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Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas History.
Unusual Christmas gift ideas have been a part of Christmas ever since the Magi arrived with gifts for baby Jesus. The Christmas gift giving idea has European roots. St. Nicholas, born in 280 A.D.in Lycia, Asia Minor and became the bishop of Myra. His gifts were given late at night to conceal his identity. As early as the year 400 a Christian sermon concerned with Christmas present giving was recorded. It stated that gift giving was making children selfish and that the gifts were too often exchanged out of sentiments rather than real friendship, much like today's gift giving concerns. In many countries gift giving is attached to the ecclesiastical festival of Christmas. The Romans believed that sweet holiday gifts would ensure a good year, so fruits, honey, and cakes were popular holiday gifts. Evergreen branches, called strenae, were given as symbols of continuous health and strength. In the 1700's German gifts such as nuts and apples were given to needy children by St. Martin and St. Nicholas know to be the forefathers of Santa Claus as we know him today. Select here to view our Mistletoe, Christmas Greenery, Christmas Picks. Kris Kringle evolved from the German name for the Christ Child (Christkindlein). In France the giver of gifts is Father Christmas (Pere Noel). French children also receive gifts from Little Christmas (Le Petit Noel). In Brazil the gift giver is on Christmas eve is Papa Noel. Russian children expect gifts from Baboushka on the night of January 5. Dutch settlers coming to America changed St. Nicholas to Sintr Claes who became the gift giver.
Santa Claus Comes to America.
As Christmas traditions in America evolved Santa Claus became the giver of gifts. Select here to read additional Santa Claus Pictures. Sweden's tradition of giving gifts is the similar in nature to the American tradition of receiving gifts on Christmas eve. In Sweden on Christmas eve the gift bearer raps noisily at the door and throws or pushes the gifts into the room. It is essential that the gift giver arrives quickly and unexpectedly. The gift giver must come and go like lightning without revealing his identity much like Santa does in America. Great efforts are made to conceal the gifts so that the recipient after much trouble in undoing the wrappings may have to search and search again to find the gifts. The Gifts are accompanied by some satirical rhyme or verse intended to tease the gift recipient. On the old plantations of the American South a Christmas holiday gift giving game called Christmas gif' developed among the slaves and soon became very popular. When two people met up with each other on Christmas day, they both called out "Christmas Gif;!" The first person to say it received a small gift from the other person. Select here to view our Collectible Santa Figurines.
Unusual Christmas Gifts Started in the Middle Ages.
Christmas would not be Christmas without the tradition of gift giving. In the Middle Ages gift exchanges of the upper classes and the monarchy was recorded. Around the 14th century St. Nicholas gave gifts of coins and treats for the deserving children and families. In Germany in 1531 Martin Luther suggested that children put out their stockings in hopes that they would be filled with a gifts. In the early 1800's the gifts changed and less fortunate children were included in the gift exchanges with the formation of holiday gifts charities. As lavish as we think our unusual Christmas gift ideas are, the gifts today seem some what modest compared to the gifts exchanged in the mid 1800's when gift giving included family, relativities, friends and business associates. As America became more market oriented, such homely gifts sometimes seemed inadequate. Stores and shops through out the America offered an ever growing selection of gifts. Some gifts described in 1800 diaries and letters were Christmas presents of silver slop basin, a breast pin, a gold pencil, a writing desk, a large bottle of cologne, gold spectacles and a Christmas train set just to mention a few. Select here to view our Unique Angel Gifts. Late in the 1800's the gifts had broadened to include every category of house wares, extravagant oddities, novelty items, and simple mementos. A gift for everyone! In the 1880's and beyond cheap and useless novelties known as 'gimcracks' were popular as gifts. Gift givers seeking more tasteful gifts, but none the less inexpensive, gave tokens of goodwill and Christmas cards. These gifts could be framed or used a Christmas tree ornaments. Christmas gifts like household work savers became acceptable Christmas presents for mothers and wives.
In the early 1900's, especially on the frontier, gifts of homemade origins were exchanged both as necessity items and as gifts. Gift were usually for the children. Mothers gifts would usually be clothing items or toys that could be handmade for Christmas. The fathers gifts would be carved wooden figurines, nutcrackers (select here to view our Christmas Nutcracker Village People) and toys. As the 1900's arrived in the larger cities of America, the first Christmas holiday gift ideas advertisement was used. These gift ads suggested that gifts were for children and dependants. As the century progressed adult gifts for the holidays were being exchanged and gift giving was becoming a Christmas tradition.
As the middle class in America's rose economically in the mid 1900's gifts were more commonly purchased rather than Christmas homemade gifts. Select here to view our Other Christmas Figurines.
A Greater Selection of Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas Became Available.
Stores and shops through out the country began carrying larger and larger inventories of gifts as the gift holiday giving grew. The expansion of gifts giving has too often been seen as a one-sided 'hype' of a traditional holiday gift giving by commercial interests. The closely connected act of gift giving is reciprocal in nature and the relationship between consumerism and the gift giving traditions is sometimes questioned. Evidence suggests that the evolution of gift giving in many instances happened only gradually as the demand for gifts increased through out the 1900's. Several early studies of gift giving acts as tangible evidence of ties between and among individuals. Those who participate in the gifts transaction determine the worth of gifts. Usually the most valuable gifts are given to close family members, especially spouses.
Women seem to be more active in the gift holiday ideas activities than are men. Children learn at an early age the importance of giving gifts and the religious meanings of the gifts. Select here to view our Christian Gift Ideas. With the advances in the graphic arts and printing production of the Christmas card, the expense of gift giving began to lower the Christmas budget and Christmas depression. The Christmas idea of sending Christmas cards steadily grew in the 1900's. What could be nicer than a mantelpiece decorated with beautiful Christmas holiday cards bearing good wishes from friends and relatives? Today with the popularity of the internet Christmas card sending has lowered the cost of gift giving again and has lessened holiday depression of our fast paced holiday activities. Sending holiday wishes via E-mail to friends and coworkers is a simple but meaningful gift. Many Christmas givers have found that the giving of Christmas ornaments will also lower the Christmas budget. Select here to view our Angel Ornaments. The nicest thought is that the ornament gift giver and the meaning of the gift will always be remembered when the recipient hangs the ornament on their tree each Christmas.
As times have changed so has the gift ideas of what to give as a Christmas presents. No matter what that decision is, when gifts of any form are opened at Christmas today, it should be a reminder to us all of the very first Christmas gifts.
Christmas Is The Season For Gift Giving. |
