Gift giving is a traditional part of Christmas
Arts and crafts DIY Christmas gifts are always fun craft ideas for kids to make prior to Christmas, to place under the Christmas tree.
Giving DIY Christmas gifts
Giving at Christmas time is a special time of year when everyone celebrates the Christmas spirit…. and when children can craft their very own homemade Christmas gifts, all carefully wrapped in a homemade Christmas box, they are even more appreciated.
Kids will love placing their presents under the Christmas tree in a homemade Christmas box and homemade Christmas gifts are always appreciated by parents.
The Tradition of Christmas Gift Giving
Christmas gift giving has long been a symbolic Christian tradition and an established part of the celebration of Christmas.
Christmas gift giving is an ancient tradition that dates from beyond the beginnings of Christianity, but has since become symbolic of the Three Wise Men (The Magi) who presented special gifts to Jesus as a young child.
Tradition has it that the three wise men were also kings who travelled from the lands of Sheba, Arabia and Egypt, and their names were Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They were men of great learning who had studied the lights of the heavens and had discovered a new and unusual star. To the learned people of the day, patterns of the stars all held meanings and this new star told of the birth of a new king in the land of Israel.
These men decided to travel to Jerusalem to find the new king and they carried with them valuable gifts to offer to him. When they eventually found the young child in Bethlehem, they bowed down and gave him the gifts they had brought… gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Christmas Gift giving was also made popular because of Saint Nicolas who was a Christian Bishop in the 14th Century who gave gifts to children.
The giving of gifts was also popularised by the Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. The Christian festive season lasts for twelve days according to the liturgical year Calendar, starting 25th of December and going through to the 5th January, and Christmas gift giving continues throughout this time.
Good King Wenceslas also popularized Christmas gift giving which became more popular in Christian countries and cultures.
In later years, Christmas gift giving was encouraged more as it was commercially profitable for businesses in western nations.
In more recent years buying gifts for a co-worker and gifts for a boss as well as attending a special Christmas party have become the norm. And kids will love staying up late and leaving a special drink and gifts for a secret Santa.
Then in the morning children love the excitement of receiving a Christmas Gift especially homemade Christmas gifts.
Finding lots of presents under the Christmas tree is now all part of the whole Christmas celebrations, fun, and excitement of the festive season.
How to make…
a Christmas Gift Box
Items you will need …
+ Christmas wrapping paper
+ Christmas gift box template
+ White cardboard
+ Ruler, scissors, pen, or pencil
+ Paper glue stick, craft glue
+ 1 gold pipe cleaner or thread
Instructions
Download the template [Save as “gift box template”]
Print Christmas gift box template [A4 landscape]
Cut out template pattern
Trace onto white cardboard
Using ruler, pencil in all line folds
Cut carefully around edges
Bend all line folds using a ruler
Bend backwards and forwards
Fold into a box shape. Check that lids fits neatly
Trim edges for a nice fit
Glue-stick the whole box carefully
Place glue side down onto back side of wrapping paper
Press firmly to ensure it sticks
When dry, cut out gift box pattern
Using ruler, bend all folds backwards and forwards, carefully
Re-glue edges if necessary
Glue side edge to other edge
Peg edges and allow to dry
Fold in bottom of gift box carefully
Glue folds if necessary, to hold
Place your present inside gift box
Fold gold pipe cleaner into a bow
Or if using a gold ribbon, tie a bow
Glue bow to top of gift box
Your Christmas gift box is complete
Read more about Easy Craft Activities for Kids
Ancient gift giving traditions
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” song
