Gift Giving

 

Presents. Who doesn't like receiving presents. For Birthdays or Christmas or any other occasion.

Critics of commercialization of Christmas tend to attribute the growth of holiday gift-giving to marketing efforts. However the historical custom of gift- giving appears to be established around 336 CE and is tied to the story of the traditional gifts of the Magi. Secondly, Saint Nicholas's tradition of gift-giving is also cited. For many centuries gift-giving took place on December 6 around Saint Nicolas Day or early January after New Years Eve. But the popularity of this custom grew after the reaction in 1823 of the poem Twas The Night Before Christmas and the novella The Christmas Carol. By the end of the 19th century, Christmas Eve became the most common date for gift-giving in Western Culture. 

Of course the economic impact started directing marketing efforts around the turn of the 20th century. In the early 2000's it is estimated that shoppers in the U.S. spent over $4 billion each day of the Christmas shopping season.

As the origin of Christmas reflects upon the first gifts of the Magi, gold, frankincense and myrrh, each one reflects the kindness that God showed in giving His Son as a gift to the world. Both Christians and non-Christians enjoy this opportunity to express love by gift-giving.

Ref - Wikipedia

American Holidays - Bill Perry