Why Do We Give Christmas Gifts? The Short History
We give gifts at Christmas mainly because of the Christian story of the Magi, the wise men who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus, combined with the legend of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for giving in secret. Older Roman winter gift customs fed into it too. The big family present-opening on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning is newer, and took its modern shape in the 19th century.
Where did Christmas gift giving come from?
Several traditions came together over many centuries. The historical summary below draws on History Hit’s account of Christmas presents.
Roman winter festivals
The Romans held Saturnalia from December 17 to 23 in honor of the god Saturn, a festival of feasting and celebration that may have included gift giving. At the new year, Romans also exchanged small tokens such as laurel twigs, and later gilded coins and nuts. When Christianity spread through the Roman world, some of these midwinter customs carried on in a new setting.
The gifts of the Magi
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi bring gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. In Christian tradition their visit is remembered on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, and the story gave gift giving a religious meaning: giving in honor of the greatest gift, which Christians understand to be Jesus himself. In many countries, children still receive gifts on Epiphany rather than, or as well as, on Christmas.
St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century bishop best remembered for giving gifts in secret. He became the inspiration for Father Christmas and Santa Claus. The Dutch figure Sinterklaas is a version of St. Nicholas, and by the 19th century his image had become a secular figure imagined delivering presents.
When did Christmas become the main day for gifts?
In the 19th century. History Hit describes how Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gradually became the main occasions for exchanging presents, helped along by Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem, now known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843, which came out as Christmas was being revived in Victorian culture. Earlier, many people had exchanged gifts at the new year or on saints’ days instead.
In the 20th century, retailers found it in their interest to promote Christmas gift giving, and they did so heavily. That commercial side is real, but it sits on top of a much older idea of generosity at midwinter.
What does a Christmas gift mean today?
For Christians, a gift can be a small echo of the Magi and of the gift of Christ. For many families of any background, it is simply a way to show someone they are known and loved. That is why the gifts people remember are rarely the most expensive ones. They are the ones that show thought: a name, a shared joke, a date that matters, a note in the giver’s handwriting.
Why do people do Christmas gift exchanges?
Gift exchanges such as Secret Santa, white elephant and ornament swaps grew up as a way to keep giving manageable. When a family, office or friend group gets large, buying for everyone becomes expensive and stressful. Drawing names or bringing one gift to swap means each person buys one present, often within a set budget, and everyone still goes home with something. Our guide to how an ornament exchange works explains the most popular rules.
Can you give Christmas gifts early?
Yes. There is no rule that gifts must wait for December 25. Gifts are often given early when:
- you will not see the person over the holidays,
- the gift is meant to be used during the season, such as a Christmas sweatshirt, an Advent calendar or an ornament for this year’s tree,
- it is for a teacher, coworker or neighbor before everyone leaves for the break.
If it is a gift meant to be opened on the day, just add “Do not open until Christmas” to the tag. Our guide to what to write on a Christmas gift tag has more ideas.
Quick answers
- Why do we give Christmas gifts? Mainly in memory of the Magi’s gifts to Jesus and the generosity of St. Nicholas, blended with older Roman winter customs.
- Who started Christmas gift giving? No single person. It grew from several traditions over many centuries.
- When did presents move to Christmas Day? Largely in the 19th century.
- Is it wrong to give gifts early? No, especially for gifts meant to be used during the season.