A life in which gifts are bestowed upon you every single day…sheer perfection!
Whether driven by the pursuit of good karma or simply as a sign of generosity, gift-giving is a universal language of love that unfailingly brings joy and smiles to those who receive it. Beyond kindness, a priceless gift that requires no expense, the tradition of exchanging tangible presents dates back to a time long before our great-grandparents. This article aims to unveil the evolution of gifts, from primitive traditions to contemporary practices, as they possess a rich history that deserves a place in everyone’s cultural knowledge.
Primitive Civilizations
Indeed, it’s true – people of the Upper Paleolithic era were exchanging gifts, so if you even entertained the thought of forgoing a present, you might want to reconsider your choice. If they did it, you have no excuse!
The archaeological findings from Swabian Alb, Germany, have revealed approximately 25 artifacts dated to 42.000 years ago. Venus of Hohle Fels, an ivory figurine carved from a piece of mammoth tusk, is one of them. It’s said it was likely given as a gift to create bonds with the other tribes. Anthropologists at Victoria University of Wellington have advocated this figurine as a glimpse of hope for survival and longevity within thriving and prosperous communities.
Even though they didn’t have the luxury to go to a mega-mall and buy gifts from there, Homo Sapiens made the most of what they had; they used bones, shells, teeth, stones, and even feathers to create handmade presents, later worn as bracelets and necklaces.
The Ancient Times
However, if you were wondering whom you should thank for exchanging outstanding presents nowadays, it’s the Ancient Egyptians. They can be considered the trendsetters of gift culture—well, main trendsetters because Ancient Egyptians played a significant role in molding this tradition.
They strongly believed in offering gifts to their gods as a method of gaining protection, health, and wealth. They also put their faith in the hands of their pharaohs, showering them with gifts in the belief that they were divine mediators who could advocate for them with the gods.
Ancient Egypt was a period where superstition and religion dominated every individual’s life, believing that whatever they were buried with would accompany them into the afterlife. This belief led to richly decorated tombs, filled with jewelry, perfume, furniture, holy water, and food.
Whom do we owe the fact that we celebrate our birthdays with cake and candles? The Ancient Greeks believed evil spirits were tempted to haunt people, especially on their birthdays, so they lit candles and snuffed them out while pledging an oath of protection. The round cake symbolizes the full moon, the lit candles stand for their luminescence, and the smoke from the candles carries prayers to the sky.
Moreover, in ancient times, people brought firewood to mark the occasion of someone’s new home. They waited for the house to warm up from the fire, kindled the firewood, and cooked food for everyone using the same fire.
Another gift tradition (that hopefully is gone) was spitting. The Maasai tribe of Kenya used to spit on gifts, offering the others their “precious water.” We can agree that probably no one misses this practice nowadays.
The Middle Ages
Gift-giving played a pivotal role in medieval society, serving as means to win hearts, forge diplomatic ties and solidify alliances. People were mainly exchanging gifts to show off their prospering financial possibilities and elevated status. The most common gifts exchanged were jewelry, manuscripts, artworks, clothing, and (believe it or not) food. Why food? In an era where the food one consumed was deeply intertwined with social status, offering delectable treats to others became one of the most effective ways to display wealth and prestige.
The Roman Catholic church severely punished any public gesture of love, but romanticism was more vibrant and flourishing than ever. Lovers have found exchanging rings and brooches as an alternative to calm down their carnal desires. The rings were inscribed with love pleadings in Latin, Old French, and Middle English:
Autre nevet : Never desire another
Amor meus: My love
Nul autre: No other
Mon cor avez: You have my heart
Je le de sir: I desire him
At least once in your life, you’ve probably told your partner (jokingly or not) to sing a serenade in front of your balcony if they want forgiveness. Most likely, it didn’t happen, but in the Middle Ages, the passion between lovers was so burning that they sang serenades, recited poems, or sewed parts of each other’s hair into their clothing on a daily basis.
The present-day
In a society driven by the consumerist industry, where most people have shopaholics written in their DNA, the rush for presents has become a compulsory habit. Everyone is so involved when it comes to choosing the perfect gift that they transform it into an entire intervention that implies at least several hours lost, filled with emotion that can vary from smiling as they found the perfect dress for their best friend to crying, they didn’t have it in the right size.
Outstanding gift ideas
It depends on how bold you are; otherwise, no one will stop you from gifting leopard bikinis for ladies and designer swim shorts for men (suppose your friends are planning to go on a cruise).
TikTok-inspired gifts: Sunset Projection Lamp, Phone Charm Chains, LED Light Strips, Hair Dryer and Volumizer, Disposable Camera, Tote Bags, Skincare Fridge, Matcha Kit.
Funny Gifts: Burrito Blanket, Custom Face Socks, Justin Bieber Sequin Pillow, Bread Slippers, Screaming Goat Figurine, Sarcastic Award Trophies, Golden Retriever Poop Toothpaste Dispenser.
A simple yet profoundly meaningful gesture is to always include a hand-written note with your gifts, as it evokes a sense of intimacy that cannot be replicated by a printed card or a digital message. If you are not good with words, type on Google, “What do I write in my gift message?” and that’s it.
Final Thoughts
Assuming this article sheds light on the origins of this enduring human tradition, we can undoubtedly agree that gift-giving is a timeless practice, one that even our ancient ancestors, the cavemen, embraced.