Gifts - An Integral Part of Human Lives
A complete gift guide : Why gifts, History of gifts, what is significance and importance of gifts
The gift is a fundamental part of human life. The tradition of gifts is from a bygone age, and hence, it has become a natural trait in our lives. We offer gifts to those we like, love, or admire on various occasions as we want them to be happy.
Offering gifts is common nowadays; everywhere and in every relation. The important part of gifting is what gift we select and our expression; that speaks much more than what we say.
When we are in a relationship, there will be unsaid expectations. But when we offer more than expected or unexpectedly extraordinary, it brings lots of happiness and excitement to our loved ones; it stronger the relationship bond and creates an emotional current.
Offering gifts on occasions such as marriage, anniversary, birthdays, house warming ceremonies, when someone has achieved something, graduating with flying colors is the most common practice nowadays.
History of Giving Gifts
Gifting ideas and patterns change from time to time as generation changes. For example, during pre-colonial times, for Native American tribes, giving gifts was an aid to demonstrate the gift giver's status and wealth. For an ancient Egyptian, the purpose of giving gifts to the deceased for their afterlife by burying goods or gifts with them. For ancient Greece and India, the purpose of decorative gifts was to express love and emotion, build stronger relationships, and in the spirit of mutual aid or hospitality.
The Psychology Behind Giving Gifts
Who does not like to receive gifts? Everyone wants to be loved, appreciated and considered an essential part of someone's life. The gift types may vary depending on likes or expectations from family, friends, or associates. Giving a gift should never be a task or formality but a feeling from your heart. When one offers a gift to their loved one, it is not just an exchange of things but an expression of love, affection, giving positive vibration, appreciation, blessings, and prayer to almighty for happiness and a way of good wishes and best luck.
The exchange of gifts is a feeling that cannot be measured with financial value. When your loved one opens a gift, you are eager to see the expression, and that feeling of happiness leaves a permanent impression on your loved one.
A gift is a virtual and magical glue for solid relationship bonding, a solution to build and improve relationships, and a remedy for broken relationships.
Importance of Giving Gifts
Giving gifts reinforces social relationships between friends, colleagues, neighbors, business partners, or colleagues. It increases the love and bonding between family members, your life partner, son, parents, or other family members.
Unlike physical assets, the relationship is one of the most significant assets in our life. Physical assets may be expensive, but it is replaceable, but relationships are invaluable and non-replaceable. Therefore, one should not miss any opportunity to nurture and grow relationships; offer gifts to loved ones, friends, and family members.
Various Reasons for Offering Gifts
When you offer a gift, there could be various reasons; to encourage someone, make people feel special, to make someone happy, express love, show your appreciation, motivate people, and give the message that you care for them.
The gift can also be given to support someone financially, start a new relationship, strengthen an existing relationship, express gratitude, influence people, or ease your guilt. Sometimes you give a gift just because you want to give something to someone.
Other various reason for giving gifts are teachers day, women's day, Valentine's Day, Father’s Day, or Mother’s Day.
Variety of Gifts
The gift ideas vary with different generations, societies, centuries, age groups, gender, countries, cultures, geography, places, occasions, and many more other scenarios.
Form of gift could be being praised or appreciated at the right time, flower, memento, medal, cash, gold, clothes, jewelry, housewares, electronics, or trending accessories that one can use in their routine.
Meaning and Reason for Like or Dislike of Gifts
When someone does not like your gift, there are various reasons. Examples of bases are, it has no use, is not well researched, does not fit their style, is the incorrect size, they have the same thing available with them, complex items require more effort to put in place, or it is of substandard quality.
People like gifts when it is meaningful for them; it is surprising for them, they get what they have been expecting for a long time, or personalized and customized gifts for someone.
Evergreen choice and the best gift ever for women would be jewelry, and the best gift that men would love to have is an electronic item.
Role of Gifts in the Family Relationships
Gifts are a form of emotional expression. It has the magic to create or destroy relationships through the emotions they evoke. For example, a gift can be a way to express loyalty, love and affection for a loved one.
Role of Gifts during Marriages or Wedding
Marriage or wedding is an occasion where the couple starts their new life. On this occasion, parents, relatives, family members, and friends give blessings to the newly wedded couple with the shower of gifts for their new life together.
