Titus Tatius
According to Varro, the use was adopted as early as the first foundation of the City, set up by Titus Tatius who first caught, as good augur for the new year, the twig of a plant ("arbor felix") located in the woods sacred to the goddess Strenia; from this derived the term "strenae" for the gifts of various kinds, including coins, to be exchanged in the feast of Saturnalia.