what country started the tradition of exchanging gifts at christmas

The tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas is believed to have originated in ancient Rome with the festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated in late December. The festival involved gift-giving, feasting, and merriment, as a way to celebrate the end of the harvest season and the coming of the winter solstice. The tradition then spread to the Germanic peoples, who later adopted Christianity and incorporated the gift-giving into their Christmas celebrations. The modern Christmas tradition of exchanging gifts with family and friends is believed to have been popularized by the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Moore, which was published in 1