Excited
As we get fully entrenched in this holiday season, now best known for getting and giving gifts, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the cultures that have really perfected the art of giving gifts. Asian cultures specifically of course. Fellow blogger Joz and I both had the opportunity to travel back to Taiwan over the recent Thanksgiving holiday. We met up while we were there, and had the opportunity to reflect on the custom of having to bring gifts when visiting Taiwan, and how it always seems we never bring enough of them.
The custom of bringing gifts was instilled in me by my parents. It was partly a matter of “saving face”, as you instinctively know all the relatives you will be visiting will have a gift for you. If I were to have visited Taiwan without bringing appropriate gifts (like mixed nuts, chocolates, and face cream), I’m sure my mother would have turned over in her grave. But even with all my preparation, I still felt unequal to the task at hand. Everyone seemed to have a better, nicer gift to give me or my daughter who accompanied me to Taiwan.
The practice of gift giving in Chinese culture is also firmly planted with my family here in the U.S. I wouldn’t dream of visiting an auntie or uncle here in the states without stopping by a bakery first to pick up a cake or tart to bring along. Now with Christmas so near, I can hear my mom’s admonishments in my head to make sure I have a gift for everyone that comes to our house for Christmas dinner. This thought goes through my head, even though we sent out invites specifically saying there would be no gift exchange for adults in this economic downturn. I also said we were picking names out of a hat to determine who brought the single gift for each child who is coming to dinner. But secretly my mind is insisting I give every niece and nephew their own gift. Having a gift for everyone is so ingrained in my behavior, that I keep a fully stocked gift closet, so that no matter who comes over, I have something to give them.
There was one Christmas I stocked up on large tins of cookies and treats from Costco, so I could give them to my aunties. Each one got a different container, so I knew what I gave everyone. I gave one auntie a large red tin container. Imagine my surprise when on Christmas night, I received back the same container from a different auntie. The re-gifting had gone full circle. I’m not relaying this story to embarrass my aunties, but to show how practical the Chinese can be as well. My own mom, was a champion at re-gifting.
I can’t finish an article on the art of gift-giving without also giving a nod to Japanese culture, which has not only taken gift-giving to an art form, but the practice of wrapping gifts is an art form in Japan as well. So enjoy your holidays, and remember to go forth and gift appropriately.
How does this post make you feel?
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
NOTE: 8Asians.com is a community, and we thank you for being a part of it. While we welcome and appreciate differences in opinion, if you're rude or you're promoting spam, we have a right to edit or delete your comment. Read our comment policy for more information.
If you see a comment that violates the 8Asians.com comment policy, you may flag the comment by mousing over the comment and clicking "FLAG."
I've totally got into the whole custom of giving "omiyage" and with a lot of excitement. The art of packaging here in Japan is insane. At first I couldn't get over the amount of waste the packaging would incurr - until I then realised that they recycle everything here. Now I'll happily let the store assistant gift wrap my presents for friends and carefully take mental notes.
I've been heavily influenced by the art of packaging gifts (birthdays and whatnot) and am all about adding the "final touches" and spending maybe twenty minutes choosing the right cloth or paper.
I gave my friend pink jenga for her birthday - she "tagged" me in the photo of her gift as the wrapping paper.
Interesting. Filipinos have a similar gift giving custom when returning from a trip (pasalubong). You can see Filipinos going back to the Philippines having large balikbayan boxes full of pasalubong to give to friends and relatives. Sometimes it feels out of control. There is an old joke, told here, about pasalubong sent in the coffin of a dead mother.
I was a total loser this trip... I had enough gifts, but sometimes I didn't know I'd be running into people where I would need a gift.
I should have just carried something in my backpack with me all times instead of having a giant stockpile of stuff in my room.
And btw, I LOVE FUROSHIKI!
I was a total loser this trip... I had enough gifts, but sometimes I didn't know I'd be running into people where I would need a gift.
I should have just carried something in my backpack with me all times instead of having a giant stockpile of stuff in my room.
And btw, I LOVE FUROSHIKI!
Trackbacks
Custom Search
Recent Posts
- Is Kim Jong Un Dead? Assassination Rumors Hit the Internet
- Help Fight Stereoptypes With Asian Crew Clothing
- Deftones’ Chi Cheng Wakes Up From His 3-Year Coma
- SXSW 2012 Has a Nice Handful of Asian Movies
- Woman In China Gives Birth To 15 Lb Baby
- Naruto & Dragonball Now Available On Barnes & Noble Nook
- Kisai Rogue KR2 LED Watch
Recent Comments
- : Good luck! Hope things work out. – Behind The Scenes With Team Janet & A Call To Help Janet Find Her Match
- : I think due to the political sensitivities and how prominent many Chinese have become involved in American institutions (and in several ways, vice versa), Pete... – Pete Hoekstra's Offensive Anti-Asian Super Bowl Ad
- : @itzagudwun I was going to drop the discussion but let me ask you a question. What exactly am I stereotyping about Asian parents? Is is... – What if Jeremy Lin Weren't Asian?
- : Great article again, Tim. I'm actually very surprised in hearing the findings. I knew that Asian Americans were less likely to carry credit card debt... – Asian Americans Have Mixed Results In Retirement Study
- : Rock-on, Steven. Judging from the segment, I find this female host to be less of an attention-whore than Olivia Munn. Moar female hosts like this,... – Steven Yeun Talks About The Walking Dead Season 2.5 & Tries A Bacon Milkshake
APA Events
Feb 16: Adam WarRock and Kirby Krackle: West Cost Tour Dates!!!
Feb 16: (New York, NY) Amar Chitra Katha: Monica Ferrell, Chitra Ganesh, Keshni Kashyap, and Himanshu “Heems” Suri of Das Racist
Feb 17: (Los Angeles, CA) All My Sons
Feb 18: (Stanford, CA) Stanford’s 16th Listen to the Silence Conference- Feb 18: (San Francisco, CA) NAAAP-SF Lunar New Year Gala 2012
Feb 25: (Los Angeles, CA) Past Present I Future Imperatives: Queer Space Time
Mar 3: (New York, NY) Vong Pak’s ‘Electric Shaman’ Concert
Apr 30: (Sacramento, CA) California Asian Pacific Islander Policy Summit 2012: iAdvocate
Staff and Contributors
- Editors
- Ernie Hsiung - Founder, Editor-in-Chief
- Moye Ishimoto - Co-Editor, Editorial
- Joz Wang - Co-Editor, PR & APA Outreach
[...] I’m the one person in my family that arranges an annual family get together for Christmas, I make sure everyone who is coming for Christmas has a present, and now that I have my own 4 year old daughter I do make sure she believes in Santa. It [...]