Hampers are gifts that are normally presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long tradition in Western culture and, before, was done as a charitable act, using the hamper to give food and other home essentials to the deserving. The basket the gift was presented in was also purposefully chosen as it was a practical household item that could be used and reused.

In modern times, Christmas Hampers have come to be less a gift of essentials and more a gift of little indulgences, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on premium products such as gourmet jams, fine chocolates, exotic coffee beans, fine wines and other expensive products that can be had as a indulgence and will store long enough for the recipient to relax when using the products.

There has also been a mounting trend to produce specialist Christmas Hampers - wine hampers that are filled with a wide range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more recent development and are filled not with food but with handy and wanted items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only limited by your imagination!

The flexibility of wine hampers is why it makes such a thoughtful present. They can be tailored to any special someone and can be filled with anything that would delight the recipient. When choosing the hamper you want to give, give careful thought to what goods the recipient likes - are they a white wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a gourmet? Then fill the hamper with premium food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with handy baby products.

Hampers can be given for any event - for birthdays, for hens nights or bachelorette parties, for weddings, for anniversaries, for an expecting mom-to-be and, most popularly, for Xmas.

The Xmas hamper has become big business and, in an intriguing twist, customers are buying Christmas UK hampers to use for themselves instead of as a present for that special someone. Often packed with special Xmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Xmas pudding and even turkey, they are bought by individuals to be used over the Christmas period. Many UK hampers are bought on a payment plan over the year and then enjoyed for the holiday season, helping individuals afford the price of the special Xmas treats desired over the Christmas period.

There are a large number of businesses that specialize in making hamper gifts and lots of them can be found quickly and easily on the internet. Many of them will have pre-packed UK hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to personalize a hamper and fill it with items of your choice. Most businesses will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and welcomed present.

Of course, you don’t have to use a professional to create a lovely hamper and it can be even more thoughtful to create your own. When making a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Use helpful items and special products that the recipient may not consider to buy for themselves, to make it even more caring. UK hampers also work best when filled with items that won’t go off quickly, such as red wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on putting in items that have to be kept cool or will spoil, then make sure the hamper is sent as quickly as possible and make sure the recipient knows that the items must be used as soon as possible.