| CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY |
Christmas Gifts and Christmas Gift Ideas Christmas Gifts and Christmas Gift Ideas for the whole family. Use these items as holiday decorations. Choose from Hand painted Christmas wine glasses, cups and saucers, plates, ornaments, pet lover gifts, holiday glasses, Red Bird hurricane globe, Santa Mugs and Christmas jars and cannisters. These Christmas gifts make Great Christmas Gift ideas for. |
THE TRADITION OF CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING The practice of Christmas gift giving is said to go back to the beginning of time with human beings. In ancient societies, it was thought that gifts were the forerunner of bartering. With inheritance, land and possessions were passed on as gifts. On a religious level, gifts were offered to God as a means of giving thanks. With kings and dignitaries, gifts have being offered to gain favor, give thanks, renew friendships or express gratitude. This tradition has carried down as the giving of Christmas gifts. In ancient Rome, gifts were exchanged during the New Years celebrations. At first these gifts were simple, such as a few twigs from a sacred grove and food. Many gifts were in the form of vegetables in honor of the fertility goddess Strenia. Romans exchanged gifts at winter solstice as expressions of affection and brotherhood, giving coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life. What wonderful Christmas gift ideas for that particular time in history. In our predominantly Christian culture, the giving of Christmas gifts is said to symbolize the gifts the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus. Patterned on the gifts of the Magi - gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought to honor the birth of the Christ Child - thus Christmas gifts for gift-giving was a symbolic reminder of the great gift of God's Son. Early church leaders tried to outlaw the custom of gift giving, but the people cherished it too much to let it go. |
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As Christianity spread into different cultures and through time, various customs and traditions developed around giving gifts at Christmas. In Germany, the Christ Child was said to bring small presents on Christmas Eve. Among the Dutch, it was St. Nicholas who brought gifts to children on December 6, the eve of his feast. The practice of giving Christmas gifts was firmly established in the 19th century when the traditions of the Christ Child ("Christkindl") and St. Nicholas ("Sinterklass") became anglicized into one - Santa Claus. But the custom of giving Christmas gifts at the turn of the year goes back much further and is common in cultures worldwide. Now the thrill of Christmas giving and coming up with unique Christmas ideas entice the holiday spirit. We have wonderful ideas with Christmas wine glasses, pet gifts, Christmas glasses, cake plates, jars, ornaments and dinnerware. As tradition has been handed down through the ages the Christmas designs and symbols have been used for celebration and holiday decoration. Each family has their own way of bringing in the season and the sights and sounds of holiday preparation and holiday decoration are something the whole family looks forward to. |
