What is a Gift Hamper?

Christmas hamper

A Christmas hamper is a traditional gift containing small nonperishable food items, particularly seasonal favorites such as fruitcake or plum pudding, chocolate, nuts, jams, biscuits, honey, smoked or dried meats, and cheese. Some hampers containing tea, coffee, or cocoa might also include a cup and saucer, often seasonally themed or personalized. Luxury hampers may also contain high-end items such as tins of caviar or small bottles of wine. A "fresh hamper" contains perishable items such as fruits, baked goods, or flowers. The tradition of the Christmas hamper may be intended as a special holiday meal for people who might otherwise have no memorable meal to mark the occasion, or for people such as students or shut-ins who are unable to join their families for Christmas.

In the US, the Christmas hamper is more usually called a gift basket and does not necessarily contain food items. Non-food gift baskets are frequently themed, such as baskets containing luxury bath items including scented soaps and towels, or beauty baskets with skincare products, perfumes, or lotions. These gift baskets are also popular for occasions other than Christmas.

Corporate hampers

A number of companies exist that sell ready-made food hampers or provide customers the service of compiling a custom hamper for them, which may involve company staff going shopping for requested specific items on behalf of individual customers. Such hampers are popular gift items in the UK and Ireland. Hamper companies usually link their services to certain occasions, most particularly Christmas, and provide options for payment across the year. Grocers, delis and supermarkets may also stock ready-made hampers, though mostly just on a seasonal basis, and with a selection generally limited to items stocked by the store or sourced from their own suppliers.

Recently dietary hamper companies have sprung up which provide sufferers of diseases such as diabetes or those intolerant to foods such as gluten a selection of food which is suitable.

Hampers - What is the history of a gift hamper?

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

Likely one of the earliest accounts of a gift coming 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 argue the place of Eostre in Easter history, nevertheless this is the likely source of the idea of what came to be the modern-day Easter gift basket.

Another early gift basket story that had sacred connotations is the Old Testament story of Moses' mother placing the infant Moses into a wicker basket. She then hid the basket in the reeds on the river's edge so that the daughter of the Egyptian royal family would find him 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 trugs were needed to harvest vegetables from the kitchen garden and get them into the home to prepare for meals. Baskets were used as a kind of large saddle bag on horses, donkeys and mules to carry supplies, and even people on occasion.

Most baskets, including your iGift gift basket even today are made by hand. Even with the advent of the Industrial Age, basket making is almost impossible to do using machinery, and instead requires the same hand-crafting that has been used throughout time. Some cultures have turned basket making into an art form. Today you will find many Native American groups who craft special baskets that are used to gather wild huckleberries in the late spring and early summer. Many Native American tribes are famous for their basket-making artistry.

The care taken with making anything by hand lends a level of special attention to detail that makes gift baskets so lovely to give and receive. Every item that goes into personalized gift baskets can be selected to meet the specific desires of the recipient. As well, the basket can be finished with the favorite colors of your special someone in terms of wrap, ribbon and bows used.

Gifts in baskets can also be focused around a particular theme, such as a baby gift basket or holiday gift baskets. You can include gift items particular to any event you wish to celebrate, including anniversaries and weddings. Even corporations bestow these baskets to employees or clients, so that they will be remembered in a positive way.

Christmas Fruits Baskets

Gift Hampers Australia makes healthy and unique Christmas baskets, filled with delicious fresh fruit. Delicious fruit arrangements and fresh fruit arrangements.  Meet your family on Christmas with our Christmas delicious fruit arrangements to someone unique. We offer unique fruits and veggies pineapples, celery, melon, grapes, blackberry and strawberries dipped.