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 George Cruikshank  'At Home in the Nursery or The master and Misses Twoshoes Christmas Party' 1835We all love food. We eatit every day, we incorporate it into celebrations, and we even use it as gifts– it is the most basic form of offering. Most family get-togethers nowadays willoften incorporate food, with the practice often helping maintain relationships.The gifting of food is still a very common practice; I frequently gift mygrandparents with chocolates and biscuits, despite my grandfather havingdiabetes… he likes what he likes.&#160; However,how common was the gifting of food in Early Modern England? Gift giving is explainedas having two features: the first is the exchange of goods, with the value ofgifts being uncertain and the time between giving and exchanging being at thediscretion of those involved.[1] Themeaning of the gift typically outweighs its value. The second feature of giftgiving is that it takes place in a context of reciprocal interactions, withparties usually exchanging gifts at the same time.[2]&#160; The gifting of food wasimportant in Early Modern society for the maintenance of relationships, peacemaking,corporate alliances and sometimes as a doctrine of charity to those who may beless well off. If you engage in readings regarding Medieval or Early Modernlife, you might notice that food gifts sometimes appear as ‘rewards’. Food wasnot the only thing exchanged. During the period we see items such assilverware, furniture and money also exchanged. Neighbourly exchange of goodswas common within this period. There was still a popular belief in witchcraftand some people thought it best to please their neighbours to avoid beingcursed or being subjected to accusations. Often, peasants gave hens to theirlords at Easter and other times throughout the year as well as their rent whichneeded to be paid. Gift Giving at ChristmasChristmas has often been known as a time of over-spending and overindulgence, some might argue that we spend far too much money on gifts for loved ones and friends. Within the Early Modern period, gift giving typically commenced on New Years Day. Some people gave items of monetary value, whereas others exchanged produce. This included apples, eggs or a fat capon (a castrated cockerel specially fattened for the table).[3] &#160;  Langley and Company, 'Langley's New Twelfth Night Characters', 1818Foodsfor the Feast Dining was a commonpractice for those living in Early Modern society. The upper-class had certaincultural practices which were to be followed. This included things likeelaborate dinner clothing, meal preparations, entertainment and the exchange ofgoods. In the countryside, thegentry and elite members of society often showed their hospitality by hostingentertainment for their friends and neighbors. This included music, feasts andperformances, especially during the Christmas period. Guests showed theirgratitude by giving gifts to the hosts. A gentleman from Sussex, Timothy Burrelloften invited friends, family, and dozens of the “humbler neighbors and theirwives”.[4]Richer neighbors gifted the Burrell household with presents such as largequantities of cheese and butter, wine, sugar, chocolate, ducks, and pigeons.[5]The “humbler” attendees would bring “small tributes”. [6] The Early Modern Periodsaw some of the most notable exchanges in history, including the ColumbianExchange. Despite this well-known, large scale form of exchange, it isimportant to remember the small transactions that occurred within communitiesas tokens of gratitude and appreciation. Remember, ‘It is better to give anapple than to eat it’! [1] IlanaKrausman Ben-Amos, ‘Gifts and Favors: Informal Support in Early Modern England’,The Journal of Modern History, Vol.72, No. 2 (June 2000), pp. 229. [2] Ibid. [3] Hannah Flemming, ‘Christmases past to present(s): how the great British Christmas took shape’ (2011), &#60;https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/8966907/Christmases-past-to-presents-how-the-great-British-Christmas-took-shape.html&#62; [accessed 28 April 2019].[4] Timothy Burrell, ‘Journal and Account Book of Timothy Burrell, from the Year 1683 to 1714’, Sussex Archaeological Collections, vol. 3 (London, 1850), pp. 125. [5] Ilana KrausmanBen-Amos, ‘Gifts and Favors: Informal Support in Early Modern England’, TheJournal of Modern History, Vol. 72, No. 2 (June 2000), pp. 315.[6] Timothy Burrell, ‘Journal and Account Book of Timothy Burrell, from the Year 1683 to 1714’, Sussex Archaeological Collections, vol. 3 (London, 1850), pp. 126.