Unique gift giving traditions from around the world

世界上独特的赠礼传统

In Europe, don’t accidentally cut yourself out of someone’s life.

在欧洲，别不小心就与人一刀两断了。

Here in the US, a set of kitchen knives seems like the perfect gift idea for a wedding or holiday. However, in certain European countries like Germany, superstition dictates that a knife presented as a gift will sever your friendship. There is a way to beat this superstition: Tie a penny to the knife or gift box. The receiver then returns the penny to you as a ‘payment’ to nullify the bad luck.

在美国，一套厨房刀具似乎是十分理想的婚礼或节日礼物。然而在某些欧洲国家，如德国，迷信让人们相信赠送刀具会割断朋友之间的友谊。打破这种迷信的办法是：在刀或礼品盒上绑一枚硬币。收礼人把硬币还给赠礼之人以示“付款”，用以抵消厄运。

In Britain, diamonds are 60th wedding anniversary gifts.

在英国，60周年结婚纪念日礼物是钻石。

Lottery tickets are bought and exchanged here more than they are anywhere else in the world, and often make a suitable birthday gift. Though diamonds originally symbolized 75 years of married life in the UK, they are now associated with 60, as Victoria’s 60 years on the throne marked her Jubilee.

在英国，彩票的购买、交换比世界上任何地方都要多，而且适合作为生日礼物。原本钻石在英国象征婚姻生活的第75个年头，但由于维多利亚女王登基60年便举办了钻禧庆典，因而现在钻石代表60周年纪念。

At an Italian wedding, buy yourself a piece of the tie.

参加意大利婚礼，给自己买块领带碎片。

There’s a well-known Italian wedding tradition where the groom’s tie is cut into a number of tiny pieces. Wedding guests can then ‘buy’ these tie slices in exchange for cash. It’s a fun way to give money to the bride and groom that leaves guests with a wedding souvenir. In addition to a visit from Santa, Italian kids have their stockings filled by a fallacious witch at the end of Epiphany on January 6. Interestingly, gifts are not exchanged between or within companies, as the act is deemed a little tacky.

意大利婚礼上有名的传统就是把新郎的领带切成许多小片。婚礼来宾通过“购买”这些领带片，交换现金给新人。这种有趣的方式让宾客得到婚礼纪念品，又给新郎新娘随了礼金。意大利的小朋友除了受到圣诞老人的眷顾外，在1月6日主显节结束时，还会收到假女巫装进他们袜子里的礼物。有趣的是，公司之间或公司内部不会互赠礼物，因为人们认为这种行为有点俗气。

In Russia, Vodka is not a desirable gift.

在俄罗斯，伏特加酒并不是称心的礼物。

Due to the way Russia was governed during the Soviet era, Russians celebrate New Year with more gusto than they do at Christmas. While Vodka might seem the most suitable gift for a Russian, a lot of them would see it as an unimaginative gesture. Many even perceive the notion as insulting.

受苏联时期统治方式影响，与圣诞节相比俄罗斯人更乐于庆祝新年。也许伏特加看起来是最适合俄罗斯人的礼物，可实际上在很多俄罗斯人看来这是没创意的礼物。许多人甚至会认为送伏特加酒这一想法就是无礼的。

In Israel, nobody’s giving or receiving gifts.

在以色列，没人送礼物，也没人收礼物。

Despite the kind gesture, thank you cards and notes are not a common part of the gifting custom in Israel. Contrary to the way American Jews exchange gifts during Hanukkah, those from or residing in Israel won’t typically receive gifts from one another.

尽管有送礼物这种善意的举动，但感谢卡和感谢便条在以色列赠礼传统中并不常见。与美国犹太人在光明节互换礼物不同，来自以色列或在以色列居住的犹太人通常不会互换礼物。

In Native America, your host gives gifts rather than receive them.

在印第安人中，主人赠送礼物，而不是接收礼物。

Native American gifting etiquette is exactly the opposite to that of any other culture. Traditionally during weddings and powwow celebrations (birthdays aren’t always recognised), guests are the receivers of gifts rather than whomever the host may be.

印第安人的赠礼礼节与任何其他文化都相反。按照传统，在婚礼和预祝仪式上（生日不算在内），其他文化中是主人接收礼物，而印第安文化中则为来宾接收礼物。