Throughout history, gifts have served various roles in societies, traditions, and cultures. From symbols of wealth to representations of affection, gifts have become an ingrained part of society.
In some cases, like in ancient civilizations, they were used to show power and wealth. Later on, however, they were used to celebrate the ones being gifted.
Some of the first gift exchanges occurred in ancient Egypt. During the time, Egyptians would celebrate a pharaoh’s coronation anniversary, which was considered the pharaoh’s “rebirth” as a god, and gave gifts to honor the pharaoh. This was an early version of modern-day birthday gifts.
This tradition continued throughout later civilizations, ancient Greeks in particular celebrated birthdays with gifts and parties. Birthdays, however, weren’t the only occasions for presents.
In ancient Rome, for example, things like tokens that represented luck and loyalty were exchanged between people.
During the Qing Dynasty in China, things like bracelets, hairpins, and pendants were often given to women by their boyfriends or husbands to signify their love and commitment.
Wedding gifts are another example of gift giving. Modern wedding gifts were introduced around the 1900’s in the U.S.. These gifts, which consist of things like silverware and appliances, were popularized by stores like Macy’s and were meant to help the newlywed couple start their life together.
Despite many similarities, the reasoning behind the gifts or ways they are given could differ between people, religions, and cultures.
Sometimes, gifts are given to honor, celebrate, or show appreciation towards the receiver, such as graduation gifts or the aforementioned birthdays. Other times, they are signs of respect or power, like in Japanese companies.
There are also particular ways gifts should be given in some cultures. In some countries, gifts should be given using one hand, in others, they should be given with two hands. In the United States, gifts are usually opened on the spot, while in other countries, like Russia and Japan, people wait to open gifts in private.
These are only some of the ways gifts became an ingrained part of society all over the world. Now, gifts are given at birthdays, celebrations, family gatherings, religious events, business parties, and even just because. Eventually, gifts also became synonymous with many of the holidays celebrated today.
The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of holidays and gifts is Christmas.
Christianity did not originally celebrate Christmas, the practice actually began a few hundred years later when church figures promoted the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Christain gift giving originated as a way to remember the gifts the Three Wise Men, the Magi, gave Jesus in the Bible. Many people also consider the concept to have been influenced by St. Nicholas Day, a day inspired by a bishop named St. Nicholas that was well-known for helping the poor and needy. During that day, children are given gifts.
Near the 1800’s in the United States, Christmas became more family oriented, a drastic change from the loud, large, public celebrations Christmas had been known for until then.
This was partly due to factors such as rising capitalism. Companies began advertising Christmas gifts for children, which was only spurred on by the popularization of Santa Claus. Stories and poems, such as The Night Before Christmas, also began pushing forward a narrative of Christmas that placed intimate family celebrations in the center.
Other holidays also include gift giving. Religious holidays like Hanukkah give children traditional gifts, oftentimes to connect them to their roots. Other non-religious holidays also follow suit, such as Kwanzaa. Chinese New Years, Valentine’s Day, and countless other holidays also have their own fair share of gift giving.
Since the start of civilizations and throughout history, gifts have played significant roles in the ways people interacted with each other, religions, and their societies. They’ve been important in the past, are important now, and will continue to be given and received for years to come.
