關於聖誕禮物的由來，我們特別翻譯外國網站的原文供大家參考。
以下翻譯自：http://didyouknow.org/christmas/
Christmas gifts
Gifts were exchanged in the Roman ceremonies of Saturnalia, the festivities of solstice, the origin of our Christmas celebrations. We know the exchanging of gifts best from the three magi mentioned in the Bible. But as mentioned in the History of Christmas, during the previous centuries Christmas was a solemn affair. Religious puritans reminded Christians that the Magi gave gifts only to Jesus, not to His family or to each other. But since the celebration of Christ’s birth was incorporated with the solstice festivities outside the official church, and since Christmas really became widely popular during the last century, it has become a commercial phenomenon.
The first mention Christmas stockings being hung from or near a chimney were made only earlier this century by the illustrator, Thomas Nast, through his pictures and the writer, George Webster, in a story about a visit from Santa Claus. The story quickly caught on.
During World War II it was necessary to mail Christmas gifts early for the troops far way. Merchants joined in the effort to remind the public to shop early and the protracted shopping season was born.
聖誕禮物
在羅馬農神節的冬至慶典，也就是聖誕節慶祝的起始，會交換禮物。我們知道最開始的禮物交換是聖經上提到的三博士。但如同聖誕節歷史中提到，在前幾世紀，聖誕節是一個莊嚴的事件。
宗教的清教徒憶起基督徒三博士只有給耶穌禮物，並沒有給其家人或者其他人。但因為耶穌誕生的慶典和其他非正式教堂的冬至慶典是合併舉行的，加上耶誕節在前一世紀已廣為盛行，這已經成為一個商業現象。
聖誕襪被掛在靠近煙囪一說最早出現在本世紀的一個插畫家Thomas Nast，透過他的畫作以及作者- George Webster 在一個故事中提到聖誕老公公來訪。這個故事很快被傳開。