when did gift giving at christmas start

The tradition of gift giving at Christmas has been around for centuries. The earliest known record of gift giving at Christmas can be traced back to the 13th century, when King Henry III of England hosted a lavish Christmas feast for his courtiers. The tradition of exchanging gifts between friends and family was later popularized by Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children and gift-giving. He would leave gifts for poor children in their stockings on Christmas Eve, and this tradition evolved into the modern practice of leaving gifts under the Christmas tree. Today, gift giving remains an important part of Christmas celebrations around the world.