Join the conversation Create account. Already have an account? Christmas traditions: Why do we give gifts at Christmas? CBC News Loaded. Calgary Christmas traditions: Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Hitting the malls in search of Christmas gifts can be a stressful experience, but there's nothing quite like receiving that perfect, thoughtful gift. On top of this was the added threat of the pagan Viking raiders from the Nordic countries. The end result was a series of Christian kingdoms that became familiar with the longstanding values of early Christmas, including the act of gift-giving.
A small group of people from these isles would eventually set sail over the Atlantic Ocean for America in , searching for a new place to freely practice their strand of Christianity.
These people were known as the Pilgrims, and they set up the first Christian colony in North America. The New World wasn't just admired by the Pilgrims, however, and they were soon joined in the thousands by the Puritans, who were followers of a strict strain of Christianity which eschewed any Roman Catholic beliefs. They saw much of the ceremonial grandeur of Catholicism to be in contradiction to what the religion stood for, preferring a simpler, more disciplined lifestyle.
They saw festivals like Christmas as part of this excess, and banned it outright. There are a few stories of non-Puritan people making merry at Christmas, and being severely reprimanded by leaders of the community.
In fact, it wasn't until when Christmas became a federal holiday that the no-nonsense attitude to the festive period was relaxed. In the USA in the 20th century, Christmas became a phenomenon.
The boom of the American dream and times of economic prosperity after World War Two fuelled a whole industry around the holiday. Although the Christian principles behind the festive period were not forgotten, the material aspects, such as decorating the home, buying gifts, and preparing meals were emphasised as the best way to enjoy this secular celebration. After the repression of Christmas by Puritan values, the new century saw the practice of gift-giving return and the emergence of the secular seasonal traditions that are still dominant today.
The figure of Santa Claus is a good example of something that has both secular and religious significance. He is based on the European Saint Nicholas, who in turn is inspired by the religious saint. There does not appear to be an easy answer. Nor do presents seem to have a clear connection to Christian faith. In fact, religious leaders have long been more likely to decry the commercialization of Christmas as detracting from the true spirit of the holiday than to celebrate the delivery of purchased goods to middle-class or wealthy children.
Donating gifts to poor children is a different matter, of course, but that practice became common in the United States only after gift-giving at home became a well-established ritual. Critics of the commercialization of Christmas tend to attribute the growth of holiday gift-giving to corporate marketing efforts. Although such efforts did contribute to the magnitude of the ritual, the practice of buying Christmas presents for children predates the spread of corporate capitalism in the United States: It began during the first half of the s, particularly in New York City, and was part of a broader transformation of Christmas from a time of public revelry into a home- and child-centered holiday.
Nicholas was perhaps one of the most famous gift-givers in Christmas history, as he delighted children and adults alike in the surprise presents he left behind in the shoes that were left outside. In the 13 th Century, many French nuns made and gave gifts to the needy on the eve of St. Yet it was in the 18 th Century, that gift-giving became a central tradition of the Christmas festivities.
The Victorians brought warmth and spirit to Christmas, making the celebration more about the family.
0コメント