The Holiday season is upon us! Everyone is thinking of loved ones and gift-giving. 2020 was not the easiest or the happiest year, so there are even more reasons to make the end kinder and nicer for everyone we love. I was thinking to say a few words about gift-giving and related interesting facts.
History of gifting
Jewelry is one of the most common forms of gifts since the beginning of time. People from all cultures celebrate special occasions and celebrations by gifting each other. It is a way to express our feelings whether they are feelings of love, joy, appreciation, or gratitude for another person. Did you ever wonder how this beautiful universal act, the tradition of gift-giving start and evolved during the times?
The Egyptians were among the first civilizations to practice the tradition of gift-giving. Gifts given to royalty at the time included jewelry, flower seeds, and even money.
The Greeks then followed the tradition. One of the uniform celebrations around the world is birthdays, they are celebrated in every culture, and to this day it’s hard to imagine birthdays without gifts.
In the Middle Ages, you see another whole new level of creativity. It was sometimes done to foster allegiance to and foster political and religious favors. We can also find romantic gifts, that include love songs or poems composed by men.
Each culture has its own unique, fascinating celebrations and gifting traditions that may vastly differ from your own. Some of these examples may sound unusual to you but all of these interactions reflect human’s goodwill, love, and appreciation for others.
10 REASONS WHY JEWELRY IS A GREAT GIFT IDEA
- Jewelry is something one doesn’t generally buy for one’s self
- Jewelry is a wearable item/gift that is also sentimental
- Jewelry can be timeless
- Jewelry is a gift now, could be an heirloom later
- Jewelry’s value can appreciate over time as an investment
- Jewelry could be given to people of all ages
- Jewelry can be gifted on any occasion
- Jewelry can be personalized in many ways
- Jewelry can suit anyone’s personality, body type, and skin tones
- And just because ?
All About Birthstones
We are asked many times about birthstones, usually when the gift giver wants to “personalize” his or her gift with the “right” birthstones.
The idea of Birthstones – gemstones assigned to each month of the year – is an ancient one. Scholars trace it back to the Breastplate of Aaron that was described in the book of Exodus in the Bible. The gems were set in four rows. This religious garment set with 12 stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Later the writings of Flavius Josephus (!st century AD and St. Jerome (5th century AD) made the connection between the 12 stones and the 12 signs of the zodiac. The idea was that each of the stones had special powers associated with the corresponding astrological sign and that wearing these stones at the right time would have therapeutic or talismanic benefits.
The idea of each person always wearing a gemstone corresponding to the month of their birth is a distinctly modern idea that scholars trace to 18th century Poland. Yet the modern list of birthstones was not defined until 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers in the US. In 2002 the American Gem Trade Association announced that they had added Tanzanite as a birthstone, though December had 2 birthstones already (Turquoise and Zircon) Any steps that help retailers sell more jewelry are a good one. The world had clearly come a long way from the purported magical powers of astrological gemstones.
Please check out our new website, www.threebutterflies.net, or see us in our last 2 art shows in 2020, before the holidays.
- November 20-21 in Green Valley on the Continental Plaza and
- November 27-28 in the Tubac Center of the Arts.
The holiday season is definitely approaching and we would be happy to assist you with a great selection of gift ideas for every taste and budget.
Hope to see you or hear from you!
