Gifts

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  Gifts    

         A long time ago people exchanged gifts on New Years' Day, as a means of saying "Happy New Year".  These might be jewelry, pieces of gold and silver, or home-made cookies and candies. Sweet things were given to ensure sweetness for the year to come; lamps were given to wish for light and warmth; and money was given to wish for increasing wealth.

         The wrapping of gifts may have originiated in Denmark. When the Dutch settled what was to become New York and Delaware, they brought with them the custom of Saint Nicholas or, as they called him, Sinterklaas. From there his name was changed to Santa Claus and he became known as a giver of gifts.

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Ross Elementary School

Last updated: 12/12/07