The History of Christmas and Gift Giving

Every December, millions exchange gifts, but where did this global tradition actually begin?

The roots trace back to ancient Rome and the pagan festival known as Saturnalia.

From December seventeenth to the twenty third, Romans swapped candles to signify the

return of light. In the fourth century, Saint Nicholas of Myra transformed these

customs into an act of charity. Legend says he secretly tossed bags of gold into

the windows of the poor and needy. By the Middle Ages,

gift giving became a central part of the December feast of Saint Nicholas.

In eighteen twenty two, Clement Clarke Moore wrote his famous poem,