“It just feels nice”
That’s what someone wrote for this topic in the market. Another person put up, “The joy of giving people something they need.”
Consumerism
That summarized a comment – “A holiday started by corporations to make money.”
So, what is the reason for presents at Christmas?
The wise men from the east
There were some scholars who came from a country somewhere east of Palestine, according to the detailed narrative in the Bible. They purposely sought out the whereabouts of the baby Jesus, and were eventually led to the actual place in the town of Bethlehem where Jesus and his mother Mary were.
They then bowed down to Jesus, and presented him with very expensive gifts carrying great significance for his future life, ministry, and death.
The gifts were gold (for kings), frankincense (for priests), and myrrh (for the dead).
Good old Saint Nick!
Historically, another explanation is that of the man Nicholas, who lived in south-western Turkey in the 4th century. He had changed his faith from the predominant Greco-Roman paganism and had become a Christian before it had become legal. He then tried to secretly give poor people in his town gifts to help them in their lack. Sometimes he would hide the gifts in clothing, like long socks hung up in front of the fire to dry. People eventually found out that he was the secret gift-giver. Some time later, he was renamed Saint Nicholas, from which many centuries later the name and story eventually morphed into Santa Claus.
The original story is inspiring, and Jesus did say that it is better to give than to get!
In fact, nowadays, many followers of Jesus are leaving behind the consumerism and getting back to the basics, just wanting to thank God for sending Jesus. Why would we do that?
It obviously shows belief, but as well the evidence of his life 2,000 years ago, the depth and detail of descriptions about him in the Bible, and the way we claim he has dramatically changed our lives for the good, now and forever.
Why not open a Bible online and check out the first couple of chapters of the Gospel of Luke concerning the circumstances of his birth?
