‘Tis the season of giving
By: Kristen Ferrara
Mother Teresa once said, “It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” As the Christmas season progresses, buying gifts becomes more a source of stress than an opportunity to express love for others. There are three basic ideas gift-givers should understand: 1) why we do it, 2) how we do it, and 3) when we over-do it.
The “Christmas” holiday Christians celebrate today actually began with winter festivals practiced by pagans in the Middle East and Europe. Gifts were given at these celebrations and are still given during the season today, but not for the same reasons. Many Christians see gift giving as being symbolic of the gifts given to Jesus by the wise men and, on a broader scale, the gift of Jesus to the world.
Besides the fact that gift giving has a historical relevance that urges its continuance, many give because the act benefits the giver more than the receiver. According to Alden Wicker, a researcher for Zady Incorporation, “Psychologists say to let your well-meaning spouse, mother, sibling or cubicle mate continue to pick out something nice for you. It’s a way to encourage them to think about you, your tastes, hopes and favorite hobbies a couple of times a year (even if they are always so off) and strengthen your bond.”
Gift giving varies from family to family and event to event. Presents are exchanged through various means at parties (white elephant, secret Santa, etc.) and between friends. Even more complex are the rituals practiced by individual families. Many children are visited by Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and begin opening gifts on Christmas morning. Some families celebrate the holiday with their extended families while others enjoy a more personal interaction.
Bottom line: all of these interactions involve gift exchanges between friends and family and can sometimes end up being costly and awkward. How does one know when a gift is over kill? One way to tell is if the price of the gift is unproportionate to a party’s income. Excessive gifts are unreasonable and should be avoided as this money could be put somewhere else, like a donation to help someone in need. A gift is also inappropriate when it is given not out of love and appreciation but obligation.
Gift giving at Christmas time began as a ritual practiced by pagans and then Christians wishing to mirror the giving of the wise men and continues to be influential as it is psychologically appealing. Although the act varies from family to family and is often overdone, it remains at the core of the holiday as well as American culture.
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