CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

The history of Christmas present giving dates back over 2000 years to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was a pretty lucky kid, born somewhere in Palestine at a time where no-one received Christmas presents and in fact were unaware that December 25th was in fact Christmas.

Jesus’ parents were owners of a massive hotel chain that spanned what was then the ‘known world’.

The chain was named The Stables and was organised in what was then a modern style with ride-in shelter for horses, asses and oxen built right next to the sleeping accommodations known as ‘mangers’.

As successful hotel owners with many very well-to do clients and hundreds of suppliers the owners, the Davidsons (or Davidinums as the Roman tax collectors listed them) were used to being treated to lunches and dinners as business solicitation. When Mrs Davidson was pregnant she had to turn down invitations though and some suppliers were a bit concerned that they might be overlooked. The King brothers, suppliers of sanitary products came up with the idea of visiting the Davidsons when the child was born and to bring some food items along with trade samples. The eldest brother, Bus, gave hurried instructions to his head clerk to load the wagon with the trade samples and to also add a large hamper of food and drink. “Make sure it’s cold” he said, “plenty cold”.

When they arrived at the Mt David Hotel in Bethlehem and presented their wares Old Bus was embarrassed to find that the clerk had overdone it on the toilet air freshener Francinsense. He was even more embarrassed to discover that Mryrr the undertakers supply item was included but he was livid to discover that the large picnic hamper was full of gold.

“Bugger” he thought, trying to hide it but Joseph Davidson had spied it and vigorously shook Bus’s hand and the hands of the younger King brothers, Wan and Ris. “This is a wonderful trade sample” he enthused “and I’m sure that it will be remembered for a long time. At least until the same time next year” he said while looking Bus meaningfully in the eye.

So that's how the custom of giving gifts at Christmas came about.

For your edification here are the beginnings of some other Christmas customs:


CHRISTMAS TREES

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

CHRISTMAS CARDS