Trying to determine or at least theorize about the first act of gift-giving in human history would be a true exercise in futility. Giving something to someone in order to show them you appreciate them is a very simple concept that does not require too much culture or even the basic social constructs.
For instance, male chimpanzees have been observed giving food to female chimps, with more lavish gifts eliciting better responses from lady chimpanzees. You might say that gift-giving is more biological than cultural. Its logic and mechanisms are truly that simple and natural.
The Culture of Gift-Giving
While gift-giving is definitely biological in nature, the development of the human race and the various cultures around the world has given a certain cultural patina to the practice of gift-giving. In other words, different cultures throughout the human history have adjusted giving of gifts to the worldviews that their people held.
For example, Native Americans from Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States have for millennia engaged in a practice called potlatch, a gift-giving feast where the people who gave the most lavish gifts to others have been especially valued and revered. If you read anything by Homer or any of the other Ancient Greek writers, you will soon realize that gift-giving was a central part of the majority of all social interactions, including sieges (the Trojan horse).
In the Bible, the Three Kings come to see baby Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Mughal India, the emperor Shah Jahan gifts his late wife arguably the greatest gift in human history, the absolute marvel that is Taj Mahal. In 1886, the French gift the American people the Statue of Liberty,
“With the abolition of slavery and the Union’s victory in the Civil War in 1865, Laboulaye’s wishes of freedom and democracy were turning into a reality in the United States. In order to honor these achievements, Laboulaye proposed that a gift be built for the United States on behalf of France. Laboulaye hoped that by calling attention to the recent achievements of the United States, the French people would be inspired to call for their own democracy in the face of a repressive monarchy.”
On a more private, everyday level, gift-giving remained subdued, especially among the ordinary folk which lacked the means to gift their loved ones anything but little handmade mementos. With the industrial revolution and automated manufacturing of gift-appropriate knickknacks that became affordable for the first time, even the ordinary people got in on exchanging gifts. This became especially noticeable around holidays such as Christmas.
The SPUGS
Then, in 1912, a group called the Working Girls’ Vacation Fund from Manhattan decided it was time to stop giving their superiors (for their wages) lavish gifts every Christmas, which was the practice at the time. They named their new society The Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving, or SPUG for short. At first a women’s cause, the Society soon accepted its first male member, none other than the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. For a while, it seemed they were onto something, but by the summer of 1914, the Society and the Spugs were all but gone.
The Debate
Gift-giving is an inseparable part of the human condition. Depending on the culture, it can be a part of the business practice or it can be reserved for more personal interactions and events.
In some parts of the world, the gift-giving culture has become so aggressive and stress-inducing that many people have become to resent it and see it as nothing but a marketing ploy by various manufacturers who just want to sell their products. Just like in the SPUGS’ days, this can be best observed around various holidays. And just like in the early 20th century, there are those who say that gift-giving sceptics are unnecessarily glum and that it is good to gift others.
The Growing Practicality
More lately, we can observe another, somewhat more novel trend in the art of gift-giving. The trend we are talking about is the increasing practicality of this noble practice. It is nowadays much more likely that a 20-something-year-old will gift their friend with cash. Even business owners have started to understand that it might be best to give gift cards to their employees than risk it by buying something they might not like.
And while this is something many people will see as a good thing, we cannot help but wonder if this might be turning the art of gift-giving into nothing more than just another transaction of goods.
It would definitely make for a sadder world.
Alex Williams, born and raised in beautiful Sydney, Australia, is a journalism graduate and rookie blogger trying to find her luck. A regular contributor at BizzMark Blog, Alex believes that blogs are the perfect opportunity for presenting yourself to wider audience, getting the chance to showcase my expertise and receiving recognition. You can find her on Twitter: @alextmwilliams1.
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