There are just couple of months left for Christmas and many families across the world would be taking out their Christmas decorations and shopping for gifts preparing for this gala festival when gifts are exchanged, trees are decorated and carols are sung. But, it would also be interesting to find out how did this holiday originate and why do people exchange gifts on Christmas day.

We all know that Christmas all over the world is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. However, if you look at the practice of giving gifts, it goes back beyond the birth of Christ. It goes back all the way to ancient Rome when people exchanged gifts to celebrate the start of a new year.

The Bible says that on Christ's birth, the three Magi came bearing gifts. So, it makes perfect sense to give gifts to one another to keep this tradition going even in modern days. It can also be seen as a way to keep the ancient Roman practice alive.

Okay, so we now know why the practice of gift giving started. But, what about the kids getting gifts from Santa Claus? How did this custom start. It again goes back to ancient times when there was man called Saint Nicholas. He lived during the fourth century and was known for his benevolence towards kids. He used to present them with small gifts and treats throughout the year. It is believed that the concept for modern-day Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas. According to legends, there was a man who had just lost his wife. He was very poor and did not have money to feed his 3 daughters. On finding out about his plight, Saint Nicholas dropped 3 bags of gold through the chimney of the man's house and these bags ended up in stockings that were placed on the fireplace mantle for drying.

By the tenth century, the tale of Saint Nicholas had spread far and wide, and soon giving of gifts became a tradition that was followed during Christmas.

Kum Martin is an online leading expert in history and education. He also offers top quality articles like:
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