But there were many other 'romantic' gifts of endowments, life insurance and other types of cover.
According to Aviva's spokesperson, "several of our companies produced adverts and leaflets suggesting that life insurance policies made ideal Christmas presents".
In 1898, Norwich Union Life made a proposal called ‘A Christmas suggestion’.
In 1909 or so, Scottish Accident printed a flyer with an article suggesting people give their children an endowment policy instead of (or as well as) a Christmas toy or book.
And in 1929 British General produced an advert for Christmas gift assurance (main image, above).
The Aviva spokesperson added: "I particularly like the idea of giving children endowment policies for Christmas – I can only imagine the faces of disappointment."
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