GIFTS

By Raoul Suarez

There is an illuminating truth that often goes unnoticed during the holiday season. It lies hidden beneath the ribbons, receipts, and the rush of shopping malls. It begins long before the season arrives, before lights are strung and songs fill the air. It starts with an enlightened understanding of purpose and a realization that Christmas is not measured in the weight of wrapped boxes.

As the holiday approaches every year, the same question is often asked: Is giving gifts important?

The world seems to say yes. It tends to agree. Advertisements glow with urgency. Sale signs appear like banners of expectation. Calendars fill with reminders to buy, wrap, and deliver. Behind all these pressures is a quieter story. It unfolds not through grand gestures but through the simple rhythm of daily life. The importance of gifts is not in the objects themselves, but in the meaning.

Even if the decorations are still in their boxes and the tree is untouched, the air already carries a sense of anticipation. Not for things, but for moments. The first cool breeze of the season. The soft glow of lanterns in the evening. The familiar songs signal the coming celebration. These are not wrapped in fancy paper, but they carry the same warmth we all hope to find when we open a present. They mark the beginning of a time when hearts turn inward and outward at once, seeking both reflection and connection.

Gift-giving evolves and comes in different forms. Some gifts here are physical. A warm blanket given to someone who has felt cold for too long. A handwritten letter slipped onto a table. A small item chosen because it reminded someone of a shared memory. These are very simple and usually inexpensive tokens, but they matter. They matter because they are symbols. They are reminders that someone has been seen, remembered, and valued.

There are these other gifts. The kind that never appear on any shelf. Time offered to someone who has felt forgotten. Patience extended during moments of stress. Understanding given without being asked for. These do not sparkle under a tree, but they shape the season more deeply than any object ever could. Quiet but powerful. Often unnoticed but never unfelt.

As the days draw closer to the festivity, the world outside slowly becomes louder. Crowds gather. Traffic slows. Budgets tighten. But the meaning of the season has always been clear. Christmas, at its very core, is not a transaction. It is not an obligation to purchase. It is a space. It is a moment carved out of an otherwise relentless year. It is when we are all invited to remember what truly matters. There is no pressure to exchange gifts simply because tradition demands it.

Gifts are not required. They are chosen. They are expressions of thoughtfulness rather than duty. Even when no gifts are given, something beautiful still remains. The season continues to glow with the same warmth from joyous milestones. Shared meals. Special gatherings. Quiet mornings. Peaceful nights. The absence of gifts does not diminish the spirit of Christmas, because the essence of the celebration lives in the connections that persist regardless of what is wrapped or unwrapped.

When Christmas Day finally arrives, the house should feel full, not because of objects but because of presence. Presence in conversations, in laughter, in moments of reflection. Presence in the small, unspoken understanding that the year has brought challenges and joys. It’s the season that offers people a chance to breathe, to pause, and to appreciate what they still have.

Christmas is not measured in the weight of wrapped boxes but in something far less tangible, yet far more enduring. After all, it is a season of giving in many forms. The importance of giving gifts is not something universal. It is a personal one. A gift is a way to speak when words are difficult. It is the best expression of love that needs no bow or box. The tender moments. The genuine connections. The quiet acts of care. These are the real treasures that will carry on long after the lights are packed away and the year turns once more.