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A brief guide to giving gifts and presents in the UKThis page is about gifts in the United Kingdom. It should inform non-UK residents about indigenous cultural customs involving the presentation of gifts. It should also act as a reminder to UK residents, so you don’t neglect an occasion where a present or token is normally given, as well as giving you some ideas about the gifts that are sometimes presented for each event. Gift giving in the UK can be placed into two main categories: annual, where gifts are given once every year, and special occasions, when presents are given for events that occur sporadically or even once in a lifetime. Note that some of these categories combine at certain points: for example, birthdays and anniversaries are annual events, yet some events, such as 40th birthdays and certain wedding anniversaries, are considered more significant than others and may require different or more special gifts. Annual GiftsChristmas Presents.Most people in the UK associate the giving of presents with Christmas day (December 25th). Traditional Xmas gifts include seasonal foodstuff and drink, which is often presented in hampers, although nowadays people can choose gifts from whatever source they like, whether that be consumer goods, household items, toys and games, or books, DVDs and CDs. The usual recipients of Christmas gifts are, in order of importance, family, friends, and work colleagues who come from a Christian background. You are not obliged to give gifts to all friends, work-mates or distant relations. If you do not have a particularly close relationship with some of these people, a card may act as a fitting substitute for a Christmas present. Birthday PresentsAnother important occasion when one presents a gift is on the birthday of a friend, family, or colleague. Like Christmas presents, there is no limit to the kind of present you can give on this occasion. Similarly, the people you give birthday presents to depends on your level of intimacy with those people, and a card may be given instead of a gift. Some birthdays are considered more important than others. 21st birthdays are held to be particularly significant. Traditional gifts for this event include keys with the figure ‘21’ on them. This represents the ‘key to the door’, when the 21 year old is considered responsible enough to be given the key to their parents’ house - something which in itself symbolises the transition to adulthood. 40th birthdays are also particularly important as they mark mid-life. 100th birthdays are also significant, so much so that the Queen sends a telegram to every UK citizen who reaches this age. Anniversary GiftsPresents from husband to wife and wife to husband are given annually on the anniversary date of their wedding. Friends and other family members do not always give gifts on such events, unless they fall on special years. The years on which special gifts are traditionally given and the names given to such events are as follows:
Click here for some great annual and anniversary gift ideas Next: Gifts for special occasions |
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