How to give gifts correctly - 4 important rules you need to know

New Year is coming soon. One of the exciting and wonderful traditions of your favorite winter holiday is the exchange of gifts. What could be more pleasant and joyful than giving and receiving them? However, sometimes this wonderful moment can be overshadowed by ignorance of simple rules of etiquette. Especially if we are not talking about friends and family, but, for example, acquaintances, business partners, etc. To make everything go smoothly, EAOMedia news agency and the Posuda Center store (Velikan shopping center) decided to remind you how to properly give and accept gifts.

Products in the Utensils Center store. Photo: EAOMedia news agency

/ 5

Don't forget to cut off price tags and tags, but keep them

According to the rules of etiquette, you cannot give gifts with tags, price tags or other labels.

Remember this rule. Many people believe that if they give a product with a tag, then they once again show the recipient that the gift from the store is new, and not junk from the donor’s collection. But there are several reasons to remove tags and other labels from gifts:

Firstly, they may have a price listed on them. But the recipient does not need to know the value of the gift.
Secondly, when trying to tear off a tag or label in the haste of a holiday, a person may accidentally tear the gift itself; it is better to take care of this in advance by carefully cutting everything off.
Thirdly, the recipient can simply throw away the torn tag or price tag, while the receipt for the goods is with the donor. It is better for the donor to keep the tag with him, you never know, problems will arise with the goods and it will need to be replaced.

This rule does not apply to factory film and box. For example, if the perfume comes in a box that is wrapped in film, you should not tear off this film.

Get to grips with your beliefs

Unfortunately, most ladies DO NOT BELIEVE that you can receive gifts from men even without sex. And in this article I want to give you the opportunity to think, because our world is multifaceted. And if a woman begins to see many of its facets, she will receive more opportunities.

Unexpected and pleasant opportunities in life!

If you are convinced of the opposite, it is your choice. I won’t argue, because every person in this world has the right to their own opinion and their own picture of the world.

[1.]
Let's start with an ASSUMPTION. First, make a sketch, imagine: how you take it, and just like that, without sex and your super-investments in a man, you receive gorgeous gifts from him. Just out of love, out of friendship. Well, did you introduce it?
[2.]
Look for women who receive gifts from men. Who are they? What do they look like, what knowledge and skills do they have? What are their moral principles? You will be surprised, many of them can be very smart (even have doctorates), many are very beautiful, or, on the contrary, not at all beautiful. Among them there may be faithful wives, frivolous mistresses, and businesswomen. If you set this goal, you can find hundreds of different women who have one thing in common - they receive gifts from men.
[3.]
Next step: talk to men (colleagues, friends, relatives, etc.). Ask them if this happens in life when a man is in love and admires a woman so much that he gives her gifts JUST SO. You will be amazed at many of the answers. And what will surprise you most is the fact that a man himself is pleased to give gifts to a woman and take care of her. This is not a duty for him, but a joy. First of all, great joy.
[4.]
Ask a man for advice. Find out what you need to change IN YOUR behavior with a man so that he begins to admire you and give you gifts.

Pay attention to packaging

To make a gift better received, it is recommended to wrap it in gift paper - in accordance with the rules of etiquette.

But there are a number of contradictions on this score that have emerged in recent years. They consist in the fact that it is not recommended to pack gifts in beautiful gift paper that may not evoke joyful emotions in the recipient.

For example, if you are giving a set of soap and shampoo, it is better not to pack it in beautiful gift paper. However, if you are giving a gift of average price, for example, a person wanted an iPhone, and you are giving him a cheaper smartphone, it is better to pack it in craft paper, you can wrap it carelessly. Then initially, when he sees the packaging, he will have low expectations, after which the joy from the gift will become higher.

Everyone will decide for themselves to take these contradictions between etiquette and modern trends into account. But it’s still worth packing a gift minimally.

Why is it wrong to receive gifts from men?

Psychologists, feminists and moralists have two opposing opinions: whether a woman can receive gifts from men or not.

Some argue that finding a rich sugar daddy is latent prostitution, it’s parasitism, it’s immoral, and in general “horrible, terrible, nizz!”

Others, on the contrary, insist that a woman should under no circumstances earn money herself, and can receive everything from men. Which, strictly speaking, is a different kind of crap. Because the desire for self-realization and the ability to provide for oneself is a natural need of a person of any gender, and blocking this leads to psychological and psychosomatic crises.

My morals are in the middle.

As I said above, a woman is an individual and can provide for herself. But when she gives birth to a child, she naturally falls into financial dependence on a man. And it’s very good if she knows how to build a relationship with him where he takes care of her and the child. And preferably, very well taken care of. And this is the knowledge of geishas and expensive courtesans. And it is best to study this science BEFORE the girl starts looking for a husband.

