Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Americans spend billions on gift wrap and wrapping paper, only for it to be torn to shreds the moment gifts are opened and then usually thrown away. So why do we wrap presents? And how has gift wrapping changed over time?
Sources:
Science and Civilisation in China, Paper and Printing, Tsuen-Hsuin Tsien, 1985
The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving, William Waits, 1994
“Once Again,” The Kansas City Star, Nov 29, 1904
“In Doing Up Christmas Packages,” The Evening Herald, Dec 10, 1904
“Sending Christmas Gifts: Some Timely Hints on How the Parcels Should Be Wrapped,” The Kenney Gazette, Dec 14, 1906
“Christmas Wrapping Paper,” Rutland Daily Herald, Dec 15, 1908
“XMAS Package: Should Be made Attractive In Appearance As It Adds Charm to the Gift,” Lexington Herald-Leader, Dec 15, 1912
“Holly Wrapping Paper,” Hardware Retailer, Oct 1913
“Make it a Real Christmas,” The Tuttle Press Company ad, Dry Good Reporter, August 29, 1914
“Christmas Gifts That Look Like What They’re Not,” Julia Blanshard, The Chattanooga News, Dec 14, 1929
“The Gift Wrap Parade,” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Dec 5, 1960
“Wrapping Paper Isn’t Produced In Holiday Spirit,” The Indianapolis Star, Dec 17, 1961
“The Wrap Helps Make the Gift,” The Tampa Times, Nov 16, 1971
“Colored Gift Wrapping Papers Pose a Hazard,” The Delphi Dispatch, Dec 21, 1978
“Christmas Wrapping Paper May Contain Health Hazard,” Green Bay-Press Gazette, Nov 25, 1978
When You Care Enough, Joyce C. Hall with Curtis Anderson, 1979
“Dangerous Lead Contained in Some Wrapping Paper,” AP, printed in The Sun, Dec 25, 1979
“Makers of Gift Wrap Report Its Lead Content is Reduced,” UPI, printed in The New York Times, November 12, 1981
“Christmas Wrapping Safer This Year, Less Lead Used,” Michael J. Conlon, UPI, printed in the Petoskey News-Review, Nov 24, 1981
“Specialty Wraps Save Time and Patience,” Tallahassee Democrat, Dec 19, 1983
“Wrapping Presents is an Age-Old Tradition,” Nancy Miller Lewis and Lici Prehn, The Sunday Star-Bulletin & Advisor, Dec 2, 1990
“Totes to Tout,” Patricia Beach Smith, The Sacramento Bee, Jan 16, 1991
“Gift-Wrapping Falls Out of Favor to Gift Bags,” Eve Mitchell, Visalia Times-Delta, Dec 14, 2010
“The History of Holiday Gift Wrap,” Christine Davis, Palm Beach Daily News, Nov 26, 2015
“The History of Gift Wrap,” Laura Spencer, All Things Considered, Dec 23, 2017
Americans spend billions on gift wrap and wrapping paper, only for it to be torn to shreds the moment gifts are opened and then usually thrown away. So why do we wrap presents? And how has gift wrapping changed over time?
Sources:
Science and Civilisation in China, Paper and Printing, Tsuen-Hsuin Tsien, 1985
The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving, William Waits, 1994
“Once Again,” The Kansas City Star, Nov 29, 1904
“In Doing Up Christmas Packages,” The Evening Herald, Dec 10, 1904
“Sending Christmas Gifts: Some Timely Hints on How the Parcels Should Be Wrapped,” The Kenney Gazette, Dec 14, 1906
“Christmas Wrapping Paper,” Rutland Daily Herald, Dec 15, 1908
“XMAS Package: Should Be made Attractive In Appearance As It Adds Charm to the Gift,” Lexington Herald-Leader, Dec 15, 1912
“Holly Wrapping Paper,” Hardware Retailer, Oct 1913
“Make it a Real Christmas,” The Tuttle Press Company ad, Dry Good Reporter, August 29, 1914
“Christmas Gifts That Look Like What They’re Not,” Julia Blanshard, The Chattanooga News, Dec 14, 1929
“The Gift Wrap Parade,” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Dec 5, 1960
“Wrapping Paper Isn’t Produced In Holiday Spirit,” The Indianapolis Star, Dec 17, 1961
“The Wrap Helps Make the Gift,” The Tampa Times, Nov 16, 1971
“Colored Gift Wrapping Papers Pose a Hazard,” The Delphi Dispatch, Dec 21, 1978
“Christmas Wrapping Paper May Contain Health Hazard,” Green Bay-Press Gazette, Nov 25, 1978
When You Care Enough, Joyce C. Hall with Curtis Anderson, 1979
“Dangerous Lead Contained in Some Wrapping Paper,” AP, printed in The Sun, Dec 25, 1979
“Makers of Gift Wrap Report Its Lead Content is Reduced,” UPI, printed in The New York Times, November 12, 1981
“Christmas Wrapping Safer This Year, Less Lead Used,” Michael J. Conlon, UPI, printed in the Petoskey News-Review, Nov 24, 1981
“Specialty Wraps Save Time and Patience,” Tallahassee Democrat, Dec 19, 1983
“Wrapping Presents is an Age-Old Tradition,” Nancy Miller Lewis and Lici Prehn, The Sunday Star-Bulletin & Advisor, Dec 2, 1990
“Totes to Tout,” Patricia Beach Smith, The Sacramento Bee, Jan 16, 1991
“Gift-Wrapping Falls Out of Favor to Gift Bags,” Eve Mitchell, Visalia Times-Delta, Dec 14, 2010
“The History of Holiday Gift Wrap,” Christine Davis, Palm Beach Daily News, Nov 26, 2015
“The History of Gift Wrap,” Laura Spencer, All Things Considered, Dec 23, 2017
