2006-12-24 17:14:00 · 5 answers · asked by aw 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
The custom of gift-giving on Christmas goes back to Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends. The very first gifts were simple items such as twigs from a sacred grove as good luck emblems. Soon that escalated to food, small items of jewelry, candles, and statues of gods. To the early Church, gift-giving at this time was a pagan holdover and therefore severely frowned upon. However, people would not part with it, and some justification was found in the original gift giving of the Magi, Three Wise Men, Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said to have followed the Star of Bethlehem, found Jesus, and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Others attribute the idea of gift giving to a character called Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or St. Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Joulupukki, Weihnachtsmann, Saint Basil and Father Frost). Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra in Asia Minor (the greater part of modern-day Turkey), who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. His charity became legend when a man lost his fortune and found himself incapable of supporting his three daughters, who would not be able to find husbands as they lacked dowries. This man was going to give them over to a life of prostitution; however, St Nicholas provided them with gold, enabling them to retain their virginal virtues and marry.
Regardless of the origin, there are no specific "rules" for gift giving, simply give from your heart.
2006-12-27 07:05:35 · answer #1 · answered by Nuttie Nettie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origin is that people like gifts.
I think gifts should certainly lean towards the sentimental, but should have some practical purpose. And if a gift is practical, it should be a nice one with extra features. Like buying someone a cheapy $10 toaster would be lame, but buying them a really good one with lots of features would be good. And if someone really likes toast, that would be a good sentimental choice too. The main thing is that the person feel like you really put some thought into what you bought, rather than picking up any old cr*p for them. That's what I think, anyway.
2006-12-24 17:22:58 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Biobrain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be a sentimental gift.Rather the origin of Christmas gift giving has turned commercialised.
2006-12-24 17:28:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the original idea of gift giving at Christmas started, as I heard it,
with the three kings visiting Jesus at his birth.
A gift should be whatever comes from your heart, no matter what
the cost, but in reality practicality vs, sentimentality should be
the main factor.
2006-12-24 17:20:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
in the bible. when Christ was born. they gave Him gifts. give what the person likes or something that means something between both of you.
2006-12-24 17:26:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