Gift Ideas Advice For You

Gift giving has been an activity throughout human history. Gifts can have different meanings based on the people involved or the occasion. Sometimes, it is difficult to know what the right gift would be. With a general idea of the concept of gift giving, we hope to give you a better understanding of what gifts are so that you can come up with some great gift ideas for the special people in your life.

What is a gift?

A gift or a present is the transfer of some kind of good or monetary amount with no intention of receiving compensation. A gift is intended to be given freely, yet there may be a social expectation of reciprocity.

Gifts can be given as a kind gesture, a sign of forgiveness or the asking for forgiveness. They are often given on special occasions. Also, some may give gifts to receive in return prestige or power, such as those who make monetary political contributions. Likewise, athletes may receive gifts from a sports club as incentive to play for that particular team. Overall, though, gift giving is traditionally a positive activity, and in many human societies, mutual exchange of gifts can contribute to social cohesion.

Where are some good places to go for gift ideas?

The consumer culture has made it easy for people to let other people know what they want, so really it's not going to be too difficult to get gift ideas, especially for special occasions like weddings or the birth of a child. Many stores have gift registries where people participating in a celebration such as a wedding can register for the types of gifts they would like to receive. For example, a couple soon to be married can go into a store like Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond and register for household items that would be helpful as they start their life together. This registry or wish list process also helps to ensure that guests of the wedding don't buy too many of certain items. You only need so many coffeepots in a house! A number of consumer-oriented websites have similar tools. For example, Amazon.com will make suggestions about complementary items or other products you might view on the website.

Do gifts need to be bought?

No. Although some people expect you to spend money on them, it is always good to take time and make a creative gift for someone you love. This is a way to show them how much you care for them. Plus, you are giving something that is one of a kind. Certainly, there may be some stress involved when offering such a gift, considering that you have put so much of yourself into it. What if the other person doesn't appreciate it? Nevertheless, the gesture will mean a lot, and at least you can know that you tried. In the end, gift giving should be about the person to whom the gift is be given, not entirely about you, the gift giver, no matter how much as you may have put yourself into the gift!

Has Christmas always been about gift giving?

Yes and no. The Christian Bible tells that on the first Christmas, wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. This has become one of the bases for the exchange of gifts in modern Christmas celebrations. However, it is interesting to note that two of the gifts, frankincense and myrrh, were used in preparing a body for burial. These symbolisms are overlooked today with the commercialization of Christmas.

Today, especially in developed Western countries, people are encouraged to purchase gift upon gift for their friends and family. This is a relatively new tradition, dating only to the nineteenth century. However, figures now associated with Christmas gifts, such as Santa Claus, have been around for a few more centuries. So, has Christmas always been about gift giving? Yes, but originally it would have been a gift to God of religious devotion, not necessarily economy-boosting consumption.

What about shopping on the Internet?

The Internet is a very useful resource for finding gifts for friends and family members. It has become one of the central places of retail, and minus the wait for shipping, it tends to be less stressful than going to a shopping center. You may be only a few clicks away from finding the perfect gift for someone. You can even send an email asking what the person would like and just copy and paste the response into a Google search to find the item. Some Internet-based shops will even send the gift directly to the recipient and possibly wrap it for you (for a fee, of course!).

Be sure when purchasing a gift online that the website is secure, because you will have to use a credit card. For as wonderful as gift giving can be, remember that being with someone in person is the greatest gift of all. Gifts don't always have to be purchased. You just might be the gift someone needs.