Editing Gift (section)

== History ==
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Gift-giving has played a central role in social and economic systems throughout human history. Anthropologist [[Marcel Mauss]] argued in ''[[The Gift (essay)|The Gift]]'' (1925) that gifts in archaic societies were embedded in systems of obligation, where the act of giving, receiving, and reciprocating created enduring social bonds.<ref>Mauss, Marcel. ''The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies''. Routledge, 1954.</ref> In many early civilizations, gifts were used for religious offerings, royal tribute, diplomatic negotiations, and public displays of generosity by elites. Over time, gift-giving evolved into a broader practice encompassing both ceremonial and personal exchanges.

=== Ancient ===
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In [[Ancient Egypt]] and [[Mesopotamia]], gifts were presented to rulers and deities as symbols of devotion or allegiance. Archaeological records and cuneiform tablets describe tributes of grain, livestock, and precious metals given as offerings or tokens of loyalty.<ref>Wilkinson, Richard H. ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson, 2003.</ref>

In [[Ancient Greece]], the institution of ''[[xenia]]'' (guest-friendship) involved ritualized gift exchanges between hosts and guests. These practices, frequently described in [[Homeric epics]] such as the ''[[Odyssey]]'', served to strengthen social ties and demonstrate respect.<ref>Homer. ''The Odyssey'', translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 1996.</ref>

In the [[Roman Empire|Roman world]], elites gave ''[[munera]]'' (public gifts or services), including gladiatorial games and food distributions, as acts of civic generosity and to enhance political reputation.<ref>Hopkins, Keith. ''Conquerors and Slaves''. Cambridge University Press, 1978.</ref>

In [[Ancient China]], gift-giving was guided by the Confucian ideal of ''[[Li (Confucianism)|li]]'' (ritual propriety). Formal exchanges of gifts—such as jade, scrolls, or tea—were common among the aristocracy and scholars and symbolized respect and social hierarchy.<ref>Li, Chenyang. ''The Confucian Philosophy of Harmony''. Routledge, 2013.</ref>

Many ancient religious traditions also incorporated gift-giving. In the [[Rigveda]], patrons offered cattle, gold, and horses to priests as part of ritual sacrifices.<ref>Griffith, Ralph T.H. ''The Hymns of the Rigveda''. Evinity Publishing Inc., 2009.</ref> In [[Christian tradition]], the [[Biblical Magi|Magi]]'s presentation of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant [[Jesus]] is an early example of symbolic religious gift-giving, commemorated in modern [[Christmas]] customs.<ref>[[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 2:11, Holy Bible.</ref>

=== Medieval ===
In the 760s, [[Bregowin]] ([[archbishop of Canterbury]]) gave a [[bone casket]] to [[Lul (bishop)|Lul]] (the [[bishop of Mainz]]).<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Wilson Clay |first=John-Henry |date=2009-12-01 |title=Gift-giving and books in the letters of St Boniface and Lul |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.08.004 |journal=[[Journal of Medieval History]] |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=313–325 |doi=10.1016/j.jmedhist.2009.08.004 |issn=0304-4181}}</ref> This was the only known instance of gift-giving between 8th-century missionaries.<ref name=":4" />

Donations to [[monasteries]] in [[medieval Europe]] peaked between the 9th and 12th centuries.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Silber |first=Ilana F. |date=1995 |title=Gift-giving in the great traditions: the case of donations to monasteries in the medieval West |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23997785 |journal=European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie / Europäisches Archiv für Soziologie |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=209–243 |doi=10.1017/S0003975600007542 |jstor=23997785 |issn=0003-9756|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Eventually, people began to explain this by claiming that monks or other holy people contributed disproportionately to a "[[treasure of merit]]".<ref name=":5" />

