International Gift Giving Tips

Many years ago, I spoke to a young reporter who said her mother told her she did not have to bring a gift to the host/hostess when invited to dinner at their home. The reporter justified this opinion by saying: "They invited me. I am the guest." YES, they were entertaining her! Hosts spend many hours cleaning and taking much trouble and expense to entertain you. 

As a single girl for 20 years, I get it! Yes, it is expensive to have to buy a gift to go to someone's home for dinner, or special occasion. The very least anyone can do is to bake cookies or a bunt cake, bring a modest bottle of table wine, or a small gathering of hot house or field flowers. 

At a minimum, you are obliged as a good guest, to show your appreciation in bringing a small gift and writing a "Thank You" note.

If you are at odds about your choice of gift internationally, you can always call the host country Embassy. They know the Protocol! 

So, below is everyone's favorite post, and especially fun for teenagers! Interesting to read even if you are not planning domestic or international travel or gift giving at the moment. 

USA GIFTS - Appropriate:

• Fine or modest bottle of table wine (drinkers only)
• Local Micro-brewery beer (drinkers only)
• A nice Scotch (drinkers only)
• Pretty bar towel or kitchen towel set (2) 
• Wine stopper (drinkers only)
• Fine chocolates
• Appropriate Magazine subscription 
• Coffee Table book from your home region
• Small decorative Dresser box or dish
• Nice pen & pencil set
• Plant
• Lovely picture frame (with a photo of the family inside if you have a special one)
• "Hot House" or field flowers
• Homemade cookies, brownies or bunt cake
• Regional gifts such as Virginia peanuts
• Nice coffee or teas and tea related products

USA GIFTS - NOT Appropriate

• Any alcohol or alcohol related products to non-drinkers
• Red roses
• Perfum, bath products or personal items
• Cash
• Home improvement gift card (!)
• Dining out gift card (!)

EUROPEAN and UK GIFTS - Appropriate:

• Fine Chocolates
• Flowers (as always, check local appropriate types of flower, colors, and number)
• Fine liquors, wines or Scotch
• Small gifts for children such as candy, little chocolates or little toys
• Small silver or porcelain dresser boxes or dishes 
• Coffee table book from your home region
• Fine coffee or teas

EUROPEAN and UK GIFTS - Not Appropriate:

• Logo gifts
• Expensive gifts (may be embarrassing for host/hostess)
• Red roses (for lovers only) or white flowers (funeral color)
• Perfume, bath products or anything personal
• Any alcohol or related products for non-drinkers

LATIN AMERICA GIFTS - Appropriate

• Fine chocolates
• Logo gifts from your home region (for example Virginia peanuts)
• Small gifts for children such as candy, little chocolates or small toys
• Coffee table book from your home region
• Perfume

LATIN AMERICA GIFTS - Inappropriate

• Knives, scissors or sharp instruments (considered bad luck - even with a 'lucky penny' enclosed)
• Handkerchief (sorrow), bath products (too personal)
• Expensive gift (may embarrass the host/hostess)
• To arrive empty handed with no gift (considered inconsiderate)
• Any gift in purple or black(funeral colors)
• Any gift numbering 13 (bad luck)

JAPAN GIFTS - Appropriate

 (present or receive the gift with both hands & do not open the gift right when given)

• Fine Scotch or Brandy
• Flowers in even numbers, but NOT the #4 (death) and NO white flowers (funeral color)
• Cash (given to children in a red envelope for the New Year for good luck) cash in even numbers, but NOT the #4 (death)
• Coffee table book from your home region
• US Logos from your home region 
• US brand names are popular
• Products from your home region
• Company Logo products
• Fine Tea or tea related products, including shortbreads and jam

JAPAN GIFTS - Inappropriate

• Clocks or watches (means 'Time is running out')
• Potted plant (for a sick person in Hospital)
• Personal or grooming items such as a comb (the word for comb sounds like death) 
• Candles (represents a fire) 
• Knives or scissors (DO NOT give even with a 'lucky penny' attached as they symbolize cutting a relationship or death)
• Joke gifts or humorous gifts (they do not translate well & are considered inconsiderate)
• Any gift "Made in Japan" (obviously)
• Any gift numbering 4  (the number 4 means death)
• Any gift numbering 9 (the number 9 means suffering)
• Anything with a Fox, Wolf or Badger (menacing)
• DO NOT wrap gifts in white or black wrapping paper (funeral colors)
• DO NOT give ribbons or bows (used for gift wrapping only, and it's an art in Japan)
• DO NOT surprise your host/hostess with your gift first. allow them to give you a gift first 

