Gift Giving Around the World

Gift-giving is a universal practice with diverse traditions and taboos across cultures. In China, umbrellas are avoided due to linguistic associations with breakups. Sharp objects are seen as negative gifts in many regions. Some gifts, like brooches in Italy, symbolize death. In Japan, potted plants are avoided for the sick. African cultures use gifts to show respect and strengthen bonds. Gift acceptance also varies; in Kenya, gifts may be spat on for good luck, while in the Middle East, the right hand is used for receiving. In some Asian cultures, gifts are initially rejected to avoid seeming greedy.

Why might gifting an umbrella in China be considered a bad idea?

• It symbolizes bad weather.

• It sounds like the word for breaking up.

• It is considered too practical.

• It is associated with funerals.

In which cultures is giving a sharp object seen as a negative gesture?

• Australian

• European, Asian, and South American

• Middle Eastern

• North American

What type of gift is best avoided in Italy due to its association with death?

• Flowers

• Candles

• Brooches

• Books

Why might a potted plant be an inappropriate gift for someone who is ill in Japan?

• It is too difficult to care for.

• It symbolizes illness taking root.

• It is considered too expensive.

• It is associated with bad luck.

In which countries might a gift be rejected multiple times to avoid appearing greedy?

• Kenya and Tanzania

• South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan

• China and Japan

• India and the Middle East