From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gift
Gift
Gifts under a Christmas tree.
Man presents a cut of meat to a youth with a hoop. Athenian red-figure vase, ca. 460 BCE A gift or a present is the transfer of something, without the need for compensation that is involved in trade. A gift is a voluntary act which does not require anything in return. Even though it involves possibly a social expectation of reciprocity, or a return in the form of prestige or power, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute 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 happier or less sad, especially as a favour, including forgiveness and kindness.
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
Traditional envelope containing money as a gift, from Japan
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
note which may note the occasion, the giftee’s name, and the giver’s name. In Chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck.
Gift
donor to give a gift, and (2) delivery to the donee of the item to be given as a gift. In some countries, certain types of gifts above a certain monetary amount are subject to taxation. Gifts may also be from a wealthy person, hoping that someone will reflect their largess.
Occasions
The occasion may be: • Expression of love (Valentine’s Day) 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) This is most commonly from a family member or girlfriend/boyfriend. • 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 wedding anniversary (each spouse receives gifts) • 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, or the mother receives a gift from the father known as a push present) • 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 • Lagniappe
Religious views
Ritual sacrifices can be seen as return gifts to 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 Jataka 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) In the Eastern Orthodox Church the bread and wine that are consecrated during the Divine Liturgy are referred to as "the Gifts". They are first of all the gifts of the community (both individually and corporately) to God, and then, after the epiklesis, the Gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Church.
See also
• • • • • • • • • • • • • Alms Altruism Atonement Charity (practice) Debt relief Gift (law) Gift tax Gift wrapping Giving Circles Random act of kindness Red packet Regiving Xenia (Greek)
External links Further reading
• Marcel Mauss and W.D. Halls, Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies, W. W. Norton, 2000, trade paperback, ISBN 0-393-32043-X • Lewis Hyde: The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property, 1983 (ISBN
Legal aspects of gifts
At common law, for a gift to have legal effect, it was required that there be (1) intent by the
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
0-394-71519-5), especially part I, "A Theory of Gifts", part of which was originally published as "The Gift Must Always Move" in Co-Evolution Quarterly No. 35, Fall 1982. • Jean-Luc Marion translated by Jeffrey L. Kosky, "Being Given: Toward a Phenomonology of Giveness", Stanford University Press, 2002 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 0-8047-3410-0.
Gift
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift" Categories: Giving This page was last modified on 7 May 2009, at 12:39 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers
3