Reflecting on the origin of gift-giving at Christmas time

Dec 25, 2018 News

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By Sauchel Giles

The custom of giving gifts at Christmas is an old one. But many aren’t aware of its origin.

Research dictates that it became associated with Christmas more in recent times.
It is an artifact of a pagan custom called the winter solstice which in Europe occurs in December. This was celebrated in ancient Rome with gift-giving during the Saturnalia holiday, which took place that month.
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the god Saturn, as the name may have hinted.
It was originally held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December.
The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted.
It also provided a twist in the way things were done, as contrary to the usual, the masters provided table service for their slaves.
However, as Christianity became more widespread in the Roman lands, the custom of gift-giving continued.
Around the year 336 AD, the date of December 25 appears to have become established as the day of Jesus’s birth, and the tradition of gift-giving was reinterpreted and tied to the story of the Biblical Magi giving gifts to baby Jesus.
Gift-giving was also tied to the belief of Santa Claus based on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver; it slowly became a part of Christmas celebrations.
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture. It is believed that he carries gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on the night of Christmas Eve (24 December) and during the wee hours of Christmas morning (December 25).
Santa Claus is said to make lists of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behaviour (“whether naughty or nice”). It is then believed that he deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world.

The modern Santa Claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas (a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra), the British figure of Father Christmas and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas (himself also based on Saint Nicholas).
However, others believe that Santa Claus also absorbed elements of the Germanic God Wodan, who was associated with the pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky.
Odin also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan was known as one of the principal gods in Norse mythology. He was the great magician among the gods and was associated with runes. Odin was also remembered by the Germans as the god of poets.
In outward appearance he was a tall, old man, with flowing beard and only one eye (the other he gave in exchange for wisdom). He was usually depicted wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a spear.
Modern- day Christians however, also have a belief of their own: that gift-giving serves as a reminder of God’s greatest gift to the world “his son Jesus Christ,” who is believed to have come and washed away the sins of Christians through his loving sacrifice.
Nevertheless, from the first Christmas reportedly celebrated in the year 336 to date the belief of gift giving has changed tremendously.
Another factor that fails to remain is the expectations of children at Christmas.
Modern-day has been socialized to expect gifts at Christmas, as the holiday is often viewed as the season of giving and sharing. Technology has enhanced the world and the way people do things, it has also changed the needs and wants of people: thus changing the longed for gifts at Christmas.
There was once a time when children expected little dolls, toy phones, pellet guns and remote controlled cars as gifts. Dolls, teddy bears, model cooking sets and clothing were once considered ideal gifts for little girls, while toy trucks, trains and play toy guns were all it took to keep a little boy occupied.
The girls would care for their dolls as if they were babies, while the boys would practice driving or playing policeman. An elderly person would remember the “good old days” when dolls, stuffed teddy bears, toy trucks, trains, even books and simple clothing such as socks and t-shirts as presents would light up the faces of children.
Other elderly persons would even tell the tale of their childhood having no expectation of Christmas gifts but rather, the simple celebration of the “birth of Christ, the lord and savior.”
However, in this day and age, any average child looks forward to the latest, most expensive and luxurious gadget updates or any other commodity.
Gifts looked forward to by little girls and boys include electronic tablets, play houses, toy cameras, puzzles, board games, bicycles, video games among other gifts. Teenagers and adults on the other hand, would look forward to gadgets, clothing, jewelry, watches and shoes etc.

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