Gift Giving In Various Cultures
July 25, 2008
Exchanging gift items is a very popular and common practice across multifarious culture worldwide Gifts can be given or exchanged in special occasions like cultural festivals or social events and can be given as rituals. Gifts can be handed over to people as a gesture of appreciation, indebtedness, thankfulness or gratitude. All over the world, every culture has its very own personal way of exchanging and accepting gifts and in most cases, the practices are as different as salt and sugar. However, there are certain very vital factors which need to be borne in mind before presenting someone with a gift.
First and foremost is to ensure the value of the gift and in these cases one should invest similar to the amount that the other person has invested on a gift. The occasion and timing of handing over the gift is extremely important as well. One should be well aware of the etiquettes followed by various cultures and at times one must also keep the religious concerns in mind while presenting one with a gift item.
In countries like china and Japan , it is considered mandatory that gifts are offered and received with both hands. It is a polite gesture according to their custom and a gift once received, the receiver must thank the giver in full heart. The gifts should never be opened in front of the one who has presented the gift and in most cases gifts are opened after the guests have left unless personally insisted by the guest to open the gift. In case of professional situations, gifting is equivalent to bribing in china and therefore it is considered as illegal. In china, the color of the gift is also an important deciding factor. Liquors are commonly gifted according to Jewish customs as wine is a very significant part of their religious belief as well. Much on the contrary, Muslim cultures forbidden alcohol and Muslims usually use their right hand in offering or receiving gifts as the left hand is considered unclean. Hindus too are wary about using the left hand though they may use either hands or the right one in receiving and offering gifts. They are against opening gifts at the time they are received. In European countries, gifts are appreciated immensely though they are not handed over as a ritual unlike Asian countries. Wines, liquors and handicrafts are appreciated by European cultures and during social celebrations, exchange of customary gifts are common as it is across all cultures.
In most cultures gift baskets make great gift ideas.
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