When you are invited to someone’s house, let’s say for dinner, is it the custom (common practice) in your country to take a gift?
In the U.S. it’s considered the polite thing to do. They’re called host or hostess gifts – the people who receive or entertain guests are called the host or hostess. Giving a hostess gift is a nice way to say thank you for someone’s hospitality (friendly behavior toward guests) or to show how much you appreciate them. Wine is a popular choice, as is a box of chocolates or bag of gourmet (very good) coffee.
But what would you take if your host was the President of the United States? What would you take if you were the head of your country or a state or business leader?
That question is asked and answered about 15,000 times each year. According to the National Archives, the government organization that takes care of historical records, that’s how many gifts the president receives each year on behalf of (as a representative of) the United States. The gifts come from almost every state in the U.S. and every country in the world.
When world leaders visit each other, it’s common for them to exchange (give each other) gifts. It’s a tradition that’s been practiced for many centuries (hundreds of years) and is considered a part of good diplomacy (the management of relationships between countries).
When U.S. government employees receive gifts from a foreign government or organization, they must declare (report) them. And they can’t keep them unless they are worth less than $100. Gifts given to the president or his family are turned over to (put in the care of) the National Archives. Later, many of the gifts will be displayed at the presidential library, which is built after the president leaves the White House.
The declaration includes the name of the country that gave the gift, a description of the gift, an estimate of its value, and the reason for accepting the gift. Often the reason is that not accepting it “would cause embarrassment to the donor and the U.S. government”; in other words, it would make them uncomfortable.
Last week the government released the list of all the gifts the president accepted in 2011. It’s very interesting reading! Here are a few highlights (important or interesting parts):
Former French president Sarkozy gave President Obama a golf bag and a Baccarat crystal (glass) statuette (small statue) of a group of golfers. The Sarkozys gave the Obamas a total of 16 gifts, the most received from one country.
German chancellor Merkel’s gifts included a golf putter (club used to hit the golf ball into the cup) and some golf training (practice) equipment.
British prime minister Cameron and his wife gave the Obamas a rug, a silver bracelet for their girls, and a table tennis table.
Leaders from three countries gave the president works of art. Former Chinese president Hu Jintao gave President Obama a 48-inch-tall (1.2 m) bronze (a reddish brown metal) statue of Abraham Lincoln created by a well-known Chinese artist. Sergio Cabral, governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, gave the president a photograph by artist Vik Muniz, which is now being shown in a museum. And President Ondimba of Gabon, a tiny west African country, gave President Obama a glass statue by Daum, a well-known French crystal (glass) studio (art shop).
The president did keep one gift. It was a copy of the book Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, which was given to Mr. Obama by Mongolian president Elbegdorj.
* carrying
~ Warren Ediger – English language coach/tutor and creator of the Successful English web site.
Photo used under Creative Common license.
Interesting topic as usual, Warren. I like gifts. anyway who doesn’t?=) Here in Russia it’s more common to bring food or drinks along when you go to someone’s house. It’s not really a gift, because you usually eat this food with hosts and other guests. But if you are invited to somewhat important occasion like Birthday or wedding, of course you give a gift to the heroes of the evening.
Hi Everybody,
I can say, I know this tradition to give an host gift when we are invited by someone or our friends.
In France we do the even hospitality and it is often a bottle of wine, but also flowers or box of chocolat.
I think it is a good tradition, because it is a way to show to someone or our friends how much we appreciate them.
Regarding president’s host gifts of U.S gouvernment and all others presidents of the other country, I think we could organize auctions. Incomes could be shared to the poor countries 😉
Indeed, I think these presidents have a lot of host gifts, they don’t see and don’t uses all of them, because they have so much of them.
See you soon !
Lassana
Thanks Warren.
If asked, I would have NEVER guessed that amount of gifts the President gets each year. 15,000 wow!
hehe, I like gift, especial the “red envelope” in spring festival, mean red paper containing money as gift, almost every child like it in China. that’s the most exciting thing in the beging of new year. normally, people visit other familly will take some food like fruilt or wine or big packeg of candy. I like gift.
Hi!
We have the same custom giving a hostess gift. I would say it is compulsory.
Depending on the importance of the event, how important is the host…
Good morning dear Warren and blogers.
Today the sky is blue, there are not clouds and at least the sun is sunning on Madrid.
Listening good music, Loreena McKennitt, one of my best. From her I have all her records that like me so much.
