The History Of Hamper As A Universal European Heritage: Eid, Christmas And Other Major Celebrations
Photo Illustration (Shawnee Wilborn/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - A few days before Eid al-Fitr, many of us have started to receive gifts of small baskets. The contents vary, ranging from snacks, toiletries, or maybe medical devices or sterilizing yourself in the midst of this COVID-19. This is the history of the hamper, the baskets of the various contents.

Hamper has been tested to be a fantastic gift solution on holiday moments. The concept was almost first introduced by France to England in the 11th century.

At that time it was almost used as something that was donated. The contents consist of food, drink, and clothes.

Hampers are designed to provide for a family that can last for weeks. The contents are almost placed in a wicker basket made of willow wood, which the recipient can later reuse.

These baskets were also often used to transport food and drinks during hunting or long trips at that time. Then, in the era of Queen Victoria, everything related to transportation began to develop.

The transportation network in this era began to develop better due to the industrial revolution. The revolution made it possible to transport fresh food items more easily across the country.

Christmas and other celebrations

Thus, food delivery is much easier and faster. The hamper is not just provisioned for expeditions or donations for the poor.

It's almost a tradition at Christmas celebrations and many families send each other almost as luxurious gifts. During this period it was almost also given to workers and servants by their employers.

The hampers are clothes and food in traditional wicker baskets to give to them at Christmas. Hampers for workers and servants usually contain seasonal produce, preserved meat, and fruit.

Handouts were also practiced to ensure everyone had plenty of food in stock to enjoy during the Christmas festive period. As motorized travel increased around 1900, some began to contain cooking utensils, such as tea kettles and warmers.

The purpose of giving the kettle is so that the recipient can almost use it while on the move. They can rest while drinking tea to nourish themselves.

Finally, in the 21st century, there is almost a lot of progress and not just as a means of fulfilling the needs of a person or a family. Hamper no longer contains staple foodstuffs.

Hampers at that time also contained snacks, such as biscuits and drinks, including wine and juice. In fact, it is almost a gift that is quite in demand in the royal circle.

In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II presented Pope Francis a gift marking their first meeting at the Vatican. The hamper contains a bottle of Balmoral whiskey as well as eggs and honey from an estate owned by the British royal.

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