Japanese gift-giving custom

In Japanese daily life, gifts are mainly given at the end of the year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Whenever there are congratulations, memorials and condolences, no matter whether they are happy or sad, gifts are inevitable. It is this kind of giving and receiving activity that keeps the emotional communication between people. Love, friendship, gratitude and other warm feelings can be realized through gifts. In the 365 days of a year, there are many kinds of celebrations, among which the New Year, as the first celebration of the New Year, is both grand and lively. In the past, people thought that God would come in the New Year. In order to welcome God, they loosened a door and hung a straw rope at the door. On New Year's Day, they get up early, wash their faces and hands with the water collected in the morning, and then worship the sunrise, raise the national flag and worship the Buddha. The whole family pays New Year greetings to each other before the New Year's Eve dinner.

When greeting elders, superiors, relatives, friends and neighbors during the Spring Festival, New Year guests should prepare lucky money for their children and put it in paper bags. Don't give too much money, it will be rude. Japan has boys' day and girls' day. Girls' Day is March 3rd and Boys' Day is May 5th. At this time of year, relatives and friends will give gifts to each other's children. Once upon a time, Japanese children held a "hair storage ceremony" when they were three years old. Usually, a circle of hair around is shaved off, leaving only the middle piece. At the age of five, boys should have a "ceremony of wearing kimono skirt pants for the first time". When a girl reaches the age of seven, she will have a "undressing ceremony". This is the cause of today's "July 53" celebration. Celebrations are held every year from165438+1October 15, and school-age children put on new clothes. On July 3rd, relatives and friends exchanged gifts.

At the engagement ceremony, men and women exchange gifts. In the past, engagement gifts were very serious. Red lacquered wine barrels, dried squid, kelp and other items written in the gift catalogue are all available, so bring them with you. But now this complicated form has been omitted, just send a bag of money to buy clothes belts for each other, plus a gift catalogue.

The content of the engagement gift was determined by the witness after some efforts. We should give consideration to the conditions of both men and women, and make each other feel happy after exchanging gifts. The amount of engagement gifts is generally determined according to assets. The man gave 300,000 to 400,000 yen in the name of buying a belt, of course, there were also less or more than this amount, and the woman returned half of the amount sent by the man in the name of buying a kimono. However, a simpler method can also be adopted, that is, the man negotiates with the woman through witnesses and only sends half of the amount that should be sent, and the woman does not need to return it. The way of exchanging gifts is not as complicated as before. When introducers exchange engagement gifts, both men and women and their parents bring engagement gifts for exchange. This simple method has been widely adopted.

For example, the two sides agreed not to engage in old gifts, and no gifts should be added to the gift list except kelp, clothing and currency specified by the five foreign countries. In addition, there must be a health diagnosis certificate.

The two sides followed their parents to the introducer's home and began to exchange gifts. Male orientation certificate is preferred.

Wedding greetings, and then pay the engagement gift, the man said:

"I brought an engagement present today, please accept it."

Witness a:

Today is an auspicious day. I sincerely congratulate you.

Subsequently, the witness put the man's engagement gift on the niche. The woman also gave gifts, and the witness put the gifts next to the man's gifts.

Both men and women and their parents sat together, and the witness said:

"Annan and Fujiko's wedding was a complete success, and we express our heartfelt congratulations. The engagement ceremony was brief. Let's exchange engagement gifts. "

The man's parents said:

"Thank you very much for your care during this time. Please. "

The witness stood up, took the man's engagement present and put it in front of the woman. When putting it, make it easy for the woman to see the words on the gift. Afterwards, the witness said "congratulations" and everyone thanked him. The woman immediately reads the gift catalogue and gives the prepared "acceptance letter" to the witness, who then gives it to the man.

Next, the witness gives the woman's engagement gift to the man in the same way, and then expresses his blessing to both men and women again, while others thank the witness again. It is a habit of westerners to give each other engagement rings, but in recent years, more and more people in Japan give them when they are engaged. An engagement ring means purity, so diamonds or

Sapphire, set four such small gems on the ring. The man often chooses a ring with a birthstone that matches the woman's birthday as a gift, and the woman gives him a watch and a tie clip as an equivalent souvenir instead of an engagement gift.

Such a gift has a permanent commemorative significance, so the giver can engrave the year, month and day of the gift on it.

In addition, in addition to clothing accessories, it is also a good choice to send some furniture and furniture necessary for new families.

Celebration of promotion, completion of new house, wedding anniversary, birthday and home visit are all essential gift-giving occasions.

When you bring a gift, send it after greeting, stating that it is a native product of your hometown, made at home, or a gift with other special significance. The Japanese are very careful. If you please taste it, please invite the servant to say before entering the reception room:

"A little careless, please try."