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Gift giving occasions may be:
Gift giving occasions may be:
* An expression of [[coronation]] event recognition personal coronation gift presented by the newly crowned monarch to the official coronation guest by the court protocol for level
* An expression of [[coronation]] event recognition personal coronation gift presented by the newly crowned monarch to the official coronation guest by the court protocol for level
*[[File:SILK IMPERIAL CROWN OFFICIAL IMPERIAL CORONATION GIFT.jpg|alt=The crown featured here is the emperor's private crown his coronation gift possession.|thumb|319x319px|SILK IMPERIAL CROWN OFFICIAL IMPERIAL CORONATION GIFT]]An expression of [[coronation]] acknowledgement for national event Official coronation gift,
* An expression of [[coronation]] acknowledgement for national event Official coronation gift ,
Royal or Imperial commissioned by the coronation commission presented to the newly crowned monarch , as personal memento.
Royal or Imperial commissioned by the coronation commission presented to the newly crowned monarch , as personal memento.
* An expression of [[love]] or [[friendship]]
* An expression of [[love]] or [[friendship]]

Revision as of 20:06, 25 November 2017

Gifts under a Christmas tree
Red gift box
gift packing

A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or return. An item is not a gift, if that item, itself, is already owned by the one to whom it is given. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many countries, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may sustain social relations and contribute to social cohesion. Economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy. By extension the term gift can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favor, including forgiveness and kindness. Gifts are also first and foremost presented on occasions - birthdays and, in Western cultures, Christmas being the main examples and other occasions like birthdays.

Presentation

In many cultures gifts are traditionally packaged in some way. For example, in Western cultures, gifts are often wrapped in wrapping paper and accompanied by a gift note which may note the occasion, the recipient's name, and the giver's name. In Chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck. Although inexpensive gifts are common among colleagues, associates and acquaintances, expensive or amorous gifts are considered more appropriate among close friends, romantic interests or relatives.[1]

Gift giving occasions

Gift giving occasions may be:

  • An expression of coronation event recognition personal coronation gift presented by the newly crowned monarch to the official coronation guest by the court protocol for level
  • An expression of coronation acknowledgement for national event Official coronation gift ,
Royal or Imperial commissioned by the coronation commission presented to the newly crowned monarch , as personal memento.    

As reinforcement and manipulation

Giving a gift to someone is not necessarily just an altruistic act. It may be given in the hope that the receiver reciprocates in a particular way. It may take the form of positive reinforcement as a reward for compliance, possibly for an underhand manipulative and abusive purpose.[2]

At common law, for a gift to have legal effect, it was required that there be (1) intent by the donor to give a gift, and (2) delivery to the recipient of the item to be given as a gift.

In some countries, certain types of gifts above a certain monetary amount are subject to taxation. For the United States, see Gift tax in the United States.

In some contexts, gift giving can be construed as bribery. This tends to occur in situations where the gift is given with an implicit or explicit agreement between the giver of the gift and its receiver that some type of service will be rendered (often outside of normal legitimate methods) because of the gift. Some groups, such as government workers, may have strict rules concerning gift giving and receiving so as to avoid the appearance of impropriety.[3]

Religious views

Lewis Hyde remarks in The Gift that Christianity considers the Incarnation and subsequent death of Jesus to be the greatest gift to humankind, and that the Jataka contains a tale of the Buddha in his incarnation as the Wise Hare giving the ultimate alms by offering himself up as a meal for Sakka. (Hyde, 1983, 58-60)

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the bread and wine that are consecrated during the Divine Liturgy are referred to as "the Gifts." They are first of all the gifts of the community (both individually and corporately) to God, and then, after the epiklesis, the Gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Church.

Ritual sacrifices can be seen as return gifts to a deity.

See also

References

  1. ^ Brigham, John Carl (1986). Social Psychology. p. 322.
  2. ^ Braiker, Harriet B. (2004). Who's Pulling Your Strings ? How to Break The Cycle of Manipulation. ISBN 0-07-144672-9.
  3. ^ http://www.oge.gov/Topics/Gifts-and-Payments/Gifts---Payments/

Further reading