Gifts you should not give in some other cultures

What are normal gifts in your culture?

What are bad gifts? Why?

If you give a gift to someone from another country or culture then you need to be careful.

Here are some superstitions and traditions about gift giving that you need to be careful about. 

No sharp objects

In some countries giving something sharp, like a knife, is bad gift etiquette because it implies bad luck. Or it can mean you want to break the relationship. This is true in Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, and Egypt.

But a good-quality knife is a useful gift. So if you tape a coin to the knife, which the giver can then offer back to you as "payment’ then that is okay.

Don't give empty wallets

If you give a gift of a purse or a wallet you should put some money in it. This is a superstition of bad luck. If you are mindful of different cultural expectations and superstitions then you will please your friends from another country and culture. 

Some superstitions about gift giving are found all over the world, in diverse cultures.

Some superstitions and cultural expectations are only for an area of a country. For example don’t give a Hindu in India a leather wallet.

Mirrors might be spooky

In Chinese and other Asian cultures, people think that mirrors bring negative ghosts. And therefore, giving a mirror could make someone’s life become negative. For example, if the mirror breaks — either before it's given or afterwards — that's seven years of bad luck! 

Gloves

A beautiful pair of gloves seems like a great Christmas gift idea. But some may take it as an omen of bad luck. The connection between gloves and bad luck goes hundreds of years.  At that time a knight put a beloved lady's glove in their helmets.

Say no to clocks or watches

There are a lot of rules about things that tell you the time. Some people believe that giving a watch or clock as a gift implies that the time is finishing on a relationship. In China, for example, clocks have an unlucky connection with death and therefore should not be given as gifts.

Some numbers are bad

Different numbers mean different things in other parts of the world. The number 13 is seen as unlucky in North America. In China, people think 4 is unlucky because it sounds similar to the word for death. So giving a gift with a group of four would be bad. And in Japan the number 9 sounds like the word for pain and punishment.

In many countries such as in India , gifts of money should be given in odd numbers. For example, $101 but not $100. In Jewish culture odd numbers are more lucky than even ones. One exception to even numbers in China is 18, or chai.  In China the number 18 is lucky and gifts are often given where they can equal 18. For example 36, 72, etc. 

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=2, B=8, C=7, D=1, E=3, F=5, G=6, H=4

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1.      People often have superstitions because they don’t understand why something happens.

2.      In Korea it is good etiquette to give something to somebody older with two hands. Doing this implies respect.

3.      New York is famous for having a diversity of cultures.

4.      His eyes are cold and spooky like a psycho killer.

5.      We need to be mindful that many people understand what we are saying. So let’s speak quietly.

6.      Everyone must come on time tomorrow. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

7.      These dark clouds are an omen of snow.

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1.      What are some interesting superstitions in your culture? What are the implications of these superstitions? (for example what bad can happen?).

2.      What is good etiquette when giving a gift to someone in your culture?

3.      What would be interesting for you living with diverse cultures?

4.      What things do you find spooky?

5.      What should a visitor to your country be mindful of?

6.      If foreigners don’t understand your culture should people make exceptions to important rules in your culture? How should you teach them to know what to do and how to show respect?

7.      What is a bad omen to you?