History of gift baskets

Although we might think of gift baskets as a modern way of giving gifts, gift baskets have quite a long legacy. Spanning years and cultures, there are several fascinating stories of gift baskets that have been given throughout history.

Probably one of the earliest accounts of a gift that comes in a basket is the basket of young plants that the pagan goddess Eostre carried in a basket, to be used as a sacred offering. Although some scholars dispute Eostre’s place in the Easter story, however, this is the likely source of the idea for what became the present-day Easter gift basket.

Another early story of the gift basket that had sacred connotations is the Old Testament story of the mother of Moses placing the boy Moses in a wicker basket. She then hid the basket in the reeds at the river’s edge for the daughter of the Egyptian royal family to find and eventually take Moses into her custody and protection.

Baskets have been used not only for gift basket purposes but also for utilitarian reasons for centuries. They were used to carry eggs into the house from the chicken coop, or baskets called tricks were needed to harvest vegetables from the garden and bring them into the house to prepare meals. The baskets were used as a kind of large pannier on horses, donkeys, and mules to transport provisions, and even people on occasion.

Most baskets, including your next gift basket, even today are made by hand. Even with the advent of the industrial age, basketry is almost impossible to do with machinery, and instead requires the same craftsmanship that has been used throughout time. Some cultures have turned basketry into an art form. Today, you’ll find many Native American groups making special baskets used to gather wild blueberries in late spring and early summer. Many Native American tribes are famous for their basketry art.

The care that goes into making anything by hand brings a special level of attention to detail that makes gift baskets so delightful to give and receive. Each item included in personalized gift baskets can be selected to meet the specific wishes of the recipient. Also, the basket can be finished with that special person’s favorite colors in terms of wrapping, ribbon, and ties used.

Gift baskets can also be centered around a particular theme, such as a baby gift basket or holiday gift baskets. You can include specific gift items for any event you want to celebrate, including anniversaries and weddings. Even corporations give these baskets to employees or customers, so that they are remembered in a positive way.