Perhaps the most famous gifts were gold, frankincense, and myrrh, given to a newborn king.

But our story of giving goes far beyond the birth of Jesus, and even beyond our species.

“Whether it was an unusually shaped rock, an animal tooth, the bark of a tree, or any other object of natural origin, giving gifts was certainly common behavior. before we became an advanced civilization, ”the Curioushistory .com website told us.

As the tools were developed, the gifts became more elaborate – holes drilled in those animal teeth and stones, for example, so that the recipient could display them on a necklace.

And the practice is not limited to people.

“Anthropologists have noted that male chimpanzees often offer food to female chimpanzees,” author Kevin Martin reported in a 2020 report for magellantv.com.

“… Scientists who study them explain that the real purpose of this gift is to bond and help build trust.” “

In our evolved society, we exchange gifts year round for the purpose of bonding and building trust, and the practice is especially healthy during the holidays.

What is the best gift to give? It can be complicated… unless the recipient is a child. Then all you have to do is ask them what they would like Santa to bring.

So have fun shopping, and if you need help: here is a sample of historical letters to Santa Claus written by local children:

Dear Santa,

I am a 6 year old little girl. I think I’ve been a good girl, and I want you to bring me a doll and a stroller.

Also bring my little brother Wayne something sweet, and remember my teacher Mrs. DeShazo and all the little girls and boys.

Margaret ann gilliland

Mules

1946

Dear Santa,

I am 10 years old and I want a magic skin doll, shoes and a basketball, a white bible.

I probably won’t get all of these things because my birthday was December 3rd.

I tried to be a good girl.

Lavoyda Billington

Goodbye

1946

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a big doll with sleepy hair and eyes that will say mum. I’d rather have a real baby picked out, but if you don’t have a real baby a doll will do.

I would love to have a record player and DIY toys too, but I don’t want to be selfish and ask for more than my share.

Don’t forget my boyfriends: Michelle Knos, JoElla McGee, Sandra and Durane Ruckman, Gary and Bory Coffman, Harry and David Dehtan, Synthia Knox, Sharon and Gary Calton, Marsha Davis, Sherral shell Grimes, Peggy Brannon, Gary Elliott, Early June and Bwerly Butler, Sharon Bozarth, Drexal Douglas, Cyntha Black, Jackie Bishop, David Turner, Mary and Melinda Brown, Patty Schrandies, Carron Compton, Corla Kay Morrison, Ronnie Dunnaway, Dickey Bates and all the other sweet little girls and boys To.

Please don’t forget to go through the household furniture and vote for my mom, I know she would love to have one of those cute gifts that they have in their window.

I wish you a Christmas wedding.

Melba Doretha Self

120 N. Globe Ave.

Portals

1951

PS Please don’t forget the nice employees of Portales Daily News

Dear Santa,

I tried to be a nice boy, Santa Claus. I’m 4 years old.

I would like you to bring me a set of cowboy pistols, and I would like a flashlight, a set of cowboys and Indians, as well as candy, nuts, and fruit.

Don’t forget all the other little boys and girls.

Gary Bill Bullock

Bluit, New Mexico

1951

Dear Santa,

I am nine years old. I have brown hair and blue eyes. I have three brothers and I am the only daughter.

I want a bike and a watch.

Jerry wants a dump truck and a train. Robbie wants cards.

Hope you and your reindeer get along well on the trip. You must be busy preparing the toys.

Hope you have a merry Christmas.

Mr. Roberts teaches us music. He is very good at teaching music.

You might want to know who my best friends are. They are Barbara Walker, Doris Smith and Betty Chambers.

Bring candy and nuts.

Bring something for mom and dad too.

Linda mae alford

Rogers

1951

Dear Santa,

Thank you for the toys from last year.

I want a duck named Waddles.

Billy Kay loves red fire trucks.

I want a BB gun and a BB box.

Give dad a tie and mom a puppy.

Bobby victor

Rogers

1951

Dear Santa,

We are sending our letter early because we know you will have so much mail to read. We are two boys Glen and Robert Crone.

We love you very much and hope you are well. I guess you and your little elves are busy. Mome says you have to work really hard all year round, there are so many kids.

Santa Claus I am Glen 9 years old I would like a football costume, books, boots and clothes, candy and fruit.

Santa, my name is Bobby, I want books of gun boots and holsters, clothes, candy and fruit.

Santa Claus remembers his mom and dad and all of our friends around the world.

Bobby & Glen Crone

100 N. Globe

Portals

1951

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a rocking horse and a doll.

I love you Santa Claus. I am a five year old girl.

