All rights reserved. |
Gifts Suggestions Coming soon: From Your Kitchen Still Not Expensive Handmade More Love than Money Gifts to Grow For Your Spirit Gift Wrapping Ideas |
Gifts Suggestions Coming soon: From Your Kitchen Still Not Expensive Handmade More Love than Money Gifts to Grow For Your Spirit Gift Wrapping Ideas |
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Last updated on: 29 October, 2006
A Little History of Gift Giving Gift giving, as a holiday custom, pre-dates Christmas which wasn't established in December until 350 AD. Many pagan festivals were held during this month and it's said that the selection of December 25th for Christmas was a means to compete with and overshadow the pagan customs. One of the cultures giving gifts were the Romans who celebrated the Saturnalia in December from the 17th through the 24th. The festival of Saturnalia was to honor Saturn, god of grain and agriculture. Even the slaves of the times were given a day of freedom where they became masters and the masters became slaves. (That was a real gift.) But on the last day of the festival it was common for everyone to exchange gifts such as small dolls of pottery for the children and candles for the adults. Later, on the Roman New Year, January 1st, gifts were given to children and the poor. Gift giving is one of the focal points of the holiday season all over the world. In some European countries children traditionally receive gifts on January 5, the eve of Epiphany and in a few northern European nations gifts are given on December 6. (See the Celebrations pages about Traditions Around the World.) Gifts have been left for children in stockings, shoes and more recently under the Christmas Tree. Some say the tradition of leaving stockings hung on the mantle for Santa dates back to the original St. Nicholas. It's believed that the first gifts he left were gold coins for three poor girls who needed the money for their wedding dowries. The girls had hung their stockings by the fire to dry and St. Nicholas tossed the coins through an open window into the stockings. A more complete version of this legend is linked here. In some European countries it was more common in the past to leave ones shoes by the fireplace for Santa to fill. This, like the stockings on the mantle, originated as a means of drying out your things overnight. Stockings have also been hung from bed posts. Although the necessity of hanging stockings to dry is gone, when you find a home with children, there are sure to be stockings hung for Santa to fill. In times past, it was more traditional to find small, inexpensive gifts in your holiday stockings. Often gifts were simple hand-carved toys, fruit, nuts or candies. Today, it can be a shock to see the prices of items suggested as stocking stuffers. Anything from traditional stocking stuffers to diamond jewelry and key to expensive sports cars are touted as appropriate "trinkets" for your holiday stocking. © Copyright 2000, Katie Long. All rights reserved. |
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