The tradition of giving birthday presents dates back to ancient times. The idea of celebrating birthdays originated from the belief that evil spirits were more likely to attack a person on the day of their birth. To ward off these evil spirits, people would gather around the birthday person with good wishes and gifts.
In early societies, gifts were often practical items, such as food or clothing, that the person could use in their daily life. In ancient Rome, for example, family and friends would bring gifts and good wishes to the person celebrating their birthday.
During the Middle Ages, the tradition of giving birthday presents evolved, and the gifts became more elaborate. Kings and nobles would give expensive gifts to their family members and friends on their birthdays.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the idea of giving birthday presents became more widespread, and people began to give more personalised gifts. The Industrial Revolution made it easier to produce and distribute goods, and people had more access to a wider variety of items.
In the 20th century, the practice of giving birthday presents became even more popular, as the consumer culture grew and people had more disposable income. Today, giving birthday presents is a common tradition in many cultures around the world, and people often give gifts that reflect the personality and interests of the person celebrating their birthday.