| Although we might think of gift baskets as a modern | | | | Most baskets, including your next gift basket, even |
| way to give gifts, gift baskets have actually a rather | | | | today are made by hand. Even with the advent of |
| long legacy. Spanning years and cultures, there are | | | | the Industrial Age, basket making is almost impossible |
| several fascinating stories of gift baskets that have | | | | to do using machinery, and instead requires the same |
| been given throughout history. | | | | hand-crafting that has been used throughout time. |
| Likely one of the earliest accounts of a gift coming in | | | | Some cultures have turned basket making into an art |
| a basket is the basket of young plants that the | | | | form. Today you will find many Native American |
| pagan goddess Eostre carried in a basket, to be used | | | | groups who craft special baskets that are used to |
| as a sacred offering. Although some scholars argue | | | | gather wild huckleberries in the late spring and early |
| the place of Eostre in Easter history, nevertheless | | | | summer. Many Native American tribes are famous for |
| this is the likely source of the idea of what came to | | | | their basket-making artistry. |
| be the modern-day Easter gift basket. | | | | The care taken with making anything by hand lends a |
| Another early gift basket story that had sacred | | | | level of special attention to detail that makes gift |
| connotations is the Old Testament story of Moses' | | | | baskets so lovely to give and receive. Every item |
| mother placing the infant Moses into a wicker basket. | | | | that goes into personalized gift baskets can be |
| She then hid the basket in the reeds on the river's | | | | selected to meet the specific desires of the recipient. |
| edge so that the daughter of the Egyptian royal | | | | As well, the basket can be finished with the favorite |
| family would find him and eventually take Moses into | | | | colors of your special someone in terms of wrap, |
| her custody and protection. | | | | ribbon and bows used. |
| Baskets have been used not only for gift basket | | | | Gifts in baskets can also be focused around a |
| purposes but also for utilitarian reasons for centuries. | | | | particular theme, such as a baby gift basket or |
| They were used to carry eggs into the house from | | | | holiday gift baskets. You can include gift items |
| the chicken coop, or baskets called trugs were | | | | particular to any event you wish to celebrate, |
| needed to harvest vegetables from the kitchen | | | | including anniversaries and weddings. Even |
| garden and get them into the home to prepare for | | | | corporations bestow these baskets to employees or |
| meals. Baskets were used as a kind of large saddle | | | | clients, so that they will be remembered in a positive |
| bag on horses, donkeys and mules to carry supplies, | | | | way. |
| and even people on occasion. | | | | |