Incredible voice, incredible music, and despite she was born in Canada coming from Celtic culture, Irish or Scottish,
and roots from these traditional music she has been very influenced by the Mediterranean music too. Now she composed
a mix music of different cultures that is fascinating to me.
I have a DVD recorden here in Spain, in LA AlHAMBRA, that is incredible good…but also she has recorden in TOLEDO,
ISTAMBUL, ATHENS, ITALY, and so forth.
Beeing a musician expert as you are Warren sure you know her. Do you like her music too?. Please tell us.
++++++++++
Now taliking about your subject, interesting subject as all you point to us, I could say a big YES, here we have that
custom too. Usually a good wine should be the gift. Think we have good, very good wines…..”Vega Sicilia” for
instance…..the wine of “Ribera del Duero” one of the best and more expensive (together with French, Italian, Chile, and
California wines) of the world.
Years ago I like to taste a good wine as one of the most pleasant acts in life, accompanied with a good meal it could
be one of the best pleasures of life…..together with other of course.Now being not so good about my liver I have been
for more than 20 years without tasting a good wine, either a good beer. Not any alcoholic drinks are allowed for me
if I want to live a bit more.
So, not a drop of wine ever, such a pity……..but here I am after all.
Thanks Warren….by the way, do you like a good wine?,
emiliano
Dear warren
Referring to your question at the very beginning of the post.
Human nature by default has an affinity to the good and moral,like the duck to water :)))
that premise leads me to believe that every single existing culture out there probably includes a variation of gift giving rituals wether in form of marking a reception or a simple thank you.
The details of how it is done may be different from one culture to another but the basic ,rather general idea of gift giving carries some sort of commonality among the nations.
So, it is safe to say that receiving and giving gifts is a part of universal culture that we all share regardless the ethnicity.
My dear professor warren ,
I have a thing for your writing style and I m trying to model myself on your kind of writing . Not here on our blog per se , but every time I have a pen in my hand. 🙂
I gotta tell you ,copying your writing style is not an easy task to do , but I m working hard on it.
I digressed
Where was I ?
Oh, as per the second part of the post.
I must say , Mr.president has received very nice gifts in particular the statue of Lincoln. I m a fond of it. I really like to see it. Must be very cool!!!
Anyway , I believe it is reciprocal . I mean , it is probable that Mr president gives out some gifts to return the favor every time he visits the leader of a country at their soil.
I m totally behind the gesture. I totally support the idea since I personally believe just good comes of it -that is-closeness , friendship and peace.
Now, Dear warren you opened the post with one question from us , and I m gonna end my comment with one question from you?
Well , It is reciprocal , right !?:))
Here comes my question from you
Is Mr president a regifter? :)))))
Don’t mock the question please. It is as a good question as any 😉
Yours
Pete
You know guys,
The thing is ,I aleays try to write sth about the posts the minute they are out ,but I keep two jobs to make ends meet. So,sometime I m a bit tardy here on the blog.
It feels good communicating with you guys here on the blog.
Thanks
Hi warren,
Interesting statistics you have shown to us.
Yeah, It is a great way to start a relationship. Fortunately, it’s a tradition that is followed by people throw out the world.
But, doesn’t it mean that most of the presidents and delegates are spent on talking about what gift they should give or receive. Or even, Are the relationships affected by these gift. For instance, your guests want you
to agree on something you dislike, or support a group of rebels, and so forth. And you may feel congested to reject or support it.
I am not sure if our president even receives a reward. because they have never talked about the things they receive as gift.
But, people here may give gift to each other on many different occasion.
I myself love giving gift to my friend and receive gift in reverse. It can be construed as gratitude towards someone that has been nice to me.
If someone gives me a gift, it makes me feel That I am a useful person in their lives.
I have receives several gifts from my friends and students, and they are very valuable to me.
OK guys, I am looking forward to seeing what your gifts for me will be.
My friends from China, Canada, Spain, Italy…….. want to surprise me.
Thanks,
parviz
Dear Peter, here it is the reply to your question, Warren informed us previously.
I knew about this interesting subject, but can´t remember where I have readi it, or when, but I knew about the list and also what Spanish visitors to the White House have
given as a gift……gifts less than 100 must be given to the National Archives, so it is impossible to Mr. President (Obama or which ever could be President) to be a regifter
(Peter this Word doesn´t exist in the English dictionary, I unsdarstand you meant:
re·gift
[ree-gift] Show IPA
verb (used with object)
to give (a gift received) to someone else.
verb (used without object)
to give away a gift received.