One of the significance of gifts is to help a newly wedded couple with household items that they can use in their daily routine, and they need not face sudden financial burden at the beginning of their new life.
In India, there is a trend of giving wedding return gifts. The idea behind this tradition is to appreciate those who participate in the family’s and newly wedded couple’s happy moments and spare time from their busy schedule.
Role of Gift during House Warming Ceremonies
When someone moves into their new house, it's time to cherish their happiness, and your perfect, thoughtful, and best fit housewarming gift for their new home will multiply their happiness.
Role of Gifts During a Wedding Anniversary
A wedding anniversary reminds you of the most important days of your life when you and your spouse had a new beginning in your life.
A wedding anniversary allows you to reflect on your relationship and a beautiful journey about how marriage has shaped you and your spouse. It is a special occasion for couples; whether it is your first marriage anniversary or your golden jubilee, anniversaries are a perfect time to celebrate marriage and love.
Anniversary gifts are commonly given between couples on their wedding date.
Traditionally, the most common gifts are flowers, specifically red roses. However, in this modern era, the couple gives gifts that improve lifestyle or helpful gadgets that can be used routinely.
Role of Gifts During Birthdays
A birthday is a very special occasion in anyone's life. Celebrating a birthday is also a tradition from generation to generation. There are several reasons why people offer gifts to their loved ones, friends, family members on their birthdays.
It is a tradition to offer gifts on birthdays. Gifts symbolize love, affection, and appreciation; it's more than a materialistic thing.
There are several options for giving birthday gifts, including cards, jewelry, clothes, games, and more. Remember to choose one that suits the recipient's personality and is helpful to them.
Role of Gifts During Births
Birth is a special time for the parents, grandparents, and family members to celebrate new life and is the perfect time to welcome a baby in the world and give gifts to the newborn baby or the new parents.
The gifts include baby care products, stuffed toys, Apparel, jewelry, flowers, or balloons.
Role of Gifts During Graduations
Your graduation from university or college is the most important and memorable Day in students' and their parents' lives. It's a bridge between the end of one stage and the beginning of the next stage of students' life. It could be further study, working professionals, or starting a new business.
Successful graduation is a sign of achievement, the result of hard work, determination, dream, desire to gain knowledge, and self-discipline. Therefore, such milestones should be praised and celebrated to motivate them to achieve further milestones in their life.
The most beautiful gift could be motivation books, travel bags, laptops, and any other accessories that could help them in their journey towards success.
Role of Gifts During Festivals and Gift-giving Holidays
A festival is a time or season of celebration, generally associated with religious reasons or historical events in the country.
Festivals bring happiness to human lives irrespective of religion, culture, or region. These are the days for spreading love and prosperity, promoting harmony, expressing feelings of joy among friends, family, and colleagues.
During some festivals, like the Diwali festival in India, employers give gifts to their employees to express appreciation for their work, show how much they are important for employers, and say thank you to them.
Exchanging gifts during festivals promotes Equality and Oneness, Saying Keep in Touch with your friends, Appreciate Someone Special, Express Love, and Say Thanks for everything that one has done for others.
India's most popular festivals or gift-giving periods are Diwali, Rakshabandhan, Onam, Lohri, Pongal, Dhanteras, Karwa Chauth, Eid, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Women's Day, and Friendship day.
Role of Gifts in the Business Relationships
There are several reasons one should consider in the professional and business relationship. First, it presents a sign of who you are as an organization and portrays an image on the recipient how much the business truly values them.
Corporate gift-giving revealed enormous advantages because of the following key reasons:
i. Demonstrate the value that one has for their client: Offering a gift to your client for different occasions shows how important the client is to business owners and how many business owners value the client.
ii. Reinforces business - client relationship bonding: Gifts with a business logo will keep reminding of your business, and when the client is searching for any service, your name will reflect first in the client's mind.
iii. Keeps doors open for communication and business by saying keep in touch: It opens up the dialogues between company and client. The client may contact you to say thanks, and it opens up conversations between client and company, and it is likely to open new doors of opportunities.
iv. Keep business ahead of the competition: The clients have various options to choose product or service. But this little favor may change to being a preferred partner among others.