Gifts

A gift or present is the transfer of money, goods, etc., without the direct compensation that is involved in trade, although possibly involving a social expectation of reciprocity, or a return in the form of prestige or power. more...

Home
Baby Bathing/ Grooming
Baby Books
Baby Carriers/ Backpacks
Baby Changing & Nappies
Baby Clothing
Christening & Gifts
Baby Jewellery
Christening
Clothing & Shoes
Gowns & Suits
Other Clothing
Shoes
Gifts
Other Christening
Silverware
Gift Baskets
Ornaments
Other Gifts
Maternity/ Pregnancy
Nursery Bedding
Nursery Decoration &...
Other Baby
Potty Training
Pushchairs & Prams
Safety
Shoes & Trainers
Toys & Activities
Travel Cots
Twins & Multiples
Walkers

In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging gifts contributes 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 more happy or less sad, especially as a favour, including forgiveness and kindness (even when the other is not kind).

Presentation

When material objects are given as gifts, in many cultures they are traditionally packaged in some manner. For example, in Western culture, gifts are often wrapped in wrapping paper and accompanied by a gift note which may note the occasion, the giftee's name, and the giver's name. In Chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck; gifts around Chinese New Year must be wrapped in red.

Occasions

The occasion may be:

Expression of love or friendship; Expression of gratitude for a gift received; Expression of piety, in the form of charity; Expression of solidarity, in the form of mutual aid; To share wealth; To offset misfortune; Offering travel souvenirs; Custom, on occasions (often celebrations) such as

A birthday (the person who has his or her birthday gives cake, etc. and/or receives gifts); A potlatch, in societies where status is associated with gift-giving rather than acquisition.; Christmas (people give each other gifts, often supposedly receiving them from Santa Claus); Saint Nicholas (people give each other gifts, often supposedly receiving them from Saint Nicholas); A wedding (the couple receives gifts and gives food and/or drinks at the wedding reception); A funeral (visitors bring flowers, the relatives of the deceased give food and/or drinks after the ceremonial part); A birth (the baby receives gifts); Passing an examination (the student receives gifts); Father's Day (the father receives gifts); Mother's Day (the mother receives gifts); Exchange of gifts between a guest and a host, often a traditional practice; Giving a round of drinks in a bar.; Lagniappe;

Kinds of gifts

A gift may either be

an ordinary object,; an object created for the express purpose of gift exchange, such as the armbands and necklaces in the Trobriand Islands' Kula exchange,; an alternative gift such as a donation to a charity in the name of the recipient.;

Religious views

Ritual sacrifices can be seen as return gifts to a deity. Sacrifice can also be seen as a gift from a deity: Lewis Hyde remarks in The Gift that Christianity considers the Incarnation and subsequent death of Jesus to be a "gift" to humankind, and that the Jākata 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)

Read more at Wikipedia.org