Historians believed that the donation began even before the beginning of human civilization, when prehistoric people bequeathed small gifts to women from the tribe. They believed that men used food gifts or tools mainly to attract a future helper. Over time, when human societies arose and grew, the purpose of donation also developed. Today, gift giving is a tradition that is associated with various social activities and important life events. Regardless of the purpose, giving gifts is an expression of gratitude or appreciation — a human emotion that is felt in recognizing the benefits derived from the other.
We may think that the practice is among the rich ideas about expensive gadgets or jewelry to people who are important to them as generous, but we also have to look back at the time of the ancients to understand how those who were before us expressed their gratitude and appreciation. These days, if someone was homesick, we could get out of our way to find an object or sign that resembles that person at home and completes it as a gift. During the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II from 605 to 562 BC. He ordered the building of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, to please Queen Amitis, his wife, who lacked green hills and flora from the Medes, her homeland.
Another generous donor of antiquity was Tsar Alexander II of the Romanov dynasty of Russia. The priceless Faberge eggs, which are now part of various collections of works of art and jewelry throughout the world, were Easter gifts presented mainly to his wife, Empress Mari Fyodorovna. However, gift giving is not exclusive to the rich. In the end, not everyone can afford sports cars, yachts or individual jewelery with precious stones. Regular people can express their love and appreciation. The size of a person’s feelings towards another person’s virtues or gestures cannot be measured by the price tag of a product.
In the past two decades, our concept of what is “gift material” has evolved, and also includes non-traditional gift ideas. Now, when we think about options, we are not only considering material things that will bring joy to the recipient. These days gifts are not limited to valuable objects. Acts of service are also happily transmitted and accepted as gifts. In addition, quite often one has to give and receive “quality temporary” events to mark important life events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and stages, such as final exams and promotions. Even the rich and famous give away holidays and vacations for friends and family members, instead of presenting them with expensive items in boxes with the names of luxury brands.
Expressing gratitude to another is an innate human trait. As we rush into the 21st century, our concept of talent will continue to evolve. Perhaps the only aspect of presenting gifts that will not change is our need to acknowledge our appreciation for the person who showed us kindness and generosity. When we give someone a gift, we make him or her feel good, and we are also happy by expressing our gratitude.
