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How did the tradition of gift giving begin?

Gift giving during holidays has become a tradition nowadays. Gifts are exchanged among families, friends, office colleagues, and associates in business and others during holidays and other festive occasions. It is customary to exchange Christmas gifts and this gift giving practice during Christmas is found in almost all parts of the world. It is also observed that the actual tradition of gift giving started sometime in the early 1900s.

How did the tradition of gift giving start? The origin of giving gifts during Christmas is generally attributed to the Three Wise Men who were said to have followed a bright star from the East to Bethlehem where the baby Jesus was born. They are said to have brought three gifts for baby Jesus. Today, the day the “three” wise men arrived bearing gifts is celebrated on January 6. In Germany, or the Three Kings Day or the Heilige Drei Knige, as it is called, is the final celebration of Christmas, i.e. the Twelve Days of Christmas from December 25 to January 6. The abbreviation of the names of the three wise men, CMB (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) is put on the door the night before January 6 to protect the house.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, the three wise men are bearers of gifts for children instead of Santa Claus. On January 5, the night before the Three Kings Day or El Dia De Reyes, they set their shoes outside filled with straw and the wise men, on their way to visit the baby Jesus, leave gifts for the children in exchange for the straw. On January 6, children awake finding gifts in their shoes and dreaming they heard camel footsteps in the night and seeing the bright star that guided the wise men.

It is to be noted that gift giving does not happen only during Christmas. Occasions like Valentine's day, Father's day, Mother's day, birthdays, wedding anniversary day etc., are celebrated with gift giving. Gift giving is one form showing one's respect, love and affection to the other.

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