My deceased grandmother once said, "Give food to the hungry and give clothes to the cold." Germans give gifts like this.
My friend Lucy used to have a small book that records all the birthdays and hobbies of friends. Once invited, she went out shopping with confidence. So, what do Germans give as gifts? Practical stuff. It ranks first in gift characteristics!
Give an example of the gift I received at the wedding anniversary party, and you will know what the garden uses: three fruit trees, five English roses, one bougainvillea, bird's nest, garden tools, etc. Tourism enjoyment: the 18th century county lord’s hotel enjoys a day and night card, invitations to stay in a seaside villa, small stoves for camping sites, tourist attractions guide books, sun-shading straw hats, and suntan lotion. Culture and entertainment: books, tickets for German acrobatics dinner party, Hamburg theater visit letter, museum visit ticket. Daily necessities: bicycle air pumps, Iceland blankets, artistic fruit trays, supermarket shopping cards, pots and pans. Food category: salad dressing, whiskey, chocolate, a selection of cooking recipes. Other categories: shopping vouchers and cash...
There is a very interesting thing that makes me laugh every time I think about it. In the 1990s, not long after I arrived in Germany, I went to a friend's house in Hannover as a guest. My friend's grandmother Hannah cooked a good meal. Hannah is a person who has experienced "World War II" and has the habit of frugality. Not long after we met, she gave me a small package and said it could be used by my family.
When I opened it, I was happy: a few aprons! She embroidered them all by herself, and some of them have already been used. Hannah said, she can’t say what kind of gift she gave me this thing, but one is her handicraft, and the other is maybe it can be used by my Chinese grandmother, she will understand!
Hannah’s behavior made her granddaughter embarrassed and told me apologetically that grandma still lived in the past. But this can explain the attitude of the Germans in giving gifts: honesty and not vanity.
I once heard an old German man say: “I don’t have to accept the pearl necklace from my daughter. She might as well give me a few books for my pastime.” The old man is right to say that. The book is a German. A gift that works for both rich and poor on birthday. Picture albums for children, best-selling novels for young people, instruction manuals on plant cultivation for people who like to care for the garden, several recipes for men and women who love cooking, and world travel guides for retired elderly people... these Nothing unwelcome!
Germans don't like big things when giving gifts, and small things must not be overly expensive. This is their criterion for giving gifts. If you give a mobile phone for no reason, people will be surprised about your motive, or be uneasy about it. If you give the other party something you don’t recognize, you have to explain it, and it’s not worth it. Sending Chanel perfumes to women is not the best choice, because brand items may not be considered the most popular. Germans are not obsessed with brands, and you don’t know if they like the fragrance you give. Generally speaking, if you are not a real relative or friend, you will only give flowers politely.
Some people who are not sure about what gifts their relatives and friends need will often directly ask the recipient what gifts they need, and the recipient will not politely express what they need. The German Mr. Steven said: "I invite my buddies to my birthday dinner, and I said to one of them, I hope you and XX will give me a record." German records are not cheap, but a few people buy it together. The problem also eliminates the brainstorming process of not knowing what to give. On the other hand, it also fulfills the wishes of the birthday person. It is the best of both worlds.