Changing beliefs from “cannot” to “POSSIBLE”:

1. Women are convinced that men don’t give gifts “just because.”

Now all the guys are mercantile to the point of trembling in the knees, selfish, and give only “for something.” A gift can only be received for sex, and some believe that for super-service (including BDSM and various perversions). This is their picture of the world.

2. A lot of women think that she doesn’t need it.
“I can buy this and that for myself.
Why should I humiliate myself or crawl under a man?” Another puzzle does not fit into their picture of the world: where a man can shower a woman with gifts simply because they have close, friendly and spiritual relationships.

3. Many people think that women don’t receive gifts at all.

Many ladies agree to at least some man. Let him be infantile, passive... Let him not strive for anything. Even if it’s like that, it’s mine! And EVERYONE lives like this, because there are no good men! Well, if she accidentally falls outside the scope of her picture of the world and sees that a man gave Tanya a car and took Katya to the Maldives, she becomes angry at her amoeba-shaped man. And then you will not envy either this man or the woman herself...

Gifts for work colleagues

Gift etiquette in business deserves special attention. It is customary to present clients or partners of a company with various souvenirs, most often related to the activities of the enterprise. The present, as a rule, is intended to serve as additional advertising. It should be remembered here that expensive offerings can be considered a bribe. Etiquette rules do not recommend presenting individual gifts to higher authorities. The rest of the employees will probably consider this sycophancy.

If it is customary at work to give collective gifts, it is better to participate in such an event financially, entrusting the purchase to one or several employees. Presents are made to colleagues only if it is customary for the team to exchange souvenirs. But in this case, you cannot deprive any of the workers of attention. It’s better to congratulate your friends who work together with you without anyone noticing, rather than showing off your offering to the entire office.

Present. Since childhood, this word has been associated with the joyful anticipation of a surprise, a holiday. Everyone loves gifts, not only to receive them, but also to give them. This is an old way of expressing relationships - friendship and love, gratitude, special appreciation, and in a business environment it is also a way to show attention and express a desire to cooperate. From the point of view of etiquette, the ability to give and accept gifts is a sign of a person’s internal culture.

Gifts can be an expression of feeling, a special relationship, they can have a symbolic meaning. In live friendly communication they give what a person loves. Just imagine how happy a friend or relative will be when they receive this particular item as a gift, and you won’t be wrong with your choice. Therefore, it is almost impossible to name everything that could be a gift to friends or family. Maybe it’s worth recalling a well-known truth:

“Give what you would like to receive yourself.

Don’t give old, unnecessary things.”

Of course, the value of a gift is not determined by its cost, but a sense of proportion is important everywhere. A gift that is too expensive is obligatory, but it can be a sign of special treatment, so again, it is impossible to set boundaries and give abstract advice. If you can afford it, expensive gifts are not excluded. Very cheap gifts, purchased hastily, bearing the imprint of fussiness and stinginess, are inappropriate. Don’t put a person in an awkward position, learn to be grateful and generous. I will add that warm words or a kind visit are more valuable than a random gift. However, again, one can recall dozens of everyday situations when a luxurious surprise leaves a person confused, but the simplest thing, even one made with one’s own hands, turns out to be expensive and necessary, warming the soul.

So, in close communication, everything is determined by the specific situation, your desire and material capabilities. At the same time, it is possible that you will discuss with the person what he would like to receive as a gift, or you will not make a surprise and purchase it together. Agree that the value of the gift is not lost because of this.

In principle, it is possible to give money as a gift. Do not forget that money earned for services provided to you is given openly (in case they want to count it), and money is given in an envelope or a special postcard.

The most popular gift is flowers.

They are given without packaging (unless it is a specially designed bouquet), in an odd number. Flowers are, of course, customary to give in business too. They are given to both women and men. But etiquette stipulates that older men or executives can be given flowers on their birthdays, while young men are not given flowers under the same circumstances.

Don't forget about the symbolism of color and flowers. Unfortunately, we do not remember that in former times, the language of flowers and bouquets could be used to declare love, swear friendship, and express exceptional gratitude. A white rose, for example, signifies innocence and is associated with youth. The yellow rose was considered a symbol of marital love, the red rose meant passion and was the emblem of a mature woman.

We rely on intuition and generally accepted tastes, especially since now specially trained professionals work in this area - florists, who are ready to help in creating a beautiful bouquet.

When giving flowers, do not think that it is better to choose more persistent and durable ones. Gladioli and carnations are usually given as gifts on more formal occasions. Roses, called the queens of flowers, will please the eye more than other flowers and will add exquisite solemnity to the atmosphere. Chrysanthemums have a special symbolism, because in some countries they are not intended for giving at all, but are associated with the most sad events. It is not for nothing that in the famous romance faded chrysanthemums are associated with sad memories of lost youth.

