The myth of the perfect gift
The belief that ‘the perfect gift’ exists is not based on reason or knowledge of the gifts significance. Yet there are many myths around gift giving. There may be different versions as the story is retold through generations, to the extent that it’s sometimes not clear how or why the story began to be told.
Here are some of the gift giving myths that may have significance, particularly in international gift giving:
When giving a gift of a wallet, purse, piggy bank or anything that is meant to hold money, you should put money in it so the person will have good luck, ensuring the wallet or purse will never be empty of money. The cash should always be in odd amounts, never even.
When giving gifts in Morocco, avoid the colours pink, violet, and yellow as these are associated with death.
Never gift someone a pair of shoes as a Christmas gift as they will walk away from you.
In many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, and Egypt, sharp objects are not given as gifts as they symbolise the severance of the relationship or bad luck. A gift of a knife means your friendship or love will end soon, unless you give the gift-giver a coin, often taped to the blade of the knife, which the gift recipient is to return as a ‘payment’, meaning it is no longer cursed as a sharp gift.
The theme of sharp edges and points also relate to long stemmed rose with thorns. If you gift these, it is believed to cause the relationship to suffer.
The first gift opened at a Bridal Shower should be the first one used, so the bride will have good luck. The person that gives the third gift opened at a Bridal Shower will soon have a baby.
Gifts with a frog, ladybug, pig, horseshoe with ends pointed upwards, or four-leaf clover theme are considered to provide good luck.
In Chinese culture, giving a clock as a gift is a definite taboo, due to the Chinese word for 'clock' sounding like the word for 'death'.