How did we start giving gifts for Christmas? I know the wise men brought gifts and Jesus' birth is a gift but how did we go from that to giving everyone we know presents? It seems like commercialism left religous significance behind along time ago.
2007-12-09 15:47:58 · 3 answers · asked by Mike 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Christmas's gift-giving tradition has its roots in the Three Kings' offerings to the infant Jesus. The magi traveled to Bethlehem to present Christ gifts. Romans traded gifts during Saturnalia, and 13th century French nuns distributed presents to the poor on St. Nicholas' Eve. And in Germany smalls gifts were left hanging on a candle-lit fur tree, as years went on the presents got bigger and ended up under the tree instead. However, gift-giving did not become the central Christmas tradition it is today until the late 18th century. As the story of Santa Claus gained more popularity, slowly the religous reason for gift giving gave away to just holiday tradition (and a reason for companies to clear out their inventory before the start of a new year)
2007-12-09 16:52:05 · answer #1 · answered by person9449 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with the 3 wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus.
2007-12-09 15:59:55 · answer #2 · answered by Violet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is explained so: It is rather an exchange of love and thanks. To show we appreciate the things everyone does. Now a days its out of hand, everyone wants the gifts and no one appreciates anything else. I don wanna type anymore so go to http://books.google.com/books?id=YgyzBtzU86wC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=why+do+we+give+gifts+at+christmas+christians&source=web&ots=KFumuJ_yCQ&sig=_CW8tfCKxFe-Q3e9JECJBuwgTyY#PPA15,M1 to find more out.
2007-12-09 16:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