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<\/a>Long before the customary exchange of\u00a0gift cards<\/a>\u00a0and fruitcakes (giving real meaning to the phrase \u201cyou\u00a0shouldn\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0 have\u201d), giving gifts around December 25th<\/sup>\u00a0was an important and varied tradition. In the Christian tradition, the custom of Christmas gift-giving is based on the gifts of the three Magi, but there are other precedents for presents. In Sicily, an old woman named Strina brings gifts on Christmas, and her name may stem from the\u00a0Roman goddess Strenia, whose feast day was marked by the exchange of green boughs (sound familiar?). In a related French tradition, gifts called\u00a0entrennes<\/em>\u00a0are given on New Year\u2019s Day. In Germany and Scandinavia, a gifting tradition called\u00a0Julklapp<\/em>\u00a0involves knocking on doors, flinging wrapped packages into houses, and running away. Sometimes, these gift bombs incorporate marriage proposals (take that, fianc\u00e9!).\u00a0<\/strong>And of course, there\u2019s a certain bearded man in a red suit\u2026<\/p>\nDiscover more holiday lore in our\u00a0Twelve Uncommon Facts About the Holidays<\/em>\u00a0post.<\/a><\/p>\n