10 Propositions on Christmas presents

These notes were for a debate on BBC R2's Jeremy Vine Show, 22 December, 2004, on the proposition that Christmas is about presents. (My opponent believed that commercial materialism had robbed Christmas of its essence.)

1 Christmas was always about giving presents. The three wise men brought incense, myrr and gold to the infant Christ. St Nicholas paid a man's debts in Patara.

2 Being generous, materially generous, is very important psychologically. Like gambling, it's probably something one should do till it hurts.

3 But Christmas presents aren't mostly about philanthropy or charity. I like the idea that one gives luxury. It's accepting that one ought to have taken care of the dull morally-dutiful things already and it's time to express one's feeling in treats and geegaws. Christmas gift-giving should bring a childlike sparkle to the recipient's eyes.

4 One is less than ever likely nowadays to get somethng useless or ugly. Retailers are so much more sophisticated now. This December, I've been in Cardiff, Manchester, York, Chichester and London, and the good news is that even the provinces have shops full of attractive things.

5 And if one does get something unwanted, it can always go into the secondary market. Charity shops, boot sales and eBay can can find the value in nearly anything (that's to say, like all markets, they connect things with the people who want them).

6 Things are beautifully made now: when one receives a new camera, the old can be passed on and be valuable to someone else (ditto mobile phones and much else).

7 Gifts and other extravagances make up a fair proportion of the manufactures the "poor" world sends the rich world. People in "sweatshops" would prefer to be making these thnings for low wages than doing much less in greater poverty in their villages.