Red Trucks and Frankincense

Red Trucks and Frankincense The Worldwide Tradition of Gift Giving

It was a truck. A red truck with words painted on the side and rubbertired wheels that spun smoothly and silently across the kitchen's linoleum floor. And it was redder than anybody else's truck. Redder than Beezer's wagon. Redder than Chub's sled. It was, in fact, the best present ever given to anyone. Anyone in the world. It was a Christmas gift, presented with love and accepted with unrestrained enthusiasm. The first of many, but the only one to make a lasting impression. It exists now as a vivid memory, still shiny, still running smoothly.

All such trucks of that day are gone, probably. But their purpose remains. They were symbols. They were tradition. They were the reason a custom goes on.

Ask a hundred people why we exchange gifts, and get a hundred answers.

The historian quotes from his books. "Ancient ritual," he tells me. "The custom of giving gifts on a special day was practiced before Christianity was founded."

Maybe so. But it wasn't commonplace until later. Much later, when St. Nicholas became a symbol (or an excuse) for giving presents. He's still a primary influence, although his description has been altered by time and geographic boundaries. Not many call him St. Nicholas anymore. In other lands he's Father Christmas, Père Noël, Weihnachtsmann, Sinterklaas. In America he goes by Santa Claus. Same genial fellow. Different names.

The minister disagrees slightly with the historian. "Actually," he says, "the Three Wise Men may well have started the custom when they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child as symbols of devotion." At least, he tells me, that got Christmas giving off to a good start.

But if the Magi indeed are respon sible, their initial purpose has been drastically restructured. Christmas giving has become the basis of an industry subject to considerable criticism.

At its current rate of expansion, the "Christmas season" could overlap the Fourth of July by A.D. 2088. In this country, it has already encompassed Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and Even Halloween. Now Columbus Day appears vulnerable.

Says the economist: “The merchants are caught in a dilemma. If they start their Christmas promotions too early, they're accused of being greedy money-grubbers. But there's an obvious demand to begin holiday shopping in early November-and, in the end, demand sets marketing practices.” But the rabbi is cautious.

He explains that people of his faith give small gifts on Purim, the celebra-tion of the reading of the Book of Esther, a time of rejoicing.

“It's logical, when expressing feelings of love or friendship, to want to give something tangible, like a gift,” he tells me.

“There are no stigmas against gift giving in our culture, nothing that would forbid it. And there's no question that our Hanukkah celebration has been influenced by the prox-imity of Christmas.

“While, gift giving traditionally is not part of the Jewish celebration of faith, there's no doubt that it has been acquired by association. So we give gifts. It's a reflection of our general culture. It creates problems only when it grows out of proportion.” Has the giving-and acquiring-of material gifts become obsessive?

Last Christmas, Neiman-Marcus Company catalogs offered “A Day at the Circus” packets for $7,500 per couple. In previous years, the firm has promoted matched “his and her” airplanes, dirigibles, and submarines. But they're obviously intended as attention-getters. “We didn't sell any dirigibles,” the marketing director tells me. “We sold some camels, though.” The criticisms fly. But the tradition continues.

A merchant tells me, “If it weren't for the Christmas season, I'd definitely be out of business. It accounts for nearly 45 percent of our gross volume.” Not all gift giving occurs at Christmas, of course.

“We have a festival,” the Muslim explains. “Id al-fitar. It moves acaccording to the moon, 11 days every year. Sometimes it is at Christmas, but usually it isn't. During this time, we prefer to have some gifts. But we also give presents anytime, just to strengthen our relationships between our people. Gifts are symbols that we love one another.” Year-round gift giving? Everybody does it. Wedding gift, anniversary, graduation, birthday, birth, death, friendship.

“When a baby first laughs,” the Navajo says. “The person who firstmakes the baby laugh has to give a feast, and becomes sort of a godparent to the child.” A wedding, too, is a time for gifts, she says. “Usually, it is in the form of a dowry. Livestock, jewelry, or blankets. Or money.” And the Squaw Dances. “The gifts depend upon the clan,” she says. “The people who hold the Squaw Dance somehow provide gifts for the others.” She did not get Christmas presents as a child, she tells me; but now most of her people exchange gifts during theholiday season. She says she likes it this way. It is better for the children.

The Hopis? “With us, giving goes on all year. But traditionally, it is during the winter. When we have the Bean Dances and the Kachina Dances. It's mainly for the children. They receive kachina dolls, fruit, and rattles.” The Home Dance is the last of the year. If there has been a wedding during the year, the bride receives a gift-often a doll-during the dance.

“Usually we do this to show friendship and love for the children,” the Hopi tells me. “It has always been primarily for the children. But it's changing. Nowadays, everyone celebrates Christmas and birthdays. Now we even have weddings at Christmas.” So the customs vary, but the tradition of giving continues.

“We only do it because it's compulsory,” comments the neighborhood cynic.

But the sociologist insists, “Deep within each of us, there is a basic need to love and be loved. Exchanging gifts is an extension of the need and an expression of the love. We are saying to someone, 'Here. This is for you-from me.' It is a primary and concrete form of affection. It's in our genes.” The four-year-old tells me that everyone should give and receive. “We are happy to get presents,” she says. “Everybody should get presents, and then everybody would be happy.” Why do people give each other presents? Maybe it's love. Maybe it's the economy. Maybe it's hereditary. But the custom goes on, extending boundaries, gliding across time. And it will continue, I am confident, as long as there are gleaming eyes and shiny red trucks.