Thanks a lot Peter, a new Word to me it is always high appreciate, and this it is a new one.
Here it is what Warren said to us above:
“When U.S. government employees receive gifts from a foreign government or organization, they must declare (report) them. And they can’t keep them unless they are worth less than $100. Gifts given to the president or his family are turned over to (put in the care of) the National Archives. Later, many of the gifts will be displayed at the presidential library, which is built after the president leaves the White House”.
——————
Thanks a lot Dear professor, in the other subjects Peter said about you …Yes, I agree absolutely, it is a like a luxury to have you here in this Blog.
All my thanks to you Warren.
emiliano
Parviz, sure you have to receive lot of gifts from your friends and students.
Being here, emiliano has received also lot of gifts from friends he didn´t
know face to face, but some of their nice words to him, even yours, have been
like the best gift emiliano could received from his friends.
A nice day to you dear Parviz, let me ask you a question, may be you told
us but I didn´t remember……a professor? what subjects do you teach?
and asking questions…..where? which city?.
Please, tell us more things about you dear, if you like or can do that.
Thanks. emiliano
Hello guys
I was thinking that with all those gifts, 40 per day give or take, the President probably gets to see only a small percentage of it.
Otherwise he should spend all days opening pakages. Now, that is probaly exciting for about the first ten gifts, after that it gets annoying.
Probably most of those things go on sale and the money raised to charity. I hope they are doing so.
Thank you all guys.
Dear Emiliano ,
Not all the words used in daily English found in The dictionary.
And ,that is The beauty of eslpod that brings them to our attention. I mean ,eslpod usually addresses them.
Luckily ,those words are not in significant numbers comparatively.
As I recall correctly , I believe Jeff once addressed the term.
Anyway, regift simply means you get a gift and then you give the gift you received to sb else as your gift to them.
For instance :
You buy a watch for your friend in Christmas as a Christmas gift .
And your friend takes the watch and give it to his friend as a gift without telling you anythibg about it. The action is called ” regifting ” and the person doing it is ” regifter.” 🙂
I added the question at the end trying to be funny.
What I meant was :
Diors Mr president passes the gifts on to other leaders as a gift coming from him.
Yours
Pete
Thanks bro for taking time out of your day to dean my comments. I appreciate it. It
Means a lot!!!
Hello
I did not visit someone with a gift before but that’s because I still not married and I think its a custom that more common when you visit a family not a single person but very rarely you take a gift to someone when he isn’t your manager.
I think when you get bigger you are being responsible to do such a custom but I am not criticizing it but I am frustrated that people may think when you not visit them that’s because you are charged to take a gift with u , and that maybe half the truth.
He Ahmed,
being young and going to see a friend it is natural not to give him or her a gift, I didn´t do such a thing along my youth.
There is a time to everything in life if we could live enough.
Saturday morning, up at 8 a.m. and first task I have done after going to bath is taking a look at ESL podcast and afterward
the neewspaper of the day.
Now everyday echonomy is the gist of nearly everything, it is boring already.
Gatufo is on my lap giving warm as always, the sky is blue, we have 7ºC outside but sure it will increase till 24/26.
Yes, we are in Madrid, and there is 20 degrees of difference between the mornings and the evenings.
See you later, emiliano
Hi Emiliano,
Thanks for asking me about myself. I am from Northwestern part of Iran. Truth be told, I am Originally from south, But 4 years ago I migrated. In my country there are 31 provinces each of which speak a different language, follow different customs and traditions, All appealing to me very much. I love the variety of my country.
I wish I could say I am a professor, but I was on half the way to get my master’s degree in genetics when I decided to quit. I wasn’t satisfied with their lectures and boring teachers. They just talked bla bla bla bla bla.
It was quiet wasting time.
After I quit school, I decided to tutor people in English. I am glad I got to know you cool guys here.
Coincidentally, Yesterday Was The Teachers day in my country. And I got to receive several gifts and messages from my students. I got candy, chocolate, greeting cards and a small trophy made of wood with a beautiful writing on it.
The other day was The Mother’s day, which was very interesting too.
Tell me emiliano, did you receive gift from your Job? Mind me asking about your Job?
thanks,
parviz
Hi there guys,
Sorry Warren, I am gonna write down something off topic.
Just now I was listening to a radio show called -Car Talk-. It’s a program I get through NPR and I am used to listening to every Saturday afternoon.
