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Christmas Hampers have their origins with the English Boxing Day tradition when masters gave servants boxes full of useful gifts on the 26th December.
Until the mid 20th Century, hampers of food or clothing were given as a charitable donation to people in need. The hamper was traditionally made from wicker and by hand. The basket would then be used by the recipient in the home as useful storage or to transport things in. Craftsmen formed wicker baskets from plant fibres such as willow switches, bamboo or reeds. In England, trade guilds for basket craftsmen have been found from as early as 1469.
Today, xmas hampers are given as Christmas gifts to family, friends, employees and valued business clients. They are often more luxury than practical and treated as an indulgence. Even the modern wicker can be different these days with some being made from plastic.
Modern hamper companies have moved with the times, offering modern twists and traditional favourites. From its inception in 1984, Virginia Hayward Ltd has grown to be one of the leading suppliers of hampers within the UK. Director Gin Hayward says: “Christmas hampers are a favourite gift for all the family, but have changed greatly since the first Virginia Hayward hamper was despatched 25 years ago. Gone are the pates, soups and fruits in alcohol of yesteryear, replaced by nostalgic sweets and fresh foods.”
The charity aspect of the hampers hasn’t died out though. Community groups and charities collect donations of food, toiletries, clothes and household necessities to package into Christmas hampers to give to deprived families as a gesture of community spirit and good will. Examples from this year are The Surrey Christmas Bureau who have been collecting and distributing toys and hampers to those in need for nearly 40 years. Over 1,800 families and 4,000 children were helped in 2008 and they aim to help more for 2009.
Norwich church representatives are handing out Christmas hampers to those suffering from financial pressures in the local area, and The Mayor of Tamworth, Cllr Gerry Pinner will be helping deliver more than 200 hampers to the house bound of Tamworth. He says: “this time of year should bring people together and it is important that we make residents feel they are part of their community and remind them that they are not alone”.
Hampers continue to be given in the spirit in which they started, but will continue to evolve for the modern age too.
