No rush, no crowds, no waste of money: it would be much easier if we freed ourselves from gift-giving at Christmas. Yet each year we scour the stores, browse the Internet, sift through Christmas brochures in search of the right gift for our loved ones.
Why do we give presents at Christmas?
We do this for good reason: without gifts, our society would crumble. “Gifts are social glue, so to speak,” says cultural scientist Mischa Gallati of the University of Zurich. Because a gift always requires a gift in return. This symbolic exchange creates a bond. Gallati sees this as the reason why most people choose to give rather than receive gifts. “So you can decide for yourself who you want to connect with.”
While presents are exchanged directly today, there was more time to do so in the past. “You can still return gifts months later,” says sociologist Samuel Strehle of the University of Basel. So you weren’t exactly equal and you had that kind of relationship. Because guilt also binds each other.
Giving is a big thing
There are different aspects to giving something. You can express your strength as well as joy, compassion, love and solidarity. Strehle: “If the gift cannot be returned, you are embarrassing the other person.” The sociologist warns: “If you try to cross each other with gifts, you can strain the social relationship that is all about gift-giving.”
Even as gifts become larger and more expensive over the years, monetary value is not ultimately decisive. Rather, the size of a gift has to do with what it means to the person in question. Gallati: «For the child, a big Lego knight castle is more valuable than a small diamond ring. It’s probably different for the wife.” Gifts can be interpreted in many different ways. This can easily lead to misunderstandings. More importantly, it’s linguistic accompaniment when giving gifts. Gallati: “If you donate quietly, then there’s always the need to talk.”
Christ Child, Santa Claus or parents?
There is a varied history behind the tradition of giving each other something for Christmas. Gift giving is closely linked to Saint Nicholas, who has been revered since the Middle Ages. On December 6, she put gifts in children’s shoes or under the bed. It was only through Martin Luther that the gift date was delayed until Christmas because a cult of saints was incompatible with the Reformation. “So it’s not entirely clear who brought the gifts,” Gallati says. “Wish lists go to parents, Santa, or the Child Jesus.”
Between tradition and fashion
Christmas has also changed a lot over the years. The Christmas tree was introduced only at the end of the 18th century. Typical Fondue Chinoise but became popular in the 1970s. Religion plays a much smaller role today than it did 50 years ago. In fact, Christmas has become an almost entirely earthly celebration of family gatherings. Strehle: “The festival fits so well as a counterweight to our fast-moving time.” It encourages us to slow down, pause and rejuvenate. Most shops are closed on holidays. Then it means: no rush, no crowds, no waste of money.
That’s why atheists celebrate too
Why we give presents is a question, why do we celebrate Christmas, wait a second. Especially at a time when fewer and fewer people believe in God. Atheist websites in German-speaking countries explain why it’s absolutely okay for non-believers to join the celebrations: they claim that Christmas isn’t actually a Christian holiday, but rather one of the pagans that celebrates the winter solstice in December. Therefore, you can safely participate in the festivities.