Wrapping paper is something that’s usually found shredded and buried at the feet of anxious children on Christmas day, but the MSU Museum is preserving it instead.

The museum is presenting the Packaging Christmas: American and International Holiday Containers exhibit until February 2002.

Gift boxes, holiday ribbons and a 50-pound bag of nuts are a few of the American items on display.

The exhibit is the 20-year-old personal collection of Val Berryman, curator of history for the museum. Berryman developed Santa Claus exhibits from his collections in the past.

International container examples include German gingerbread cookie containers and candy tins from Russia and Holland. The exhibit will run in connection with an exhibit marking the School of Packaging’s 50th anniversary in February.

Kris Morrissey, curator of education for the museum, said the exhibit shows different ways Christmas packaging and decorations evolved over the years.

“I think it will recall a lot of memories of how advertising was an integrative theme of Christmas,” Morrissey said.

Young people will have a chance to see some common themes of the holiday, Morrissey said.

“Kids will see some images that are familiar and that have been around for a long time,” she said. “Packaging reflects things, in particular the ones that are close to the heart.”