Sunday, 5 May 2013

Gift Giving: Yesterday And Today

By Kate Calvin


Most of our customs and traditions that we practice nowadays can be traced back to hundred years in mankind's history. Among these traditions is the custom of gift giving. If you do not know, gift giving is an ancient practice ever since dawn of humanity. In fact, in the ancient times, it is customary that people offer the high people in their society including their ethnic leaders some gifts in the form of rare objects and natural substances like barks and reeds. This ancient custom, which is still a modern practice, is completed to signify respect, expression of allegiance and to procure favours.

Gift giving traditions abound around the world even during the ancient times. Gift giving practices were part of the ancient way of living, whereby people give gifts for their Gods in forms of precious metals, jewellery, animal life and in extreme cases human lives. Take for example Egypt, where one of the most ostentatious gifts has been noted in the type of the great pyramids and the monuments of Pharaohs whom they respected as Gods.

In the early Roman culture, it has already been customary to offer gifts to one another in the first day of the year and on special occasions. Sweet cakes is given because of the belief of creating the upcoming year sweet, lamps to light the journey through life and coins for affluence. Furthermore, it's a Roman tradition to practice to give small gifts during birthdays.

In the contemporary world where we live, presents are given for a wide range of reasons. We give presents for religious and cultural celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. In Singapore, it is also common to give corporate gift Singapore. Corporate gifts are important in the business realm as corporate gifts build relationships. We also offer gifts to indicate love on birthdays, farewells, welcoming, holidays, to celebrate birth or simply because we would like to.

It is safe to mention that gift giving is a wonderful ancient tradition that we still practice until now. We must always remember that, a present doesn't have to be a tangible item. Price doesn't really count that much. The present can be a loving and meaningful hug. It can be a chore or a task. Whatever it is, the worth doesn't really count, what really matters is the thought of giving presents.




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