Gift Etiquette
Gift Giving and Hospitality When Traveling
When traveling outside the country in which you live, you might be invited to dinner by an acquaintance or business associate.
What is the proper etiquette? Do you know what to do? Is it appropriate to bring a gift for your host or hostess? If it is appropriate to bring a gift, do you know what to bring?
While I was studying international business in college, the importance of not embarrassing oneself or one’s host during purely social or business-related social occasions was stressed. Making mistakes in this area has the potential for killing a budding friendship or destroying an important business deal.
In other articles, I’ve explained how to greet someone and what to say if one needs to use a toilet. In this Hub, I’ll be providing some tips related to social occasions.
* Australia *
If invited to lunch or dinner in an Australian home, bring flowers or a bottle of wine.
* Austria *
Give flowers or a box of chocolates when invited to a home for the first time for dinner or a visit other than business. Do not give red roses, red carnations, or an even number of flowers.Red roses mean romantic affection, red carnations are reserved for May Day, and an even number of flowers are bad luck.
* Belgium *
Flowers are an appropriate gift, except for chrysanthemums—they're associated with death.
* Bolivia *
Flowers are an appropriate gift.
* Bulgaria *
When invited to a home, flowers, candy, or wine are appropriate gifts.
* Canada *
If invited for dinner, bring flowers with you—but not white lilies. According to Canadian Susan Sproull, a bottle of wine is also a welcome gift.
* Chile *
A bouquet of flowers is an appropriate gift.
* Colombia *
If time permits, send a gift of fruit, flowers, or chocolates before your arrival when invited for dinner. Otherwise, send the gift after your departure, along with a thank you note.
* Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) *
Gift giving is optional. A product from your own country, however, would be appreciated.
* Denmark *
A bouquet of flowers is an appropriate gift when invited to a home.
* Egypt *
Flowers or chocolates are apppropriate gifts.
* England, Scotland, and Wales *
A box of chocolates or flowers—except white lilies—are appropriate gifts. White lilies are a symbol of death.
* Finland *
Bring flowers if invited to a Finnish home for dinner.
* France *
If invited to someone's home for dinner, bring a box of chocolates or a small bouquet of flowers, but not roses or chrysanthemums. Roses are a sign of romantic affection, and chrysanthemums are associated with death.
* Germany *
If invited to a German home for dinner, bring flowers. Unwrap the bouquet in the entrance hall before presenting the flowers to your hostess. Do not bring red roses, an even number of flowers, or 13 flowers.
* Guatemala *
When invited for dinner, candy or flowers are appropriate gifts.
* Hong Kong *
Bring fruit, cookies, or candy when invited to dinner.
* Hungary *
If invited to a home for dinner, bring Western liquor or wrapped flowers—but not red roses.
* India *
When invited to dinner, bring fruit or candy.
* Indonesia *
Bring flowers when invited to dinner.
* Iran *
If you are invited to dinner, bring a plant, flowers, or candy.
* Ireland *
Flowers or chocolate are appreciated if invited to an Irish home. If invited for dinner, wine or cheese may be given as gifts.
* Israel *
A gift of flowers is appropriate.
* Italy *
Wine, flowers, or chocolates are appropriate gifts when invited to a home. Bring an odd number of flowers—no chrysanthemums—or a dozen flowers.
* Japan *
Bring cake or candy if invited to dinner in a Japanese home.
* Jordan *
Flowers or chocolates are appreciated as gifts.
* Kenya *
When visiting a Kenyan home, bring a small gift, such as cookies or candy. Do not bring flowers, unless you are paying a condolence call.
* Lebanon *
Chocolates or flowers are appreciated as gifts.
* Luxembourg *
Flowers—no chrysanthemums—or the local brand of chocolate are appropriate gifts when invited to a home.
* Netherlands *
Chocolates or flowers are appreciated as gifts.
* Nicaragua *
When invited for dinner, a gift of flowers or candy is appropriate.
* Norway *
A small bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates are appreciated as gifts.
* Peru *
Flowers are an appropriate gift.
* Poland *
Unwrapped flowers—not red roses—should be brought as a gift, even for the shortest of visits.
* Romania *
If invited to a Romanian home, bring flowers—not red roses—for your hostess. Gifts for your host's family—perfume, cosmetics, or coffee—are also appreciated.
* Russia *
Gifts of flowers, liquor, or artwork are appreciated as gifts when one is invited to a Russian home.
* Singapore *
If invited to a home in Singapore, a box of chocolates or flowers are appreciated as gifts.
* South Korea *
If invited for dinner, it is appropriate to bring flowers as a gift.
* Spain *
When invited to a Spanish home for dinner, bring flowers—not dahlias or chrysanthemums—or pastries, cakes, or chocolates.
* Sweden *
The best gift to bring when invited to a Swedish home is a bouquet of flowers.
* Switzerland *
Flowers—not red roses—or candy are the best gift to bring to a Swiss home.
* Taiwan *
Fruit, candy, or cookies are appropriate gifts when visiting in a Taiwanese home.
* Thailand *
Flowers are an appropriate gift.
* Turkey *
If invited to a Turkish home for dinner, bring flowers, candy, or pastries. If you know that the family serves alcoholic beverages, wine can also be brought as a gift.
* United States *
When invited to someone's home for dinner, flowers, a box of chocolates, or a bottle of wine is an appropriate gift.
* Uruguay *
When invited to a Uruguayan home for dinner, send flowers or a box of chocolate before the occasion.
* Venezuela *
When invited to a Venezuelan home for dinner, try to send flowers or candy before the event. Otherwise, take your gift with you.
What type of gift do you usually bring when invited to dinner at the home of an acquaintance or business associate?
