Gift-giving around this time of the year dates back from ancient Rome. Back then people used to give each other presents on New Year's, but they were symbolic gifts, often consisting of vegetables in the honor of fertility goddess Strenia. However, what is more like our idea of gift giving today dates back from Victorian times. During that time, the tradition became much more festive and socially significant. One of the practices was that each family member was assigned a color, then brought to a room filled with a yarn web. Each of them had to follow their own color through the web to discover the gift. Another custom was to gather around a big bowl full of grain, where they had hidden very small presents. Each would take a fullspoon of grain, and whatever present they discovered was theirs to keep.
By the end of the nineteenth century, commercialization had already begun to wither away the idea of the symbolic, non-materialistic gift giving in lots of countries around the world. Much of the merriment and excitement had been replaced by a short exchange of colorful boxes. But it does not have to be that way. There are people around the globe for whom gift sharing is still exciting. In Brazil, for example, presents are hidden outside and kids have to search for them. Of course, it's warm there and they don't have to worry about snow.
Though the complaints that Christmas has become highly commercialized do have a point, you may still choose not to give in to consumerism and make an effort to make it special. Traditionally, gift sharing on Christmas was a symbol of kindness and carried a lot of significance. Why not bring a few of these traditions to your home?
One reason why many people find gift giving so stressful is because of those few days before Christmas when you have to shop around for presents through all of the over-crowded, noisy and increasingly expensive shops. But it doesn't need to be like that at all. Just remembering to think about it a few weeks in advance could make a huge change. It gives you enough time to plan, and you can enjoy the Christmas spirit earlier and without all the stress. You have enough time to step outside of the box and find alternatives to the common worn-out ideas. One tip for next year is to start working on your list much earlier, maybe even in the summer. When you hear your dad complaining that his fishing reel broke during the summer holiday, put it on the list: a new fishing rode could possibly make a great Christmas present.
In addition, shopping for presents can be completely hassle-free if you pass brick-and-mortar stores and shop online instead. The offer is often much wider than what you could find find in the traditional shops you had time to go to. It is also easier to not get carried away and stick to your planned budget. Using a comparison shopping engine instead of a regular Internet shop is a better idea. Netishop is a very good resource for that, as it has products from many online shops and gives you the chance to find the best deals and prices. You can find almost anything you can think of there, from toys and books to DVD players.
One more random thing about gift giving on Christmas: everyone knows the Twelve Days of Christmas song. But did you ever ask yourself how much all of those things in the song would cost? Someone made an estimation back in 2006, and the total was $18,920.59.