The History and Exploration of the Christmas Hamper

Christmas hampers and gift baskets in NZ have a strong tradition but date back far further than many people realize. They are a great way to celebrate the time of year with others, but you can send gift baskets any time of the year to any person, and they will be greatly appreciated. Here is a look at that history and an exploration of fun Christmas hampers to send.

When did Christmas hampers start?

In England, the hamper can be dated back to the 11th century during the reign of William the Conqueror. The French word for hamper was hanapier.

But in the Victorian age, it became more significant, and the custom moved from the UK to NZ and elsewhere. A collection of factors in the 1800s made it become a tradition. The day after Christmas became known as Boxing Day, as it was a time when Queen Victoria boxed up gifts for servants and people with low incomes. 

It was also a time when the wealthy, there and here, could afford the finest drink and food and wanted to send it to friends and colleagues as a way to show off their wealth and celebrate.

With the development of the railway , it became easier to send hampers and baskets further away, and they were easy to send, being already perfectly wrapped and packaged. Over time, baskets have been developed to be sent anytime, and you can find almost anything you want to put in them!

Ideas for what to put in Christmas boxes or hampers

With modern hamper businesses, you can have various options for different items packed into it. You can send Christmas gift boxes NZ, baskets, bags, hampers and more. In the US, they use the word basket more as a hamper, which they call their laundry basket.

There are other options where you could stay traditional with what goes into a Christmas basket, such as mince pies, pudding, biscuits, cakes, chocolates, wine, Panettone, etc. You could choose something with a lot of variety or one that is more themed—only chocolate-themed, cheese-themed, wine-themed, or beer-themed, for example.

Look for gourmet foods and good-quality drinks. Sometimes, homemade items, from crisps to fudge to sweets, are available. Gift baskets in NZ can be customized to hold whatever you want to send someone. They do not even need to be food. You might choose a bath/self-care theme or a gardening theme.

Who would you send a hamper to?

There is no one that you who would not send Christmas gift boxes to NZ. You need to get the content and the theme right. Remember, unless you treat yourself with a gift box, you want to think about what they like and not what you are drawn to! Any gender, people you are close to, or colleagues. They are also suitable for any occasion or event.

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