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Giving gifts is probably as old of a tradition as the human blood line, and extends from an effort to impress another with material objects.
Cave men did it to impress women for breeding, but back then the furs were still attached to the animals, and the meaning behind the offering was more profound, and that is really the only difference between then and now. The furs were not for vanity, nor was the food supplied by the gift. The gift was an assurance of survival, not like the gifts we give today.

In America we give gifts for all kinds of occasions, so many in fact that the gifts quickly become insignifigant to the receiver in a relatively short time.
This journalist comes from an impoverished background, and there for is not so easily caught up in the commercialism of gift giving today.
That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy giving, or receiving gifts. It just means that I don't do it as often, and when I do give a gift, I put a great deal of thought into it.
Christmas has become so commercialized that I really no longer participate in the commercial event. I, and my family enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner, and we give each other gifts, but we limited the costs of those gifts to the supplies it will cost to make the gift, which can never exceed $20.00. The decorations on the tree are hand made by my children, my husband, and myself. We have project days that we set aside before Christmas where we will all gather and make beautiful decorations.
I was taught that Christmas is a Christian Holiday, in honor of a Holy Man called Jesus Christ that did incredible things to try and change the world. Even though I am not Christian history, and science has proven without a doubt that this man existed, and did endure horrific tortures because of the God he loved. And, for the things he tried to teach people, and what he sacrificed for the love of others should be recognized, and honored, even though I am not Christian.

As for the rest of the gift giving events such as graduations, anniversaries, mother's or father's day, I do not give gifts.
I give gifts to celebrate the people I love, honor, and respect on the days of their birth, and feel their are much better ways to celebrate the other special events in our lives.
Americans live in such an automated society that even our gifts have become automated. I prefer the personal touch myself, and I love gems stones. They don't have to be expensive stones, nor do they have to be mounted. I collect pennies of all things, and because my children are more caught up in the American Commercialism of special events, those are the kinds of gifts I request. You would be surprised how good your child feels when they give you $2.00 in pennies, and you unwrap then and pile the two hundred coins on the table to begin looking through them.
My children are grown, some of them have children of their own. They dread Christmas, birthdays, and the standards set by the media for how these special events should be handled have made them to stressful to enjoy.
Simplicity in life is the grace of spirit, but not inflicting up ourselves the stress of paying for the bills that will still demand payment on top of the excess one must spend on frivolous things.
Americans have no idea that thrifty is a good thing, and those who do believe this way are destined to harbor a lonesome life, with great debt, and little joy.
I may be poor, but I am content with my home and family life.
My children had to take jobs at young ages, and so they have learned the value of what they earn. Yet, from time to time they can't help but put themselves in harms way for something they want.

Learn more about this author, Angelique Reder.
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