| Gift giving has been an activity throughout human | | | | Interestingly enough, such celebrations have only |
| history. Gifts can have different meanings based on | | | | become common in the past century-before that, they |
| the people involved or the occasion. Sometimes, it is | | | | were nearly unheard of! The bar mitzvah is the |
| difficult to know what the right gift would be. | | | | celebration of a Jewish boy coming into adulthood at |
| With a general idea of the concept of gift giving, we | | | | the age of 13. |
| hope to give you a better understanding of what gifts | | | | The bat mitzvah is for girls at the age of 12. It has |
| are so that you can come up with some great gift | | | | become traditional for guests to bring gifts to the |
| ideas for the special people in your life. | | | | reception party. If you want to give the celebrant a gift |
| What occasions and customs in the U.S. traditionally | | | | related to his or her religion, be sure to know |
| involve giving gifts or gift exchanges? | | | | something about the person's faith. Usually, the gifts |
| A number of occasions and celebrations call for gifts. | | | | given are like any 12 or 13-year-old child's birthday |
| On a birthday, the person having the birthday receives | | | | party gift. |
| gifts, often including a cake or some sort of dessert. | | | | Has Christmas always been about gift giving? |
| During the Christmas holidays, people often exchange | | | | Yes and no. The Christian Bible tells that on the first |
| gifts, sometimes receiving them supposedly from | | | | Christmas, wise men brought gifts of gold, |
| Santa Clause. | | | | frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. This has |
| At a wedding, the couple receives gifts, usually for their | | | | become one of the bases for the exchange of gifts in |
| home, and provides food and drinks at a wedding | | | | modern Christmas celebrations. |
| reception. On the solemn occasion of a funeral, visitors | | | | However, it is interesting to note that two of the gifts, |
| often bring flowers and the family of the deceased | | | | frankincense and myrrh, were used in preparing a |
| gives refreshments. | | | | body for burial. These symbolisms are overlooked |
| After a birth, the parents receive gifts on behalf of the | | | | today with the commercialization of Christmas. |
| newborn child. Students at an academic milestone | | | | Today, especially in developed Western countries, |
| such as a graduation often receive gifts in | | | | people are encouraged to purchase gift upon gift for |
| congratulations. | | | | their friends and family. This is a relatively new tradition, |
| On Father's and Mother's Day, parents receive gifts | | | | dating only to the nineteenth century. |
| from their children. It is a tradition also for guests and | | | | However, figures now associated with Christmas gifts, |
| hosts to exchange gifts at parties. | | | | such as Santa Claus, have been around for a few |
| Where are some good places to go for gift ideas? | | | | more centuries. So, has Christmas always been about |
| The consumer culture has made it easy for people to | | | | gift giving? Yes, but originally it would have been a gift |
| let other people know what they want, so really it's not | | | | to God of religious devotion, not necessarily |
| going to be too difficult to get gift ideas, especially for | | | | economy-boosting consumption. |
| special occasions like weddings or the birth of a child. | | | | What about shopping on the Internet? |
| Many stores have gift registries where people | | | | The Internet is a very useful resource for finding gifts |
| participating in a celebration such as a wedding can | | | | for friends and family members. It has become one of |
| register for the types of gifts they would like to | | | | the central places of retail, and minus the wait for |
| receive. For example, a couple soon to be married can | | | | shipping, it tends to be less stressful than going to a |
| go into a store like Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond | | | | shopping center. |
| and register for household items that would be helpful | | | | You may be only a few clicks away from finding the |
| as they start their life together. | | | | perfect gift for someone. You can even send an email |
| This registry or wish list process also helps to ensure | | | | asking what the person would like and just copy and |
| that guests of the wedding don't buy too many of | | | | paste the response into a Google search to find the |
| certain items. You only need so many coffeepots in a | | | | item. |
| house! | | | | Some Internet-based shops will even send the gift |
| A number of consumer-oriented websites have similar | | | | directly to the recipient and possibly wrap it for you |
| tools. For example, will make suggestions about | | | | (for a fee, of course!). |
| complementary items or other products you might | | | | Be sure when purchasing a gift online that the website |
| view on the website. | | | | is secure, because you will have to use a credit card. |
| What about religiously related gifts? | | | | For as wonderful as gift giving can be, remember that |
| At some point in your life, you or your child may be | | | | being with someone in person is the greatest gift of all. |
| invited to a religious celebration. For example, it has | | | | Gifts don't always have to be purchased. You just |
| become common today in the United States for some | | | | might be the gift someone needs. |
| Jewish families to celebrate bar or bat mitzvah. | | | | |