Explanation of gifting from the beginning

We carefully select and present gifts to our loved ones at Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. It's something we do naturally, and most of us don't consider the implications. However, the gift we select and how we present it reveals a lot about us, our relationships, and the complex social structures that exist in our community. Social, psychological, and emotional currents lurk behind every perfect present.

Gift giving history

Gifting has been practiced since the dawn of human civilization. It may even predate it, with our closest ancestors displaying signs of gift-giving. Researchers believe cave dwellers used unusually shaped rocks or animal teeth to strengthen social bonds and express gratitude to others. Gifts became more elaborate and decorative as social structures evolved.

Pre-colonial times

Potlatch has been practiced by Native American tribes for thousands of years. The potlatch, which was primarily a Pacific Northwest tribes' tradition, was a complex ceremony in which property and gifts were given to confirm or reconfirm the status and wealth of the gift giver. As a result, the more elaborate the gifts and ceremony, the more powerful the giver. A powerful tribe leader would be expected to lavish his tribe with elaborate gifts based on their rank. Similarly, Iupiat tradition in Alaska required that whaling crews give the majority of their catch to other tribe members after a successful hunt. The more tribe members the whaling crew received, the more respected they were.

Ancient Egypt?

According to early Egyptian records, the deceased was buried with goods or gifts needed for the afterlife. The oldest son was in charge of his parents' burial and making sure they had everything they needed. These gifts would be as simple as bowls, combs, and food, while wealthier Egyptians would be buried with idols, amulets, jewelry, furniture, and other valuables. Each gift served a different purpose, but the majority were intended to protect and aid the deceased's transition to the afterlife.

Ancient Greece

Gift giving was also important in Ancient Greek society. Elaborate, decorative gifts were given to express emotion, build relationships, and in the spirit of mutual aid or hospitality, which was a central concept in Ancient Greek culture. Families were expected to welcome visitors, who could be disguised Gods, into their homes. A proper welcome entailed providing travelers with food and a place to rest. Gifts were also exchanged as a symbol of respect and devotion. It was customary, for example, to present Gods with gifts in exchange for safe passage or protection on the battlefield.

Middle Ages

Gift exchanges were common in social interactions during the Middle Ages. Gifting provided a meaningful way for people to strengthen social bonds or demonstrate allegiance to powerful people and institutions such as the king or church. Dowries are a well-known example of a medieval gift intended to foster relationships. The bride's father presents the groom with lavish gifts in exchange for marrying and caring for his daughter; these engagement gifts may include land, money, livestock, or precious metals.

Significant presents throughout history

605-562 BC

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built as a gift for King Nebuchadnezzar II's wife, Queen Amytis.

1514

King Manuel of Portugal presented Pope Leon X with Hanno, the white elephant.

1884

France presented America with the Statue of Liberty.

1947

As a birthday present to President Truman, a two-lane bowling alley was installed in the white hose.

1968

Paul Newman's wife gave him the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which went on to become the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.

1972

China presented the United Estates with the pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing.

The reason Why we give gifts?

Because gifting is such an important part of our social fabric, we give gifts for a variety of, sometimes contradictory, reasons. Our culture requires it at times, such as for Christmas or birthday gifts. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including building and reinforcing relationships with family members and potential mates.

To maintain relationships

Gifts are frequently given to re-confirm or establish our connection with others, so they reflect both the giver and the receiver, as well as their unique relationship. Giving a gift to someone we care about allows us to express our feelings and gratitude to them. Indeed, some sociologists believe that we only give gifts to people with whom we want to have relationships. French sociologist Marcel Mauss argues in his book The Gift that not giving or rejecting a gift is essentially a rejection of the relationship.

A way of representing special feelings

Gifts are used in some way to symbolize love and devotion between two partners, which corresponds with the theory of symbolic interactionism,' which contends that people communicate through the use of symbols. What, for example, do men typically buy for their partners to express their love or devotion? Flowers are usually the first choice because their fragrant beauty can be interpreted to symbolize feelings of love.

Symbolic connection

Have you received a gift that has made you happy? Perhaps you've been unlucky enough to receive something that disappointed and upset you because it fell short of your expectations. But why would this bother you? It is the thought that counts, and that is all. When you dig deeper, it's because we attach symbolic meaning to gifts. This means that a gift you aren't particularly fond of can be interpreted as careless, despite its altruistic intentions.

To get something in return

Gifts necessitate some form of reciprocation because they represent our desire to build or cement a relationship. According to contemporary sociologist Dimitri Mortelmans, gift giving creates a "debt-balance," so gifts must be repaid to avoid ill feelings, creating a gift-giving cycle. Giving too little indicates that you don't value the relationship while giving too much indicates that you overvalue it and cause feelings of embarrassment.

To support others

Some gifts are given with no expectation of recompense. For example, we frequently give gifts to young children who cannot reciprocate, or even to our pets. While it is possible that these gifts are reciprocated in other ways, altruism may also be at work. Two of the most powerful motivators for altruistic gift giving are love and appreciation.

Donating money or volunteering for a charity are examples of giving gifts to help others. Several theories have been proposed to explain why people do this. According to one theory, charitable giving activates dopamine-producing pleasure circuitry in the brain. In reality, we give because it makes us happy.

To find a partner

Most animals give gifts as part of their mating ritual, and humans are no exception. Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, have been observed giving food in exchange for sex and grooming, whereas gibbons give gifts to keep existing mates. According to biologists' findings, humans use gift-giving to attract and retain mates as serial monogamists.

The study discovered that men who were more generous with gifts were more successful at attracting and retaining mates in both the short and long term. Women, on the other hand, were less likely to give gifts for mating purposes and more likely to give gifts to strengthen social networks.

Gift types

Choosing the ideal gift can appear to be an impossible task at times. University of California researchers investigated the motivations and symbolism behind the gifts we give and proposed four types of gifts:

• Gifts that are symbolic of both the recipient and the giver
• Gifts that represent the giver's knowledge of the receiver
• Gifts that are symbolic of the event
• Gifts that are expressive and have a wide range of significant meanings

Mary Finley Wolfinbarger argues in her paper Motivations and Symbolism in Gift-Giving Behavior that favorite gifts frequently fall into the second category and are gifts that the receiver wants but would not have purchased themselves. Gifts that were too symbolic of the giver and had little to do with the receiver were the least favorite. According to Wolfinbarger, most gifts compromise what the receiver wants and what the giver wants the receiver to have.

Online platforms, experiences, and giving presents

Social media has evolved into a platform for us to project our desired self-image, altering the gift-giving game as well. If someone surprises their partner with a romantic vacation, the experience is likely to be shared on Facebook or Instagram. These sharing opportunities provide social media currency,' which can elevate the giver's social standing by allowing the picture to convey their benevolence, or it can very publicly symbolize their commitment and devotion to the relationship. Moreover, there are plenty of websites such as GYFTPALS on which you can find your desired gift easily.

Popular gifts and gift ideas

So, what are the most popular types of gifts in today's society? According to research, the most popular gifts are those related to entertainment, such as CDs or DVDs, clothing, and food and drink. Gift cards, personalized gifts, and experiences are also popular gift ideas. According to research, giving an experience strengthens your relationship with the receiver more than giving a physical gift. This is primarily because experience gifts elicit stronger emotional responses while being enjoyed. Speeding around a go-kart track, for example, releases adrenaline, whereas massages relax. Nonetheless, when choosing an experience, keep the recipient in mind to ensure you choose something appropriate and something they will look forward to.