In sixteenth and seventeenth century France, gift-giving was often [[patronage]] in disguise.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=KETTERING |first=SHARON |date=1988-06-01 |title=Gift-Giving and Patronage in Early Modern France |url=https://academic.oup.com/fh/article-abstract/2/2/131/638758?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=French History |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=131–151 |doi=10.1093/fh/2.2.131 |issn=0269-1191|url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{Rp|page=131}} This was hidden by terms like [[wikt:grâces|grâces]], [[wikt:bonté|bonté]], and [[wikt:bienveillance|bienveillance]].<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=137}} Sometimes actual gifts were given with [[patron-client letters]]. These often included money, [[hunting birds]], food, and cloth,<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|pages=138–139}} and occasionally messengers as well.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=140}}

=== Modern ===
Gift-giving during [[Christmas celebrations]] in the U.S. began in the early 19th century, initially in the [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Waits |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xn0VCgAAQBAJ&pg=PR16 |title=The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving |date=1994 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=978-0-8147-9284-1 |language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|page=xvi}} This kind of celebration was [[Northern European]] and had its roots in [[Lutheran theology]].<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=xvi}} During this era, gifts were usually small and handmade.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=xvi}}

In the late 19th century, U.S. Christmas celebrations began to grow in scale, with more manufacturing of goods.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=xvii}} As early as 1880, the country's businesspeople had begun taking advantage of the holiday to sell more.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=xix}}

In Japan, [[Valentine's Day]] gift giving was introduced by [[Morozoff Ltd.]] in 1936,<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Minowa |first1=Yuko |last2=Khomenko |first2=Olga |last3=Belk |first3=Russell W. |date=March 2011 |title=Social Change and Gendered Gift-Giving Rituals: A Historical Analysis of Valentine's Day in Japan |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0276146710375831 |journal=Journal of Macromarketing |language=en |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=44–56 |doi=10.1177/0276146710375831 |issn=0276-1467|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and initially targeted foreigners living near [[Kobe]].<ref name=":2" /> The holiday was then reintroduced in the 1950s, but was not popular.<ref name=":2" /> It only became popular in the 1970s, when it was framed as a time for women to give gifts to men.<ref name=":2" /> To fix the gender imbalance, [[White Day]] was introduced for the men to give back to women.<ref name=":2" /> The typical gift on Valentine's Day in Japan is ''[[giri choko]]'' ("obligation chocolate").<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Gordenker |first=Alice |date=2006-03-21 |title=White Day |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2006/03/21/reference/white-day/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> Typical gifts on White Day include chocolate, jewelry, and clothes.<ref name=":3" /> 

Recent changes in gift-giving have been influenced by technology, consumer preferences, and cultural shifts. There is a growing preference for personalized, handmade, or digitally delivered gifts over traditional store-bought items. Customized gifts like hand-drawn [[Portrait|portraits]] and [[Personalized book|personalized books]] are increasingly popular, offering more emotional and cultural significance. E-commerce has played a key role in this transformation, with online platforms providing a convenient way to order personalized and virtual gifts. The article from [[ScienceDaily]] discusses research by the [[University of Bath]] showing that personalized gifts create lasting emotional connections and boost self-esteem. The study found that recipients of personalized gifts, such as custom portraits, mugs or clothing, feel more cherished and are more likely to value and care for these items.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132144.htm ScienceDaily, "Personalized Gifts Foster Emotional Connections," December 2024]</ref> The emotional impact is enhanced when the thought and effort behind the personalization are communicated. Personalized gifts foster deeper relationships and contribute to sustainability.  Various online platforms have contributed to this trend by offering personalized gifts like hand-drawn portraits and customized books<ref>{{Cite web |title=Custom Portraits and Personalized Books |url=https://blueberryillustrations.com/gifts}}</ref>. University gift shops, such as [[The Duck Store]] and [[The Harvard Shop]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Harvard Shop |url=https://shop.harvard.edu}}</ref>, have also embraced this trend, offering customized items that reflect their institutions' traditions. Additional gift types that reflect modern personalization trends include custom jewelry or accessories featuring engraved names, initials, or birthstones; personalized greeting cards or art prints; digital gifts such as NFTs or tailored online experiences like personalized video messages; handcrafted wellness products including soaps or candles with custom labels; and themed experience kits, for example, cooking kits with personalized recipes.