ARAB COUNTRIES GIFTS - Appropriate

• Coffee table book
• Made in the USA gifts
• Regional gifts
• Corporate gifts
• Little candies or small toys for the children

ARAB COUNTRIES - Inappropriate

• Any alcohol or alcohol related products
• Logo merchandise
• Joke, humorous or cheap novelty gifts
• Any gift for someone's spouse (too personal)
• Any gift that is white (mourning)
• DO NOT give food (symbolizing poverty)

TAIWAN and SINGAPORE GIFTS - Appropriate

• Fine Scotch or Whisky
• Coffee table book from your home region
• Company Logo gifts are popular 
• Fine desk set
• Fine daily appointment books
• Fine writing journals
• Fine tea leaves and fine tea related ceramics
• Fine jade
• DO NOT give white flowers or white gifts (funeral color)
• DO NOT give anything in a set of 4 or number 4 (death)
• DO refuse the gift a few times before accepting (polite and modest)
• Accept and give the gift with both hands (respectful)
• Reciprocation is tradition, so take into account the recipient's financial status
• Wrap well in red or pink colors
• Give an even number of flowers (but NOT the #4 or #13. Odd numbers = bad omen The #6 is good luck) NO white flowers (funeral)

TAIWAN and SINGAPORE GIFTS - Inappropriate

• Clocks or watches ("Time is passing" which signifies death)
• Anything extravagant (reciprocation tradition) 
• Knives or scissors (severing of a relationship and considered bad luck even with a 'lucky penny' attached)
• Wall decorations (Feng shui)
• Handkerchiefs (wiping away tears which signifies sadness and mourning)
• Red pens or writing on the card with a red pen (signifies blood)
• "Made in Asia" (tacky)
• Joke or humorous novelty gifts (they don't translate well and are considered to be disrespectful)
• Food (symbolizing poverty)
• Bourbon (they do not fancy bourbon)
• DO NOT give items numbering 4 or a gift in a set of 4 (death) While 8 is a lucky number, do not give 2 sets of 4

SOUTH KOREA GIFTS - Appropriate

• Fine Scotch
• Status gifts from a designer store
• Regional gift from your home country
• Coffee table book from your home country
• Company products
• Fine teas and tea related products
• Fine porcelain bowls 

SOUTH KOREA GIFTS - Inappropriate

• Knives or scissors (bad luck even with a 'lucky penny' attached)
• White or yellow Chrysanthemums (funeral flowers)
• shoes (the soles of shoes are considered dirty and to throw your shoe at someone is an insult to them)
• Food (poverty)
• "Made in Asia" products (tacky) or joke novelty products (cheap)

CHINA and HONG KONG GIFTS - Appropriate

(gift reciprocity when suitable is tradition "Li Shang Wang Lai") 

• Fine Scotch
• Coffee table book from your home country
• Company products
• Special Regional gifts from your home country
• Fine teas or tea related products
• Give and receive gifts with both hands
• Numbers 6 and 8 are good luck (but NOT 2 sets of 4 as the #4 means death)
• The recipient may not open the gift infront of you (modesty and humility)  
• Presentation is an important sign of respect. Wrap the gift well.
• Red wrapping paper is considered a happy color
• White or black wrapping paper is for funerals
• Gold or silver wrapping paper is used for weddings

CHINA GIFTS - Inappropriate

• Nothing personal (perfume, bath products, neckties, belts or jewelry)
• Handkerchiefs (sadness or mourning at a funeral)
• Shoes (evil)
• Clocks or watches ("Time is running out") 
• DO NOT write with a red pen on a card (blood) although red wrapping paper is considered a happy color
• DO NOT give any item numbering 4 or anything in a set of 4 (death)
• Be certain to remove the price tag
• Food (symbolizing poverty)
• DO NOT give cut flowers (given at funerals) 
• DO NOT give anything white (funeral color)
• Umbrella (break up)
• DO NOT give food (poverty). Pears represent parting or leaving.

Always remember, gifts are about the recipient, not the giver.