December 15, 2023
by Carla Karizza Delos Reyes
Christmas Eve. Torn wrapping paper and red ribbons scatter around the floor, smile stretching from one ear to another, heart pounding, little squeals of delight as I unravel the gift lovingly chosen for me by my family— these are some fragments of memories of Christmas Eves I hold so close to my heart. I remember vividly the joy and rush of receiving exactly what I wrote on my Christmas Wish list that hung as an ornament on the green Christmas Tree in our home.
The true essence and the core of Christmas is giving love and for many, exchanging carefully chosen gifts or meticulously handmade crafts is a way to give love to one another during this season. But have you ever thought of when and how this tradition started?
Archaeological discoveries revealed that the tradition of gift-giving is older than history suggests. Historical accounts unveiled that the practice dates back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and China. Presents were commonly offered to gods, given to friends, and commemorated births and weddings. One particular festival celebrates the Roman god of harvest, Saturn. This event dates back to ancient Rome. It includes a week-long feast and gift-giving to commemorate fellowship and a bountiful harvest. Similarly, an old pagan tradition of Yule in the Nordics also includes gift-giving to commemorate solidarity in their communities during the cold winter solstice.
The Birth of Jesus Christ and the Three Magis is another string of gift-giving origin theory stories that carry great scriptural relevance. In the Bible, the Three Magis embarked on a journey to find the Newborn Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to celebrate His birth and divinity. Although this story is probably not the real reason behind gift-giving on Christmas, it certainly justifies the Christian tradition.
In addition, the Christmas tradition of gift-giving for the Western world goes back to a 4th-century Greek bishop in modern-day Turkey of the Roman Empire. He was known for his compassion towards the youth and the poor— St. Nicholas. Over time, the idea of Santa Claus emerged in the West. Santa Claus’ act of squeezing his way into chimneys on Christmas Eve to leave presents under trees became an icon of the celebration.
Although the Scripture effectively illustrates the importance of giving as a means of participating in God’s act of redemption, many people argue that the commercialization of it has since gone too far from the original spiritual idea. Nowadays, the cultural behavior of gifting, especially during the Holiday Season is mostly performance-oriented rather than a real genuine gift.
While it is true that Christmas gifts bring delight to recipients, it is important to keep in mind that the true essence of Christmas is fostering love and fellowship. Such values are much more significant than anything else we can touch. So, as you carefully flip each fold of the Christmas wrapping paper, and curl the ends of the ribbons, take a moment to appreciate the history behind this cherished tradition.