Gift
giving has become tarnished with the "stuff we don't need" tag and
like many popular causes perhaps it has gone too far. It has been suggested
that the debate has been taken over by those who don't understand the
tradition, those who jump on any anti bandwagon, or even worse, those who are
too lazy to accept the responsibilities that come with proper gift giving.
The
backlash to gift purchases is not new. In 1912 The Society for the Prevention
of Useless Giving, or SPUG, was formed in the US and boasted a large
membership, including former president Theodore Roosevelt. Questioning
society's spending habits is a very healthy undertaking and different
historical events including wars, recessions, and periods of great prosperity have
influenced trends.
However
true gift giving is very wholesome and it can take many forms. The Three Wise
Men gave Jesus gifts fit for a King. Countries give gifts to other countries or
visiting dignitaries as signs of friendship. Families and friends have a long
tradition of gift giving on many special occasions. It is all about showing
respect or appreciation or just letting somebody know how you feel.
At
a family level the idea is to select gifts that suit the recipient, that will
hopefully make them happy, and sometimes inspire them to achieve their dreams.
So the budding musician may receive a guitar and the homemaker a gift to
enhance their surroundings at home. The personalising of gifts is what makes
them significant. It is not the value in dollars but the effort put into their
selection. Kris Kringle anonymous gift giving is often criticised for avoiding
the personal touch in favour of convenience and economy.
A
"make it yourself" gift has always been considered a great substitute
for buying “stuff”. Making your own gifts can reduce the consumption of
resources and is very personal. And for those with lots of spare time that is a
great option. But those of us who do not have that time (or skill) there is the
gift manufacturing and retailing industry and let’s not forget that industry supports many
jobs and small businesses (including market traders) in the process.
It is true that a gift
doesn’t have to be a purchased item – an act of kindness is a very worthwhile
gift. But when a purchased gift is the best way of expressing your feelings we
should be able to do that without the baggage of the “stuff” tag. A gift that is given with care and consideration can add much to human relationships and that is a very worthwhile pursuit.