Don’t ignore flowers in pots; you can give a flowering plant that will delight the owner for a long time and remind of a meeting or event. There is also no need to associate the number of colors with the attitude towards a person. One beautiful rose can “say” much more than a tasteless armful of the same flowers. I will probably sadden many by saying that immense bouquets thrown at one’s feet are often just evidence to flaunt one’s feelings or to show off the breadth of one’s nature. In any case, this is not always a sign of love, much less culture. A highly intelligent person with instinct will express his attitude in a completely different way. Remember that people are different; for some, a large number of flowers does not evoke delight, but completely different associations. This was confirmed by a survey of psychologists.

When choosing a gift for a more formal occasion, remember that you can't go wrong or disappoint yourself. A person must be grateful for everything, and even if you have a commercial relationship, gifts as signs of attention and gratitude are not excluded. After all, paid work can be treated differently. Knowing a person's tastes or asking for help

to his relatives, friends, colleagues, you will definitely find what you need.

Do not rely on your taste or fashion when purchasing products from an advertised company. This is not yet a sign of quality. Be extremely careful when buying perfumes, cosmetic sets and more.

This type of gift includes paintings, home decoration items, and even antiques. They may not be to your taste and will not find their place either in the apartment or in a person’s soul.

So to speak, “good” official gifts include high-quality stationery, artistically designed books, publications, and valuable souvenirs. Confectionery sets, good alcoholic drinks, elite tea and coffee in souvenir packages are not excluded - it all depends on the situation and the person himself.

In any case, remembering etiquette in business relationships, do not exclude the moment of improvisation and spontaneity. The gift must be sincere and warm. It’s good if it is accompanied by kind words or a postcard. Even in the most formal setting, this will receive due appreciation.

The rules that determine the appropriateness of a gift depend on many things: on the accepted chain of command, on the degree of democracy in business contacts, on the quality of the partnership. They are also determined by the characteristics of the mentality.

In the European world, a certain ritual of gifting has been developed, a range of goods has been named that are considered specifically as gifts. This is extremely important because some things can be considered a bribe. Products accepted in gift etiquette traditionally include calendars, notebooks, diaries, branded fountain pens, lighters; Alcoholic drinks are given as gifts for the holidays.

When communicating with Western colleagues, remember that they are scrupulous about gifts, since, oddly enough, gifts, so naturally accepted in Russia, in other countries can be considered as a tool to gain the trust of a partner not at a business level. Therefore, in any case, gifts should not be very expensive.

For example, in Finland, branded national souvenirs, folk crafts, and “gastronomic gifts” in the form of Russian vodka, red and black caviar are highly valued.

The Swedes are also close to the Finns: they treat gifts very directly, reacting positively to them. In France, it is not customary to give gifts to a partner, especially during the first meeting. The successful completion of communication is celebrated with dinner. You can give a book, a CD of classical music, or anything that suits the interlocutor’s tastes. In business Germany, gifts are not accepted, gift etiquette is regulated, but everyone knows that in direct communication the Germans treat gifts well.

Don’t forget that any guest would be pleased to receive as a souvenir something that will remind him of the meeting, of the time spent in Russia. What we are used to: Ural gems, stone souvenirs, engravings and more - may well please the guest with their originality.

There are some traditions and signs associated with gift etiquette. When choosing a gift, do not forget that a person can interpret your choice in different ways. Something can be perceived as a hint or a wish. Something may be misunderstood.

You should not give hygiene items or clothes. It is not customary to give gloves, which is associated with ancient times, when enemies could put poison or piercing objects in gloves.

There are also references to the fact that donating a watch is not a very good omen. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, they keep track of personal time and influence the life of the owner. Opinions are also mixed regarding portraits of a person made to order and given to him.

According to a survey among many groups of the population, it turned out that men are annoyed when they are given yet another razor, tie, socks, underwear, or toilet water with an unacceptable smell for them. Most considered cufflinks to be the most useless item as a gift.

Women are discouraged by gifts that are usually given to everyone and do not reflect their individuality.

The list with a low rating included low-quality cosmetics, cheap toiletries, and various linen accessories. Women considered the gift of costume jewelry to be a manifestation of extreme bad taste (although it also varies greatly in quality, price and degree of prestige, like tights). Women do not like “mass” bulk purchases of gifts for the holidays. Most of them believe that gifts should be taken care of in advance and that they must express their attitude towards the person.

Children turn out to be the most spontaneous and sincere, admitting that they do not need “abstruse” books, souvenirs that cannot be played with, or clothes. The gift must certainly be a surprise.

Try to make gifts characterize you as a person who is attentive, intelligent, grateful and generous. Show a sense of proportion and tact, remember etiquette, and still let those relationships and those people remain in life for whom you can become a good wizard and fulfill their innermost desire. Maybe something that a person has dreamed about all his life and the fulfillment of this desire will be your wonderful gift.