‘This day and your life… are God’s gift to you, so give thanks and be joyful always!’
Christianity is a religion that literally changed the face of the Earth. Civilization might have ended up in a place entirely different had it not been for the influence of the Church on its upbringing.
Christianity assimilated many cultures over the ages to come up with a unique way of living that, today, nearly a third of the world follows. It has masterfully blended humans of different regions and made them come together in a spirit of harmony and salvation. The art of gift giving has been raised to a new level by these efforts and Christian fests are responsible for some of the largest splurges of gifting in the whole world. The birth of Jesus Christ and his death for the sins of his people are the hallmarks of Christianity. God’s sacrifice of his only son, they believe is the greatest gift bestowed on humankind. Similarly, life is a gift that God gave to the universe, starting form the Garden of Eden and continuing to this present day and beyond.
Christianity strictly emphasizes a community before an individual and the Almighty above all else. Thus, themes behind Christian gifts are also congruous to this principle. People shower blessing upon each other or prayers for the souls of one another and forward these as gifts to their fellows. On occasions such as baptisms, confirmations and conversions, individuals receive ‘gifts of faith’ such as the Holy Bible, the Crucifix and other items for the altar. On occasions such as Easter, along with the traditional chocolate eggs, people give out symbols to proclaim that ‘the Lord has Risen’. These include the message of salvation and redemption from the saints of the world as well as statuettes of Christ. On Christmas, although most people prefer gifting toys and clothes, an appropriate ‘gift of faith’ would be a nativity scene for the altar or statuettes of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus. The time is to celebrate the birth of the Savior. On this occasion, many people wish to save their loved ones from the menace of abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Thus, many people conduct interventions around Christmas and gift ‘life’.