When we think of the holidays, we think of floors strewn with boxes and bags, cascades of glittering ribbons on packages, and the warm feeling we get when we give something truly meaningful. Gift giving is not new. People throughout the world have been giving and receiving gifts since the start of civilization, many times to express affection or symbolize a particular bond with another. In Japan, it is polite to give or receive a gift with both hands. In China, a person may refuse a gift three times to express manners. In ancient Rome, emperors received gifts during the festival of Saturnalia, held on December 17th.
While there are many traditions throughout the globe linking gift-giving to the holiday season—the celebration of the end of the harvest, the winter solstice, or the coming new year—it wasn’t until the early 1800s that the holiday giving season evolved into today’s customs. The rising middle-class and the ability to mass-produce items, such as toys, lead to the popularization of commercialized gifts and even the concept of Santa Claus as we know it.
Including a special surprise for your party guests, like small gifts, will be an extension of the evening’s magic and remembered for years to come. Gifts wrapped in gold like traditional British party crackers, also become lovely ornamentations to your scene. Plush wide ribbons with feathers and a sprig of fragrant rosemary tucked thoughtfully into each package will enchant your guests. Choose small elegant gifts to mirror the evening’s atmosphere—cuff links for the men and gold stud earrings for the ladies.