A Christmas without the joy of giving gifts would seem very unusual to us today. It's one of the most important traditions we have at this time of year, and families often plan what they'll buy each other months in advance.

The tradition itself is older than you might think. With roots in Ancient Rome, it was exported by the Pilgrims and was shaped by the Victorians. Today the practice of Christmas gift-giving has developed into a commercial industry that our ancestors could never have imagined.

We’ll look at how this joyous custom began, how it has changed over the centuries, and where some of the other traditions and legends we associate with this special day came from.

The origin of Christmas presents

The origins of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas can be traced all the way back to the festivals of the Ancient Romans, specifically Saturnalia which took place from the 17th to the 23rd of December.

During these festivities, there was lots of partying and feasting, and social norms were put aside. A huge public banquet and sacrifices took place to give thanks to the God of agriculture, Saturn.

On the 19th of December, a day previously known as Sigillaria, private gift-giving took place, mostly amongst the men. They exchanged cheap, token gifts that were supposed to be amusing, such as toothpicks and wax figures. Expensive gifts were considered to be a sign that someone was making too much effort.

This festival was widely celebrated throughout the Roman Empire. Due to the merry nature of the tradition, the Romans were reluctant to abandon it once the Empire had converted to Christianity.

The Christian tradition of gift giving

As the Romans became Christians, they gradually moved away from their Pagan celebrations. However, Saturnalia was so popular that their religious leaders couldn't just eliminate it.

Instead, they took elements of Saturnalia, such as gift-giving, and created a new festivity that celebrated Jesus's birth. Today gift-giving has become associated with the Biblical tale of the three wise men who gave gifts to the baby Jesus.

As time passed, more people became Christians and the Anglo-Saxons in England were converted to Christianity by Roman missionaries. Along with this, the tradition of celebrating Christmas and exchanging Christmas gifts spread worldwide.

In 1610, the Pilgrims set sail for the New World and established the first Christian colony in North America. They brought the concept of Christmas Day celebrations with them, as well as the gift-giving tradition.

Up until the 19th Century, Christmas Day was celebrated in England with lots of feasting, drinking and general rowdiness. But during the reign of Queen Victoria, the festive season became more family-oriented and the focus shifted to children rather than adults.

Gifts remained central to the celebration and the Victorians were also responsible for popularising the Christmas tree tradition. It was then that the Christmas Day we still celebrate now began to take form.

At this time, wrapping gifts in patterned paper became popular in England. Before this, gifts were presented in plain brown paper or simply left unwrapped.

So, when tucking into a mince pie this Christmas Eve by your bushy Christmas tree, remember to give some thanks to the Victorians!

The legend of Saint Nicholas

One of the figures we most associate with Christmas is Father Christmas. However, long before the big-bearded, rosy-cheeked character that flies around in his magic sleigh, there was the humble 4th-century Bishop known as Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas is believed to have come from Myra in modern-day Turkey. He was a generous man who did a lot to help the poor.

The most known legend about him is the tale of how hanging stockings first became associated with Christmas.

The story goes that a poor man in the village could not provide dowries for his three daughters. As Saint Nicholas would pass by the man's house in the evening, he would secretly leave gold coins in the stockings that were hanging near the fireplace to dry.

So, the tradition of leaving gifts in stockings hanging by the fireplace became a part of Christmas that we still practice today. Although, not many of us wake up on Christmas morning to real gold coins in our stockings!

For a long time, gift-giving took place on Saint Nicholas Day (6th of December) but this gradually moved to Christmas Eve. However, Saint Nicholas Day is still celebrated with a feast in many European countries.

Gift giving in the 20th century

In the 20th century, Christmas became a more commercial and secular event. The booming economy meant families had more money to spend during the festive season. As a result, they started giving gifts to each other that were far more expensive than in times gone by.

Although families didn't completely lose sight of the religious meaning of Christmas, they became more focused on gift-giving, making big meals and putting up lots of Christmas decorations.

As the demand to buy presents grew, Christmas advertising mentioning gifts became commonplace. Christmas gift-giving is now seen as a sign of affection for your family and friends and isn't always thought of as being related to Christianity or Jesus Christ.

Christmas presents today

The ancient tradition of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas is so commonplace that it's hard to imagine Christmas without it.

Today, giving gifts shows no signs of slowing down. People buy presents for a much wider circle of friends, rather than just their immediate family.

One of the great evolutions in Christmas shopping has been the creation of the internet. People are now just as likely to buy their gifts from online retailers as they are to head to the high street.

The availability of lower prices and convenience of delivery that can be offered by retailers online make this an attractive option for those on a lower budget.

Celebrate the Christmas season with Christmas Tree World

Although the way we celebrate Christmas has become very commercialised and is certainly different to ancient festivities, the tradition of exchanging gifts is still a joyous affair where we show our affection for one another.

The gifts we buy may be more expensive than they used to be but, as the saying goes, it's still the thought that counts. The excitement on a friend or family member's face when they're unwrapping their gift is what Christmas is all about!Get ready for the festive season this year by browsing through Christmas Tree World’s range of incredible artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and much more!

Time For More? Read on...