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1. A Voluntary Deed

A gift is the act of giving that does not require anything in return. That begs the question of whether or not Christmas gifts in our western sense really are gifts, as they often do require a gift to comply with social norms.

2. Goods Do Not Have to Be Material Objects

A gift does not have to come in the form of a wrapped parcel. It can be anything that makes the other party happy (or sad), including favours! This can include gifts of kindness and of forgiveness.

3. Gifts for Many Occasions

Did you know that it has become customary in different cultures to give gifts on more than the obvious occasions of birthdays and Christmas? It is also customary to give gifts at a wedding, for a wedding anniversary, at a funeral (where visitors bring flowers and the family give food and drink after the ceremony), for a birth, for passing an exam, mothers and father day, and at a party (such as wine at a dinner party). It even includes buying a round of drinks at the pub!

4. The Statue of Liberty

This may have been the largest gift in history. It was given by the French to the United States of America to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

5. The Trojan Horse

Some say there is no such thing as a free lunch. Well on this occasion, the gift of a giant wooden horse was not all that the Trojans thought when left as a parting gift by the Greeks during the Trojan war. It was filled with Greek soldiers who exited the horse behind enemy lines and let in the entire Greek army to the Trojan stronghold. The trap worked spectacularly and is considered one of the most cunning ploys in military history.

6. Valentines Day

On February 14th every year, lovers exchange gifts to show their love to each other. Valentines cards and red roses have become symbols of love, particularly in Europe and the USA.

7. The Most Famous Gift?

Possibly the most famous, and maybe even the oldest recorded gift was that of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh given to the baby Jesus in the new testament of the bible by the biblical Magi (or the three wise men as they are more commonly known).

8. The Act of Charity

Giving money, goods or services to a charitable organisation is also a gift.

9. Pay it Forward

This concept was penned by Benjamin Franklin. The idea was to pay someone to give a gift to another to 'do a deal of good with a little money'. This is not to be confused with the 2000 film 'Pay it Forward' with Kevin Spacey which depicted the admirable concept of giving a gift to three people, and then asking them to give to another three people.

10. The Earliest Known Gift?

One of the earliest known examples of gift giving was recorded on an Athenian vase from around 450 years bc where a man presents a cut of meat to a young man holding a hoop.