Back in the Roman times, Strenae were common presents. These were good luck tokens, made of branches and twigs from the grove of the Roman goddess of strength and endurance, Strenia. Way before the Romans, the Babylonians presented gifts as did the Three Wise Men when Jesus was born.
These days, gifts are not only given in a social context, but also in the business arena, with different cultures emphasising varying degrees of importance to the gesture. Some of the places that hold a high regard for gift giving in order of importance include: Japan, the Middle East, China, the Pacific Rim countries and Latin America. Countries that don’t view gift giving as significant are the United States, Australia, Canada and France. This could be attributed to many factors such as tax laws (most countries have ceilings on the price tags of business gifts), the view that a gift may be seen as a bribe for a service or future business and, most recently, the global recession.
Whatever your stand on the matter, it is always a plus to be conscious of global customs in order to prepare yourself accordingly. The Japanese view gift giving as an art form that is a necessity, not a nicety, one that has been ingrained in their tradition and society for centuries. In the olden days, wealthy families would hire someone or designate a family member to be in charge of selecting the most appropriate gifts to be presented. To this day, you can expect to receive a gift in a business or social aspect from a Japanese visitor or when in Japan. It is imperative you reciprocate in kind but don’t surprise them with it, rather consider the time and place carefully. Likewise never insist that they open their gift in front of you, as this causes discomfort in Japanese society and possibly a loss of face, which is highly central to their way of life.
When selecting a gift for someone, it is key that the giving is done from the heart and that the gift is considerate and appropriate. You should always try to understand and be attentive to the customs and culture. For example, in Europe it would be out of place to give a business associate’s wife a bouquet of red roses as they have romantic connotations. Likewise, it would be a total faux pas to present an observant Hindu with a cow skin agenda given the cow is sacred in India. Similarly you should not present a devout Muslim with a bottle of the finest scotch.
It is always best to think outside the box. Conventional gifts may be happily received but with increased and facilitated access to all sorts of things, presents should be as thoughtful and exciting as possible. This could be something specific to your country such as tickets to a theatre production in London, Formula 1 VIP passes in Abu Dhabi, a rodeo show in Texas, a pampering session at one of the Dead Sea’s high end resorts, a tour of a Wasabi cultivation farm in Taiwan, a performance at the Opera House in Sydney or even dinner at the hottest restaurant in Paris.
Should you have any doubt concerning the sustainability of a gift you would like to give, consult the local embassy of the country you are visiting, ask a helpful hotel concierge or a trusted local friend about the does and don’ts of gift giving, such as which colours are fitting, the appropriate number (odd versus even, pairs or singles) and the type of gift (flowers, chocolates, fruit, alcohol) because what is smiled upon as a gift in one country just may be frowned upon in another.
Remember, the gift you give represents you, your background and your genuine interest and sincerity toward the receiver. Keep your antennas out for culture, traditions, customs and religious beliefs before giving a gift to avoid insulting or upsetting the receiver. If done correctly, gift giving could help your social or business relations grow and develop favourably.