Cheryl brown

910 Abilene Ave.

Portals

1951

Dear Santa,

I go to school in Dora. I am in second year. My teacher is called Mrs Yarbrough and I like her.

I would like you to bring me a cart a doll that I can comb and curl her hair.

And a childcare kit.

Patsy ann hitt

Dora NM

1951

Dear Santa,

How are you? I’m fine.

I enjoyed seeing you and your reindeer at Portales.

For Christmas I would like a white basketball costume with gold numbers. Number 66.

And I want a bow and a bag full of sharp arrows.

And I want a pellet gun.

Good by Santa Claus. I tried to be good this year.

Sam howell

Box 216

Kenna, New Mexico

1951

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a concrete mixer truck, a guitar, and a plane that lands in the water.

Thank you,

Randy Hardage

1961

Dear Santa,

My name is Widdy Gromowsky.

I would like to have a transistor radio and a soccer ball for Christmas. I tried to be a good boy.

Thanking you in advance.

Love, your friend

Widdy Gromowsky

Bovina

1961

PS Please bring me a camera too.

Dear Santa,

You come to my house because I have been a good girl.

I helped my mom with the dishes, dusting the furniture, and babysitting when she was gone.

Please bring me a pollar beauty doll. Thank you.

Your friend,

Diane

Tucumcari

1961

Dear Santa,

I have been good and sometimes bad. I hope you will come to my place.

I want a fire truck for Christmas and I would like a bison hunter set. And a bicycle.

I love you Santa Claus. I hope you will come to my place. I help my mom and dad around the house all day.

Your friend,

Jose

Tucumcari

1961

Dear Santa,

I want a real horse and hay and tender baby love and skates my size and caps and a walkie talkie and a tape recorder and a housewife and a watch and a trampoline and a sorry game and a game of d elf and old maid and a magic wand and a real fairy and a real barn big enough for a horse to fit in. Love,

Lori

1971

Dear Santa,

I want a boxing robot for Christmas and a bicycle. I am 8 years old and I will leave you some candy for you and Mrs. Santa Claus. Your friend,

Alphonse

Clovis

1971

Dear Santa,

I love you, I tried to be really good this year.

Please bring me a mid-mountain rumbler set and a guitar.

My sister Shannon had an accident and had to have her eye operated on in Roswell. She was a very good little girl, she is only four years old. She also wants a guitar and a sweet love baby talking

We will leave you something to eat and drink. Thank you for what you gave us last year. We love you.

Jerry and Shannon Snipes

Clovis

1971

Dear Santa,

I’m five and I try to be good sometimes.

Could you please bring me a doll chest to keep my doll clothes.

For my cat, please bring a toy mouse with a bell on it so my cat can chase it away.

I’ll leave you a snack and some carrots for your reindeer.

Love,

Kristen eichenberg

1017 Yucca

Clovis

1971

Dear Santa,

I’m eight years old and I’ve been pretty well except with my sister. Could you please bring me a Mean Mountain Hot Wheels set and clothes. Please let all the boys and girls in the world have gifts too.

Love

Jamey Eichenberg

1017 Yucca

Clovis

1971

PS I’ll leave you hot chocolate, cookies and cheese for Santa Mouse.

Dear Santa,

My name is Kaylene Sasser and I am almost seven years old. I am writing this letter for myself and my little sister Julie who is four years old.

For Christmas, I want a Smarty pant doll and a vanity set.

Julie also wants a smarty pants doll and a basket full of three kittens with their mother. She saw it in a catalog.

Goodbye Father Christmas and Mrs. Father Christmas.

Love

Kaylène and Julie Sasser

Clovis

1971

Dear Santa,

My name is Shannon and I have been a very good girl. I hope you are well.

For Christmas I would like a cute doll with clothes, a doll stroller, a litebrite, a desk with chalk and some stuff for my stocking.

Please don’t forget my little siter, Kari. She wants a doll, a doll stroller, a talking phone and a see-n-say mattel.

Okay, have a merry Christmas and I’ll leave you some cookies and a coke.

I really like,

Shannon O’Rear

4 and a half years

Kari o’rear

age 1 ½

Clovis

nineteen eighty one

PS Give Rudolph a kiss for us.

Dear Santa,

I was a good little girl and helped mom and Terry with the housework.

For Christmas I would like a pair of clogs with Ernie and Bert on them. Also a new pair of shoes, rags, a Mary Poppins album and pencils.

Please bring my brother Andy, 2, a choo-choo, a plane, a boat, a car and some clothes.

I’ll leave you some cookies and some milk. I’ll give the reindeer some carrots.

I love you,

Amy Elaine Anson

5 years

nineteen eighty one