| Christmas is, for many people, their favourite | | | | course Santa Claus, also variously known as |
| time of the year. Taking away the fact it is a | | | | Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas and |
| time of rampant Christmas gift giving and stress, | | | | Pere Noel. His image was created by cartoonist |
| it is also the time of year when families most | | | | Thomas Nast in 1863, and was standardised by |
| often come together and see each other. For | | | | advertising in the 1920s. The myth of Santa Claus |
| others, it is the joyous occasion of celebrating | | | | possibly comes from stories of Saint Nicholas, |
| Christ's birth, and as Christmas has been | | | | though in Britain the image was popularly thought |
| overtaken by the commercial side of the season, | | | | from the 15th century to symbolise drunkenness |
| this religious basis for the celebration is often | | | | and merriment. Santa is now thought of as the |
| overlooked. However, many people wonder about | | | | man who brings Gifts at Christmas, though in |
| the origins of Christmas, and especially how the | | | | South America the legend goes that he makes |
| tradition of Christmas gift giving came about in | | | | toys for the baby Jesus to deliver. |
| particular! | | | | The notion of Christmas gift giving is one of the |
| The celebration of Christmas has its roots in | | | | main questions here and it has a very |
| ancient winter festivals. At this time, Christianity | | | | straightforward answer. The giving of Christmas |
| was trying to get people to convert and realised | | | | gifts has its roots in the magi, or wise men, |
| that people would be more likely to if they did not | | | | bringing gifts to Jesus. In fact, some Eastern |
| have to lose their beloved winter festivals. | | | | Orthodox Churches and European countries still |
| The winter solstice was also celebrated, and the | | | | celebrate the traditional date of the Magi's arrival, |
| Sol Invictus festival lays claim to cementing the | | | | January 6th, with something like a Christmas gift |
| 25th of December as Christmas Day, as there is | | | | exchange. In history, the Romans traded gifts as |
| no definitive birth-date of Jesus in the Bible. Pagan | | | | part of their Saturnalia festival, and in the 13th |
| Scandinavia used to celebrate a festival called | | | | century French nuns gave presents to the poor |
| Yule, where there would be carousing until the | | | | on St Nicholas' Eve. However, Christmas gift giving |
| Yule log burned out, which usually took twelve | | | | as we know it today did not really come about |
| days. Pagan Germania's equivalent was the | | | | until the late 18th century. In short, the giving of |
| mid-winter night, which also used to last around | | | | Christmas gifts was meant to remind people of |
| twelve days. | | | | the magi's gifts to the baby Jesus, and by |
| In the Middle Ages, Christmas consisted of bouts | | | | extension God's gift of Christ to humankind. As |
| of drinking, feasting and caroling. Puritans at the | | | | we all know, nowadays the more social aspect of |
| time disliked this carousing, that was ostensibly in | | | | Christmas gift giving has taken over, as a means |
| Christ's name, and self-styled Lord Protector | | | | of showing affection to family and friends for |
| Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas in 1645 due | | | | instance, but the roots of the gift giving should |
| to these reasons. In England, Christmas gifts were | | | | always be remembered as a Christian religious |
| traditionally exchanged on New Year's Day in this | | | | tradition. |
| period. | | | | The commercial aspect of Christmas is now a |
| Pretty soon Christmas was a widespread feast, | | | | gigantic economic operation, as Christmas gift |
| although after the US revolution it was considered | | | | giving is a major tradition. Many shops advertise |
| a very British thing to do and as such fell out of | | | | longer hours to ensure those searching for last |
| favour in America. This soon changed however | | | | minute Christmas gifts are not disappointed. With |
| into the 1800s with Washington Irving's short | | | | the advent of the internet, the shopping aspect |
| stories reviving American interest in Christmas. | | | | of Christmas gift giving has been further |
| Back in England, Dickens' A Christmas Carol | | | | simplified, with the ease of selection and |
| worked to popularize and reframe Christmas as a | | | | stress-free browsing major attractions. The |
| time of family togetherness. By the late 19th | | | | greater choice of Christmas gifts online also |
| century, Christmas had assumed the traditional | | | | makes this method of shopping more attractive. |
| form it has today, and in 1870 President Ulysses | | | | Another advantage is that personalised gifts are |
| Grant officially declared Christmas a federal | | | | more widely available on the net than on the high |
| holiday in America. In Great Britain, Canada, | | | | street, and more creative presents such as spa |
| Australia and New Zealand however, the 26th of | | | | weekends and flying experience are more easily |
| December, as Boxing Day, also became a holiday. | | | | booked online. |
| This day became a rest day for servants and | | | | In short then, it is fair to say that Christmas gift |
| other house staff that may have had to work on | | | | giving has come a long way from its roots in the |
| Christmas Day. | | | | Epiphany to what it is today. |
| The most iconic association with Christmas is of | | | | |