Christmas Gift Traditions

Giving Christmas gifts has been a long time tradition in the western world.
The earliest English reference we have to December 25th as Christmas Day began in 1043.

Celebrating Christmas and giving gifts at Christmas time has long been controversial. Since numerous festivities started with pagan practices, they were greatly frowned upon by people within the Church. The lavish feasting, giving of Christmas gifts, and frequent excesses presented a drastic contrast to the simplicity of the Nativity, and many people throughout the centuries and into the present, condemn such practices as being contrary to the true spirit of Christmas.

In the Western world, the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, replacing the earlier date of January 6th. This truly began the tradition of giving Christmas gifts when the three wise men brought their gifts to the Christ child. The Christians had by then appropriated many pagan festivals and traditions of the season, that were practiced in many parts of the Middle East and Europe, as a means of eliminating them.

There were mid-winter festivals in ancient Babylon and Egypt, and Germanic fertility festivals that also took place at this time. The birth of the ancient sun-god Attis in Phrygia was celebrated on December 25th, as was the birth of the Persian sun-god, Mithras. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of peace and plenty, that ran from the 17th to 24th of December. Public gathering places were decorated with flowers, gifts and candles were exchanged and the population, slaves and masters alike, celebrated the occasion with great enthusiasm.

While in the western Christian culture, we were giving Christmas gifts, in Scandinavia, a period of festivities known as Yule contributed a reason for celebration. As winter ended the growing season, the opportunity of enjoying the Summer's bounty encouraged much feasting and merriment.

The Celtic culture of the British Isles revered all green plants, but particularly mistletoe and holly. They were important symbols of fertility and were used for decorating their homes and altars at Christmas time.

New Christmas customs appeared in the middle Ages. The most prominent contribution was the carol, which by the 14th century had become associated with the religious observance of the birth of Christ.

In Italy, a tradition developed for re-enacting the birth of Christ and the construction of scenes of the nativity. This is said to have been introduced by Saint Francis as part of his efforts to bring spiritual knowledge to the laity.

All Saints Days have also contributed to our Christmas celebrations. A prominent figure in today's Christmas is Saint Nicholas who for centuries has been honored on December 6th. He was one of the forerunners of Santa Claus.

Another popular ritual was the burning of the Yule Log, which is strongly embedded in the pagan worship of vegetation and fire, as well as being associated with magical and spiritual powers.

Christmas is a time of joy and being with family and friends. Giving Christmas gifts is our traditional way of saying to someone that they are special and meaningful in our lives. It is this opportunity of giving of ourselves with our time, and giving with Christmas gifts to others that add value and meaning to our own lives. It is the precious act of giving of gifts to one another, and making someone else feel special, that uplifts us and gives us a sense of well being.