Whats under your tree?

In Ancient Rome, people gathered at the beginning of every winter to celebrate and honor Saturn, their harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light. The Romans celebrated by preparing special foods and decorating their homes with greenery. Singing and gift giving marked the joy of the celebration. In the 4th century, Pope Julius I and the Roman Catholic Church designated the birth of Christ as a holiday, choosing December 25th as the official holiday. The practice of exchanging gifts was adopted as a way to remind people of the Magi’s offerings to Jesus and of God’s gift of Christ. Historians believe that these two celebrations are the basis of the contemporary tradition of giving gifts during the Christmas holiday.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, people exchanged parcels made up of handmade foods and sweets, handcrafted gifts, and practical household and personal items. After the revolution, however, these gifts were replaced with those of a commercial variety. In today’s society, the retail sector is largely responsible for steering the gift giving choices of consumers. Christmas is a billion dollar industry, often allowing businesses to move onto the black side of their accounting ledgers before the end of the year. The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will reach $586 billion in 2012, up 4% from last year.

Since 2003, the top selling Christmas gift has been from the electronics department. In 2010, the Apple iPad dominated holiday purchases. Before that, everything from PlayStation Gaming Systems to 2004’s RoboSapien topped wish lists. The National Research Federation estimates that 2012 shopping will follow the same trend. The top five gifts for adults in 2012 can all be found in the electronic department. They are:

1. Kindle Fire

2. iPad Mini

3. Xbox 360

4. iPhone 5

5. Canon Powershot 12.1 MP Digital Camera

CNN Money, however, predicts that the top selling gift of 2012 will not be electronic. The gift card is expected to be this year’s hottest gift, likely to be purchased by just over 81% of consumers. Total gift card sales of almost $29 billion are projected during the holiday shopping season. Why are gift cards so popular? They are a no-fail gift option, especially for that hard to shop for friend or relative. Gift cards provide the person receiving them the freedom to purchase anything they want to. There is no need to return that unwanted present or the clothing item that doesn’t fit. Gift cards are a risk free option that many people are going to turn to this season.

Gift cards, however, will most likely not satisfy the children on one’s list. Kids enjoy the tangible; things they can see and feel. A gift card often does not fill those requirements. Children want the new hot toy, the item they have seen advertised repeatedly on television. Each year, a different toy dominates wish lists. The Bratz Doll took the retail sector by storm in 2001. From 2002-2003, Beyblades were everywhere. What about this year? Adults may see some familiar items on this year’s hot toy list.

In 1998, a furry robot named Furby topped Christmas lists. In 2012, Furby is back. An entirely new generation of kids has discovered the talking toy and it is near the top of lists once again. According to the NRF, the top ten toys for 2012 are:

1. Wii U

2. YFlicker F1 Scooter

3. Hot Wheels Remote Control Terrain Twister Vehicle

4. Tabeo Tablet

5. Skylanders Giants

6. Lego Ninjago

7. Furby

8. Laloopsy Silly Hair Star Doll

9. Leap Pad 2 Explorer

10. Nerf Elite Hail Fire

In addition, it should be noted that anything Lego, Disney, or Barbie are always top sellers.

Every list has one or two names that fall under the “hard to shop for” category. What can you possibly buy for the parent or neighbor that has everything and wants nothing? How about a NFL Logo Toaster for the football crazed on your list, or a bed in the shape of a wedge of cheese for your favorite Green Bay Packers Cheesehead? There are several online retailers that offer gifts for the hard to shop for. Findgift.com offers anything from a pickle of the month club to a box of candy from the 1960s. Literarygift.com has something for the book lover on your list. Spoonsisters.com focuses on gifts for moms. There are websites designed to thrill pet lovers, art enthusiasts, and even scrooges. It may take a bit of searching, but in today’s Internet world, there truly is a place to find something for everyone.

Some people believe that consumerism has taken over Christmas and distorted the original message. Whether or not that is true is up to each individual. Christmas was intended to be a time to celebrate family and friends. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, but even those without a religious affiliation can use this time to strengthen relationships and even forge new ones. The practice of exchanging gifts has added a different dimension to the holiday, but it doesn’t need to take it over. The genuine meaning of Christmas lives inside of each of us and should be celebrated every day. Merry Christmas.