Christmas - Girl Hugging Teddy Bear Canvas Print

As Christmas approaches, everyone waits for something -- the arrival of packages, the fall of the first snow, or the fun of decorating the tree. Children have the most difficult time waiting for the holiday, for it is in this glorious season that they hope to realize their most joyous dreams. To them, receiving a full-sized motorboat or a polar bear seems entirely possible. This custom of giving gifts around the new year -- so loved by children and adults alike -- began long before the birth of Christ. Early Romans bestowed presents of symbolic value to improve their friends' lot in the coming year. A sugared gift provided good humor, while a gold present assured increased wealth. In the Christian religion, the gift-giving custom originated when adoring Magi presented precious gifts to the newborn Christ. However, modern Christmas giving is much different from that first kingly offering. Today, the packages are beautifully wrapped with brightly colored bows and set under a Christmas tr...