There’s no doubt about it – Christmas is a fun time of year! Not really just a one day celebration, Christmas time means a few weeks of shopping and parties and provides a great opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
But, what Christmas is probably most famous for is presents! We all love to receive a Christmas present or two, but have you ever wondered why we buy gifts for Christmas?
Is it really just the commercialization of Christmas that has us all out shopping buying Christmas gifts for everyone we know? Or is there some history behind this fun Christmas tradition?
The Christmas celebration as we know it stems from the Christian beliefs about the birth of Jesus Christ. While typically celebrated on December 25th each year, it’s fairly clear that this was not the actual date of Jesus’s birth but rather a date which (rather like the Queen’s birthday celebrations) fitted in well to our calendars.
The church decreed that the 25th of December would be the day that we celebrated Jesus’s birthday and this ritual has been observed throughout the Christian community ever since.
For those not familiar with the story, it is said that when Jesus was born he was visited by three Kings or ‘wise men’ who came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I personally can’t see that these gifts would be of much use to a newborn baby, but I’m sure his parents were grateful to receive them nonetheless!
And so the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time has continued. Just like the wise men brought gifts for the newborn baby, Christians (and even non Christians who celebrate Christmas) will present their friends and family with gifts at Christmas time.
And, just like the rather unsuitable gifts the wise men gave to the baby Jesus, I’m sure you have both given and received some fairly useless and/or unsuitable Christmas gifts in your time! That’s where Good Gifts Guide can help! Never give a useless gift again!
Choose your gifts wisely with our help – just look through our gift guides and you’ll find all the inspiration you need to find the perfect present every time!
Of course Christmas has evolved over the years. While many traditionalists still see it as a day of worship, many people now see Christmas as a time when family members and friends get together with their loved ones to celebrate and share each other’s company.
These celebrations and get-togethers usually involve a lot of food and, if you’re lucky, the exchanging of gifts! Large families and groups sometimes opt to swap presents in the form of a gift exchange.
Rather than buying a present for each and every person attending, a gift exchange game allows each person to buy just one gift and exchange it, via some sort of game, with one other gift at the party. This way everyone still gets to enjoy the fun of receiving a Christmas gift without needing to buy too many of them. Check out some great gift exchange gift ideas here.
So you can think of Christmas as being like a birthday party for Jesus, but instead of giving a birthday present to Jesus, you get to buy Christmas gifts for all of your favorite friends and family members! Christmas is a time when people remember to appreciate each other and express their gratitude for all that they have.
Christmas isn’t just about receiving. You can also give without expecting anything in return – this is a wonderful way to truly celebrate the holiday, it’s true what they say, it’s better to give than to receive.
You don’t have to give expensive presents either, sometimes a token, a gesture or a kind word can truly make someone’s day. Donating to charity or volunteering your time to help those less fortunate are also great ways to feel blessed and happy at this magical time of year.
No matter what the occasion, Christmas, birthdays or just because, giving a gift to someone is a way to express how much you love and appreciate them. Choosing a gift that really suits them, that you just know they’ll enjoy and appreciate, really demonstrates to your recipient that you know and understand them.
It also shows that you value them enough to really take the time to find a gift for them based on their interests and personality. So, whether you believe in the religious beginnings of the holiday or not, giving a Christmas gift to someone special in your life can really make this celebration special and meaningful.
If you have the funds, Christmas shopping for everyone on your list can be great fun, trumped only by the look on their face when you watch them open a gift that you just know they’re going to love.
But, if your budget is tight, don’t stress, you can still enjoy the spirit of the season by making something that you know your recipient will enjoy. You can sew, knit, crochet and cook your own gifts instead of going out shopping, or maybe write them a song or a short story or promise to help them with a task that needs doing – there are so many ways you can enjoy giving gifts.
If you’re stumped for gift ideas, check out some of the gift guides here at Good Gifts Guide. We’ve got great gift ideas for everyone, from gifts for doctors to gifts for cat lovers and everything in between, you’re sure to find some gift giving inspiration here.
Now that you know why we buy gifts for Christmas, nothing can stand in the way of your Christmas shopping!
Happy Gift Giving!
