Gifting traditions across the globe
October 27th, 2015
Gifts are doubtless welcome in everybody’s lives. People gift each other for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and other important milestones achieved by them in their personal and professional lives. Some people like giving gifts for no special occasion, as and when the mood strikes them. The gift could be something as inconsequential as a pressed and framed flower, baskets of fruit or something extravagant like cars and diamond studded jewellery. Ultimately, it is the nature of relationship and the personal outlook of the person making and receiving the gift, which give it its true intrinsic value.
Just like people and their ideologies vary in different countries, so do the gifting traditions. Ranging from the bland to the exotic, the kind of gifts usually exchanged in different places varies according to the customs they usually follow. For example:
- We all know the French love their wines and even use a variety of them in their various traditional dishes. Many people who are invited for a dinner of lunch at someone’s place would prefer carrying a bottle or wine or a nice sherry as a hostess gift, but, in France, it is preferable not to do so! This is because the hostess would prefer deciding the vintage of the wine she will be serving to her guests.
- In China, you should not think of gifting a clock, no matter what a rare antique it is and how superb the craftsmanship on it is. Clocks are considered to be symbols or bearers of ill luck and are hence not popular gift items.
- Head to Russia and you would do well with a bottle of vodka or even a nice, warm faux fur jacket! But don’t think about giving a bouquet of flowers as a gift, if the number of flowers in it is even. The bouquets usually gifted have an uneven number of flowers. The reason behind this is a little dark – they usually carry even flowers numbered bouquets for funerals!
- We come to the world of deserts, dates and lots and lots of oil. Talking about the seven rich Middle Eastern countries, it is a well known fact that gifting a bottle of liquor is a strict no-no as it is prohibited by their religion. On the other hand, if you are traveling to Sweden to meet a friend, nothing more would be welcome than a bottle of any liquor!
- There are several countries, including India, where it is considered impolite to unwrap a present in front of the person making the gift. Instead, all the gifts received for any occasion are kept in a safe but out of sight place and they are all unwrapped together, after all the guests for the day have left. Return gifts, especially symbolic of divinity and usefulness are often given on all occasions. They could include a gift of coconuts, flowers and even certain types of clothes.
It is said that when one is in Rome, one ought to be a Roman. Similarly, when you are abroad, it would be a good idea to know about their gifting dos and don’ts beforehand!