Have you ever wondered why giving gifts during the holidays is something we are expected to do? It is almost an unspoken rule for people to buy their loved ones gifts every year. It is a world-wide normality that most people continue to partake in without questioning its origins. So, before you buy your friends and family gifts for whatever holiday it is that you celebrate, take a minute to understand the purpose.
To begin, Christmas is a widespread holiday that is well-known for gift giving. It originated as a Christian holiday that is now celebrated by people of various religions. According to Gifts International, “To Christians, the gifts given at Christmas are symbolic of the tributes made to the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men after his birth during the story of the Nativity” (giftsinternational.net). The Three Wise Men each gave Jesus a special gift. This is one of the many stories that started the tradition of gift-giving.
According to an article about the origins of gift giving, there was a saint from the fourth century, Nikolaus of Myra, who was famed for his kindness and gift giving. This man became known as Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus. Mr. Claus is obviously known for bringing boys and girls gifts on the night of Christmas Eve for them to open on Christmas Day. He is known to bring joy into families’ homes on Christmas (giftsinternational.net).
According to National Geographic, since the Twentieth Century, people of all backgrounds have celebrated Christmas no matter their religious beliefs. Things like gift-giving, decorating, and preparing meals are highlighted as the best ways to celebrate the holiday. Therefore, gift-giving has become a long-standing tradition for families all over the world (nationalgeographic.com).
Hanukkah is another popularly celebrated holiday during this season. According to Judaica Webstore, “Jewish people didn’t always give presents for Hanukkah, but there has instead been a centuries-old tradition of giving gifts of money, known as Hanukkah gelt in Yiddish or dmei Hanukkah in Hebrew.” The article explains that at first, money was given to religious teachers as gratitude, and later evolved to parents and relatives giving money to their children to encourage the study of the Torah, the foundational text of Judaism learning. The practice of giving children gifts for holidays became more common and soon spread to Hanukkah (blog.judaicawebstore.com).
Prophet Muhammad’s teaching, “Give gifts to one another, you will love each other,” inspires the gift-giving culture during Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid ul-Adha. According to an article about Eid celebrations, elders and family members give their children presents or monetary forms referred to in some cultures as Eidia or Eidi (muslimaid.org). Gifts are not limited to children as adult brothers often give their siblings gifts or a guest may bring sweets over when visiting a friend or a loved one.
A lot of people enjoy giving and receiving gifts, especially on holidays. Junior Audrey Forde said, “I like to give gifts to people to make them feel appreciated and loved.” According to an article about gift giving, gift giving respects and revolves around the fact that the gift is a part of who we are and expresses our love. Without the intention of sharing love, the gift is considered a mockery by some (jacksonadvocateonline.com).
Whether it’s receiving or giving them, the art of gift-giving is something that brings happiness during the holidays. From the smiles they create to the laughs they facilitate, gift-giving is a tradition stemming from various religions and traditions.