Many Christmas songs are about or at least mention gift-giving, particularly to children. Some are even specific about it. Let’s see…
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas”
The lyrics:
“A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
Dolls that can talk and can go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen”
So then…
Gift for boys: Cowboy boots and a gun
Gift for girls: Doll
What else?
“Up on the Housetop”
The lyrics:
“First comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that can open and shut her eyes.
…
Next comes the stocking of little Will
Oh just see what a glorious fill
Give him a hammer with lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracks.”
So then…
Gift for boy: Hammer, tacks, whistle, ball, whip.
Gift for girl: Doll
Moving on…
“Run Rudolph Run”
The lyrics:
“Said Santa to a boy child
What is it you’re longing for?
All I want for Christmas is
A rock n roll electric guitar.
…
Said Santa to a girl child
What would please you most to get?
A little baby doll
That can cry, sleep, drink, and wet.”
So then…
Gift for boy: Guitar
Gift for girl: Doll
Okay, seeing a pattern here.
“Jolly Old St Nicholas”
The lyrics:
“Johnny wants a pair of skates
Suzy wants a dolly
Nellie wants a story book
She thinks dolls are folly.”
So then…
Gift for boy: Skates
Gift for girls: Doll… and a book!
Alright, so Nellie wants a story book, with the need to explain why she did not choose a doll. Whereas there was nothing saying that Suzy, or Johnny for that matter, considers books folly.
Although, this song does have alternate lyrics to this verse:
“Johnny wants a pair of skates
Suzy wants a sled
Nellie wants a picture book
Yellow, blue, and red.”
So then…
Gift for boy: Skates
Gift for girls: Sled and picture book.
Hey, no doll! Suzy has decided sleds are more fun. Nellie, however, seems to have been downgraded to a picture book, one with specified colors for some reason. Perhaps this was a trade off. That, okay, no doll for either girl, and we’ll give Suzy an item for an actual winter activity much like Johnny’s skates, but in exchange, Nellie’s is a picture book now, because we can’t have a girl being too smart.