An important part of most celebrations is gifting; the giving and receiving of gifts.  Many unwritten rules of social behavior determine appropriate gifting; the nature of the celebration, the age of the giver, the age of the receiver, the value of the gift, the nature of the relationship between giver and receiver, the timing of the giving, and the correct response to the gift. 

It is hard enough to figure all that out in your own culture, let alone in a foreign country!  To help you out, let me point you to a site which explains the when, what and who of gift giving and receiving. It is called

Here are some of the gift-giving occasions included on this site:

Christmas            Hanuka                                   New Year's Day      Administrative Professional's Day (aka Secretary's Day)

Easter                  Mother's Day                          Father's Day            Boss's Day

Halloween            Wedding anniversaries       Baby shower           Baptism

Graduation           Honeymoon                           Moving                        Wedding

Birthdays              New Job/Promotion               Dinner Party          

Bon Voyage

Your assignment is to pick ONE of these gift-giving occasions and read up on it at the Gifting Resource Center

Be prepared to to explain to the class:

1. What is the holiday or occasion all about?
2. What traditions are associated with this occasion?
3. What are typical gifts for this occasion?

Then, pick one of the Frequently Asked Questions that is something you have wondered about, and explain the question and its answer to the class.

Finally, tell us if this occasion (or something similar) is celbrated in your country, and if so, how the celebration and gifts are different than here in the US.

If you have time, try to find a few pictures to illustrate the kinds of presents that are typical.