I like it. There are people from all overe the States calling in and asking questions about “strange” noises coming from under the hood and oround the car.
This weekend, I am gonna aslo keep an eye at the NRA convention in Huston,TX. I am looking that ’cause I wanna try to better understand these people.
The other eye is going to be at the Kentacky Derby. I just heard about it from many news sources and I just wanna understand what is it about.
Thank you all guys, have a good weekend.
Dear Parviz,
I am a retired man already, so I don´t work out home for a long period of time. When I was fifty two years the Bank decided to reduce staff and said to their people that we could
go home receiving our salary without having to go to the office any more. It was a waste of course, I was in the best form to work some years more, doing a work of Foreing Trading and all of that. In fact we had some good commercial relations with your country Iran, opening lot of Comercial Credits to Export/Import goods betreen Iran and Spain.
There were very good relations between the two countries, so I wrote a lot of letters of credit in Banks of you country. We import or export lot of things from/to Iran. One of them
was pistachio nut flavor, the best I have ever eat were from Iran.
Yes, I use English language just a lot them, to write to your country and several other countries too. But the bank said….Emiliano you may go home and earn your mony without
having to come any more.
Between us, I met lot of persons from Iran who came to Spain on the years 70 when the other régimen was established in your country. I used to talk with them and always I thought people from iran who came to Madrid were absolutely polite and friendly, nice, smart and good manners always. To me they were amont the best persons to talk or help in the Office when they need to change checks or notes, also when they needed some information about the city.
It is not the custom of course, unusual way of acting, but the only clients who gave me some gift been working in the bank, talking English with them, were people from Iran and Mexico, they show me their gratitude that way and I was really pleased with those details.
So, now for a long period of time I have been home doing other kind of chores, looking after my dear Cuca as she fall ill twelve years ago, being home it was easy for me to take everything under control, another life in fact doing house chores and nearly everything to make life easy for her and for me. My daughters were out home already so emiiano took
control of everything for first time in his life.
I changed Bank´s work for home´s work just another kind of life. The worst it was my dear wife was suffering her illness and that means we couldn´t trip outside any more, even it was necessary to remain home the majority of time, making another kind of life to be happy despite the new situation.
It was possible and yes, we did it, changing roles and having another intense life indoors.
Sincé three years I had a new fellow at home, Gatufo, our cat who made our life even happier. We love him very much, it is an incredible cat who goes every place of the house I coud go.
Now that I wake up from a nap he was on my legs as he is always, close to me or to Cuca, but to him emiliano is the chief for all means.
Nice to talk with you Parviz, ask me which ever thing you want to know, ando going through wich city of Iran are you working and living?
Your country it is like a dream to me, so ancient culture and cities like Isfahán or Ispahán, yes, for me or Cuca your culture are quite interesting and close our feelings.
Arabs were in Spain more than seven hundred years, so our blood some how has the same blood from your ancient people.
My best dear, emiliano
Greetings and salutations :)))
Dan, I like it in you.
Whenever you come across a piece of info,a radio station or sth to that affect you share it here.
It is nice that you want us to do great like you do,Emglish wise.
It shows that you care
It is very nice of you
Thanks bro
Dear Parviz, forgive and forget my last words.
Your people, Persians (pertaining to ancient and recent Persia (now Iran), its people, or their language. ) have nothing to do with Arabs, and there were Arabs
who came to Spain.
I know that perfectly well but talking, talking without thinking what I said I have made the big common mistake. Religión could be the same but people are
absolutely different. Knowing that I spread the confusión away, sorry sorry, emiliano you are an ignorant donkey sometimes when you talk too much.
But for all means I feel myself close to your people either, it doesn´t matter if the ancient Persians were in Spain or not, that they weren´t.
Ja, ja, I fall in the fact at the moment I push the bottom to send the post…..incredible.
My best dear, emiliano
Dear Parviz ,
It is cool that your students know how to whittle.
It is an art. I gotta tell u man ,it is not easy to whittle. It takes practice.
I personally tried to learn the trade 🙂 on several occasions. Well ,needless to say that I m a talentless hack :))))
I cut myself several times whittling So , I gave up. I mean I quite learning.
You know ,once my friend whom I used to camp out with whittled me a family bear as a birthday gift. The piece is so cute that I still have them. It is kind of a memorial object to me from the good old days.
Yours
Pete
Hì there Parviz
Thanks for that piece of information about Iran. I did not know that.
Please give us more.
