Origin Of Gift Giving For Festivals

In Chinese characters, the original meaning of "li" is "respect for gods", which later evolved into a kind of behavioral norm for people.
Li originated from the sacrificial activities in ancient times. In the sacrifice, people not only expressed their reverence and awe to gods with standardized movements and pious attitudes, but also dedicated their most valuable and respectful items (i.e. sacrifices such as cattle and sheep) to the gods. Perhaps from that time, the meaning of li began to have material components, and li could appear in the form of "things", that is, gifts.
The word "gift" consists of two characters. "Li" means ceremony, etiquette, and moral concepts such as loyalty and filial piety.
"Pin" means material things. It is worth noting that, etymologically, this Chinese word implies that a gift is not just a material gift (present), it carries cultural rules (etiquette) and involves rituals. Therefore, impolite things are just objects, not gifts.
Gifts originally came from tribute due to tribal annexation in ancient wars, that is, the conquered regularly sent food, slaves, etc. to the conqueror to show their obedience to the conqueror and beg for the conqueror's protection. There are records in history books of wars caused by untimely or inconsiderate gifts. For example, in the Spring and Autumn Period, because the State of Chu did not send a cart of straw to the King of Zhou on time, it triggered a war in which the Central Plains alliance launched a large-scale attack on Chu.