Table of contents
· History of gifting.
· Why do we give gifts?
· Gift-giving etiquette.
· Corporate gifts.
· Conclusion.
History of gifting
In human history, from ancient civilizations to different cultures, giving gifts has been a practice. It takes back to the homo sapiens age, where humans used to exchange gifts like beads and much more with each other. Gift-giving is one of the behaviors that separates Thoughtful humans from the others. Even the cavemen used to exchange gifts, experienced archaeologists say that bones and wonderful stones used to be exchanged as gifts which shows appreciation and their relationship. In ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Middle East, gift-giving became a regular practice in showing appeasement to God, strengthening positive relationships, and showing great hospitality. It is also believed that Greeks were the first to start the concept of birthday gifts. Gifts were also a means of social interaction, the best way to build or retain strong relationships. In the Middle Ages, gifts were also part of securing marriages; a good example is dowries. In the modern era, the gift-giving custom continues to evolve in different spheres. Nowadays gift giving is tied to celebrations like birthdays, showing appreciation, holidays and more…
Why do we give gifts?
Giving gifts has many reasons concerning emotions, social life, and psychology. There are many more key reasons to gift, here are a few:
Relationships:
Gifts are one of the easiest or the most comfortable ways to build or maintain strong relations with each other. Giving gifts shows care, respect, and value for the person. It strengthens bonds and fosters a positive community. Commonly, most gifts are circulated and given to families and close friends, who are the people you want to strengthen your relationship with.
Expressing yourself:
Gifts are one of the ways to express yourself. If you want to thank or appreciate someone, you can do that by giving them an ideal gift, in the same way, if you are guilty or feel sorry for someone, you could gift them and probably the person would feel special and respect your efforts for the act of giving gifts.
Occasions:
Gifts are considered auspicious during traditional festivals from Diwali to Raksha Bandhan, Raksha Bandhan to Christmas, and many more. Gifts are also part of birthdays, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, etcetera. They add lots of happiness to the occasion.
Psychologists have recently found out that the person who is gifting is more likely to be happier than the person who is receiving the gift. The quote “It’s easier to give than to receive” is very true.
Gift-giving etiquette
Etiquette means customs or manners for good behavior in a particular social, or professional setting. Gift-giving etiquette means making the gift-giving experience enjoyable, and mannerful for both the giver and the receiver. Here are some key components:
Price:
Every gift has a value, but every gift need not be expensive. A gift should be well-planned and should be meaningful to the receiver. It’s recommended that the gift should make the receiver see the efforts that the giver has put into gifting it. Many gifts are available across all budget ranges. It’s easier to afford a particular article if planned so that one can compare the prices across different sites. If you are planning to gift someone a day before an event, there is a high chance that you might end up making a costlier choice without having time to research.
Receiver:
First of all, find out the interests and hobbies of the receiver and also see the occasion on which you're gifting. Choose an appropriate gift that would make your receiver feel happy. In some cultures, cash is accepted as a gift but in some, cash is not so thoughtful to be a gift.
Giving and receiving:
If you are on the receiving side of a gift, it’s always recommended to show your gratitude via a handshake, a hug, or a “Thank You” gesture, whichever is appropriate in the setting. You must do this even if the gift is not relevant or useful to you, as you are acknowledging their efforts.
Corporate gifting
A gift is something that is an item given to someone without expecting anything in return, but in the world of corporate it is considered a strategic practice where the firm or businesses give customized or personalized gifts to employees, and clients to strengthen their relationship, promoting positiveness and of course graciously expressing a Thank you. Corporate gifts vary from personalized accessories to eco-friendly gifts and more. Corporate gifting meets the needs like employee appreciation, loyalty between clients and the business, or making a positive image of the brand and building long-lasting connections. In Bangalore, Apsara gifts is one such reputed corporate gifting firm that has been in the business for a decade now. Apsara gifts is known for its quality and eye-catching gifts. Also, Apsara gifts caters to every business type, from small firms to muti-big companies, and provides affordable gifting solutions.
Conclusion
The psychology of gifting reveals a vibrant relationship between social relationships and emotional expression. Gift-giving acts as a kind gesture of strengthening connections or bonds and fostering a positive community. This allows us to express our appreciation, apology, gratitude, or any thoughtful kind gesture. Celebrating milestones with appropriate gifts adds more happiness to the occasion. The act of giving gifts gives joy and satisfaction to the giver and receiver. So gift appropriately and remember that the price of the gift has nothing to do with the happiness of your relationship, so gift without expecting anything in return!