What is this gifting thing?

[Minimammoth]

On a shelf in waitrose, displaying Christmas stuff. ' perfect for gifting'.
Why are we now gifted something rather than just being given it. Has giving been devalued? I thought you gave a gift. So do you now gift a gift?

Every noun can be verbed.

Unfortunately some people don't realise there's a often perfectly good verb already in existence.

It's a usage that has been irritating me for at least 3 decades now. And it's probably been around for much longer than that.

Hmmm, scowl. I shall only be giving this Christmas. I do remember a long while ago someone saying that they had been gifted a piece of jewellery, and wondering then why had not simply been given it.
It sounds pretentious to me.

Pedants' corner sounds like a perfect place for me.

I get so annoyed when people tell me that proper grammar and spelling don't matter because people will still know what they mean.

Gifting is just a silly pretentious expression.

There is a legal context in which this actually means something, and as it's Waitrose, I suspect the idea is that these Christmas items are of sufficient value to reduce the value of the donor's estate for the purpose of inheritance tax. But they should point out that you have to gift them at least 7 years before you die.

I doubt if Christmas stuff would last 7 years - even Waitrose Christmas stuff

Wasn't it Waitrose who used to have an aspirational section?

Arff Prism. I'll put a note on the tin of biscuits to that effect.

Yes do. The fact that the biscuits might not last 7 years doesn't matter. If I sold my house, bought two Waitrose Christmas puddings for £500,000 each and gave them to my DDs, they would inherit from me free of tax. And just think of the loyalty points I'd get! It's a no-brainer.

Come to think of it I might have to put the the puddings into a blind trust...

I've only heard this used before in terms of 'gifting suites' for those poor, needy film star types during the awards' season. So I would guess it started in the US. Those damn Yankees.

It's in Sainsbury's too. So we can source our presents, then gift them. Double whammy.

Does anyone see the Pedants' Corner and wish it was called Pendants Corner? Bit like Shaun Keaveny?

Ahh. It's like gift wrap. No, it is wrapping paper.