GIFTS & PRESENTS

Gift Giving & Understanding of Social Organization

Gift Giving & Understanding of Social Organization

A gift or a present is the transfer of something, without the need for compensation that is involved in trade. A gift is a voluntary act which does not require anything in return. Even though it involves possibly a social expectation of reciprocity, or a return in the form of prestige or power, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to social cohesion. Economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy. This paper discusses if Christmas gifts are about shopping and why gift giving is central to anthropological understanding of social organization (Appandurai 1967, 31-47).

By extension the term gift can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favour, including forgiveness and kindness. Ritual sacrifices can be seen as return gifts to a deity. Lewis Hyde remarks in The Gift that Christianity considers the Incarnation and subsequent death of Jesus to be a "gift" to humankind, and that the Jataka contains a tale of the Buddha in his incarnation as the Wise Hare giving the ultimate alms by offering himself up as a meal for Sakka. In the Eastern Orthodox Church the bread and wine that are consecrated during the Divine Liturgy are referred to as "the Gifts". They are first of all the gifts of the community (both individually and corporately) to God, and then, after the epiklesis, the Gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Church.

Yet, while many in these uncertain economic times rethink their spending priorities, the tradition of giving presents is not about to shudder to a halt. Most of us will be more likely to give up our own pleasures -- dining out, taking a trip -- before we stop giving Christmas gifts. All across Canada the whispered negotiations have begun within families about what gift is just right for which child, parent, sibling, aunt, uncle or in-law; what's appropriate for a workmate or employee and won't send the wrong message. There will, of course, be the usual umbrage at the commercialized Christmas. (Hyde 1983, 11-17)

Some will complain about the secularization of what they believe should be an exclusively religious rite, although the "pagan" core of Christmas long predates its adoption by Christians. Some will denounce materialism they identify in too-profligate gift-giving. However, these annual lamentations seem no more likely to have an effect in 2008 than in previous years (Jean-Luc Marion 2002, 64-69). Christmas in all its guises is here to stay -- secular as well as religious, commercial as well as spiritual -- and it won't fade any time soon. At its core Christmas is about the ceremonial exchange of gifts, one of the fundamental activities that defines us as human beings.

The globe-girdling culture of gift-giving, in which Christmas is just one occasion at which presents are ceremonially exchanged, is so ...