Good Luck For Christmas

But in some parts of the world it is a carryover superstition. The early Romans, for example, exchanged gifts on the first day of the year as a means of ensuring each other with good fortune for the coming months.

As Christianity developed, gift giving was mainly to the poor. There was little exchange of gifts such as takes place today. Of course, since earliest times children have been the natural recipients of Christmas toys and goodies. In most European countries, the children believe that it is the child Jesus or his messenger who comes during the night and leaves the presence. In England,

Father Christmas is credited with the same feet, and in Holland it is the generous bishop St. Nicholas. The children of Russia believe their gifts are brought by a legendary old woman named Babushka, or grandmother.

The well-known adage, it's not the gift, but the sentiment is still true. So don't let the feverish excitement of Christmas shopping get you down. Whether your gift brings you good luck or not, it would bring happiness to someone else, the meaning of Christmas has been...