——————–
This Sunday morning I am listening to this radio program called -Human kind-
Very interesting show. I get it every Sunday.
——————–
Have you guys seen those fires just outside LA?
Thanks bye.
Hi emiliano,
Sorry for my delay in writing you answer.
It is nice of you to say such thing about my people and country. Before the 1979 revolution, We had much better interaction with other countries. that is the way you remember us this way. Unfortunately, latter the revolution make us much more isolated, despite our desire to communicate with people from outside.
Yeah, we grow some kind of great pistachios in the world. WE also the first producer of Saffron (if I am right) and we make Persian Carpets (heavy, fine woven materials), and export them to the world. Producing Carpets has been around, maybe, for a long time in my country, and still many people are involved in this ART and (newly saying) industry.
I don’t know about Spain, But I do know that there are many examples of Persian Carpets in museums of the United State.
I always wish people from All over the world could see my country and commune with the nature. This is probably the most valuable Gift that Great God has given to us. OK, here we experience 11 different climates at the same time. when it is cold and rainy in the northwestern, the people at south dealing with warm and damp weather. The middle of the country, however, has the best delicious temperature at this time of the year.
Other parts of the country may have a mix of these. All together producing 11 different climates (weather conditions) through out the year, which makes our country special.
it is interesting though that when people in south of country swim in Persian Golf in the middle of winter, we here in Tabriz (the biggest city in Northwestern neighbor to Turkey) deal with heavy snow, and sometimes even couldn’t get out of our houses. Interestingly, I was born In Ahvaz (in southwest, Khozestan province, close to Iraq) where many people speak Arabic, and moved to Tabriz because I hated heat and dust in Ahvaz. There also each city has its own language and custom, which adds more to the variety. Some people may have come from another countries.
In the east, we border Afghanistan and Pakistan, where they speak Pashto and Urdu, respectively.
In the south, there Persian Golf, between Iran and some Arab countries.
In the north, there is Caspian sea and Some other countries left of the Soviet Union.
I am sure if you visit my country you will never regret it.
Thanks,
parviz
Hi Peter,
I am not Much of a succor player, but I spent most of my time yesterday cheering for Tabriz Team (my new city) playing Ahvaz (my home born city). I couldn’t believe that I spent so much time on it. That is why i didn’t find a chance to write here. My apology.
Yeah, I used to whittle. When I was in middle school, I also dabbled some kind of writing activity where we used Reed Pen and ink to write on a very thick and greasy paper. But, I have forgotten most of that. Now when I look back, I remember how peaceful my life was at that time. they give me some private time in excluded of everything else. for me it was all practice. I did it for myself. I miss it.
My students are very kind and friendly. they surprised me actually. I never thought they would bring me gift. Yesteryear I got a book and a hug and may be a kiss (you know what I mean).
Bro, you don’t seem to be out of talent not for whittling or any thing.
You got to practice with intensity, not scattered.
do it if you love and you will succeed.
to your sucess,
Parviz,
Hi Dan,
I am glad you like that piece of information. Though it is not as easy as it used to be, I like leaving here.
It may not be quiet as good as Italy, where surrounded by sea, but it is Interesting. It was more interesting in the past though.
I neither have had a chance to be in Italy, nor in another countries.But, I am sure they are All interesting, at least to me.
You know why, I am a Man of adventure. I love traveling and meeting new places and people. I Love to receive gifts from them.
Don’t you like traveling?
Don’t you like receiving gift?
Let me give you a small gift here to start.
You Are a very cool guy. You writing is inspiring and your puns are very appealing.
It’s OK,
I know your kind heart. I know you are such a friendly and cool guy.
Please say hello to lovely Cuca, wishing here swift recovery. Tell her that she is in my prayer.
There is and old saying that says ”You never know a man, Until you see his part in love”. I like you guys.
Oddly enough, i was born in Ahvaz, where many people speak Arabic, but I never had a chance to learn it.
It is in my plan to learn Arabic, however, Because I love communicating with our nice neighbors in the south of Persian Golf.
AS you said I am Persian, But I am Fluent in Azary (a Turkish dialect) which is used by people in Tabriz (where I have lived since 4 years ago). and as you may have guessed I can speak English as well.
There are more than 18 dialects of Farsi (Persian) in the country spoken by people in different provinces. some provinces like Khozestan may have 10 dialects.
So, Nothing is more exciting than meet people overseas.
Thank you. I would like reading your comments.
Buy,