Today I did a good turn. The instant work ceased, I hot-footed it to my see my friend and presented her with a gift, prettily wrapped and carefully packed, bow on top and hand-made card attached.
It was actually the lusty Romans who cemented gift-giving as a tradition. They enthusiastically celebrated the festival Saturnalia every December with a weeklong party of visiting family and friends, feasting and exchanging gifts. On the first day of January, around the Winter Solace, gifts were given. The gifts were originally evergreen branches, and later developed into cakes, to symbolize prosperity and sweetness in the coming year.
Giving gifts is a complex and important part of human interaction, helping to define relationships and strengthen bonds with family and friends. Indeed, it is the giver, rather than the recipient, who reaps the biggest psychological gains from a gift.
Look, I am all for gift-exchanges. The way I see it, if I don’t let you give me a gift, then I’m not encouraging you to think about me, what I like and how we relate. I am preventing you from experiencing the joy of engaging in all those activities. The gift of giving literally rocks people’s world. And by the way, a graceously spoken “thank you” is all that is needed in exchange.