What country started the Christmas tradition of exchanging gifts?

edmund80

Most probably Italy. As the date for Christmas itself was supposedly fixed on the pagan Saturnalia in order that the people would more readily embrace the new tradition of celebrating Christ's birth, other pagan practices including exchanging gifts were likewise adopted. "The practice of exchanging gifts at a winter celebration is also pre-Christian and is from the Roman Saturnalia. They would exchange good-luck gifts called Stenae (lucky fruits). They also would have a big feast just like we do today." http://www.zenzibar.com/articles/christmas.asp "Modern Christmas customs include: gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from Germanic feasts." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Winter_festivals Dec 27 08, 1:05 AM