Etiquette rules on how to give and receive gifts

Gifts are one of the most enjoyable aspects of our lives. We give them on occasion or just to cheer someone up. It can be a simple trinket like sweets, a bouquet or something valuable. In any case, the process of giving is an important social ritual, accompanied by its own rules of etiquette.

OBOZREVATEL tells what unspoken traditions should be observed so that the process of giving was pleasant for all parties.

How to give gifts

Be sure of the true purpose of the gift. Match the gift to a specific holiday or occasion. For example, Christmas tree ornaments are unlikely to be suitable for a birthday, while creatively wrapped diapers will not please your partner during a Secret Santa game at work. Think about how well the gift will express your feelings for the person it is intended for. To make sure you don't make a mistake, you can ask yourself a couple of test questions:

• How much do I care about this person?
• How much time, energy and money am I willing to spend to choose the right gift?

In some cases, a bouquet of flowers and a beautiful card will suffice. However, you may also want to do something special with your own hands for someone special.

Gather information about the recipient. Ask what the person you are preparing a gift for likes. You can do this through mutual friends or by searching social media pages. Find out about their favorite color, food, drink, hobbies, etc. The more you know about what the person you are giving the gift to likes, the more successful it will be.

Be sensitive to personal and cultural differences. Ethnic, religious and cultural customs often impose their own restrictions on a person's lifestyle. This needs to be taken into account if you want your gift to be truly pleasing to them. For example, you should not give alcohol to someone who for some reason does not drink. You will waste your money and the person will be indifferent to such a gift at best.

Know when corporate logos are appropriate. Sometimes a company logo on a gift cheapens its appearance. It also suggests that the gift was hastily chosen from the available assortment of standard souvenirs. Gifts with a logo can be successful as small signs of attention and trifles in memory of meetings held. However, if it is a significant event or in honor of deep feelings, you should choose something else.

Use simple and elegant packaging. A motley print, bright ribbons and big bows attract a lot of attention to the gift. There is a chance that the emotions from the decoration will be more pleasant than the emotions from the contents. It is better to choose elegant wrapping materials and restrained decor.

Deliver the gift properly. When it is time to hand over the chosen item, hold it with both hands and hand it over gently with a smooth but wide gesture so that the person sees that the thing you have chosen also has a certain value for you as an expression of your feelings. If you send the gift by courier or mail, add your business card, as well as a handwritten note or card.

How to accept gifts

Give a personal thank you for the gift. If you receive a gift from hand to hand, be sure to smile and take it with both hands. Try to think of some original wording of gratitude in addition to the universal "thank you".

Let the giver know that you have received his or her gift. If the gift came by delivery service or mail, take the time to let the sender know that it has arrived and everything is fine as soon as possible. Call to say so, write an email or, if you're in a close relationship, send a happy selfie with the gift.

Know the appropriate method of opening the gift whether it's in front of guests or alone. Different cultures and different situations suggest different approaches to opening gifts. It's probably appropriate to unwrap gifts in front of guests at a family party. Presents from colleagues at work are better to open at home. After all, it can be envelopes with money, which will be rude to count in front of other people.

Write thank-you notes. This is the best way to give pleasant emotions in response to the efforts. Even if you don't like the gift, plan to return it to the store or give it away, sign a card or write an email expressing your gratitude.

Earlier OBOZREVATEL shared what etiquette says about the use of emojis in business correspondence.

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