The holidays are upon us, and with all of the gift-bestowing and meal-sharing happening, the universal question arises: what can I give? There will be no shortage of slippers, neckties, and green bean casseroles being offered. How do I find a unique, affordable gift that is also decorative, useful, and delicious? Enter gift baskets!
The tradition of giving gifts in baskets can be traced all the way back to ancient Rome, where baskets of food, treats and small tools or trinkets were given to clients or, in some cases to those in need. These baskets were known as sportules or sportulas, and were most commonly filled with pieces of meat. Likewise, some trace the Easter basket as an origin point for gifting in baskets, heralding back to a seventh century acknowledgment of the ancient Norse/Germanic goddess Eostre or Ostara. It wasn't until the Victorian era, however, that high society began acknowledging baskets of gifts as the epitome of taste and refinement.
At Florida Fruit Shippers, we offer many options for basket-based gifts such as the citrus basket and the grove basket. There are also the close cousins to gift baskets: gift boxes like the Sunshine Gift Box or the Florida Sunshine Box. Like gift baskets, boxes also offer an assortment of edible, functional, delicious options that are also beautiful in presentation. These are just a few of a big selection of possibilities; check out Florida Fruit Gift Baskets And Combo Packs and let your imagination lead the way!
With all the rush of this holiday season, why give gifts, and why go out of your way to find ones that are special? There are actually health benefits to gift giving! To name just a few:
*We feel happy. Many spiritual traditions list "giving" as an essential action for well being. Simply stated, making others happy makes us happy as well, as a testament to our connection to one another.
*Our state of mind improves. An effect of this shared happiness is like the gift-giver is also receiving a gift in return: it gives us a sense of purpose and meaning to bring joy to others, and in return we feel joy ourselves.
*Greater social connection. Giving a gift creates warm personal bonds between gift giver and receiver. As we are social beings, this connection in turn reinforces our state of mind and happiness.
*The effect is multiplied. The endorphins released by giver and receiver alike make the act of gift-giving--and its positive effects on the mind and heart--contagious. We create a world of givers and shared connection versus takers and disconnection, and the world needs a lot more of that!
So avoiding becoming a "basket case" over the busy holiday season is easy: focus on the giving, and let Florida Fruit Shippers make even that part easy on you. Enjoy!
