How do Germans treat gifts? What to give a German. Video "What to give German colleagues or boss for a holiday"
Cologne city center last days before Christmas. Ten o'clock in the morning. According to sociologists, this is a favorite time when women go for gifts. Not on Saturday, when the city center is crowded, not in the evening, which is much more pleasant to dedicate to the family, but in the morning, quickly: one or two - and the gifts are bought.
And what would women like to give themselves for Christmas?
"Something nice smelling. Body lotion or something like that," says a fourteen-year-old girl. “I will give myself a short trip to Freiburg,” the middle-aged lady says decisively. “I recently visited Bamberg and Magdeburg, I really liked it. And now in the spring I want to go to Freiburg.”
“I will give myself a weekend in a wellness hotel between Christmas and New Year,” the black-haired beauty shares her plans. “I will go to the sauna, to massages to relieve all the stress of the outgoing year.” "I buy everything I need throughout the year. So I don't need any special Christmas gifts," the roasted chestnut vendor brushes off.
Give yourself a gift
Making gifts for yourself, your beloved and beautiful, is far from the worst option: at least you will get exactly what you want. After all, almost every second Christmas present, so to speak, misses the mark. If the Christmas present does not have to be a surprise, it is better to tell your loved ones about your desires in advance.
By the way, here's what the statistics say. In the first place in the list of the most coveted "female" gifts - travel. Moreover, not a "duty" vacation, but a short, nerve-wracking and interrupting series of everyday life march to Paris, Milan or Rome. In second place is relaxation for body and soul in a wellness hotel or simply in a comfortable beauty salon: massages, masks, sauna. In third place is a trip to a gourmet restaurant. Not to a pub or a pizzeria, but to where there are candles and roses, where they don’t go every day.
No spirits, fight socks
It is characteristic that women, since they decide to give themselves a present for Christmas, choose not an object, but an experience. And one that will help you forget stress, will allow you to move into another reality.
Women do not give themselves jewelry, although they willingly receive them as a gift from men, but they are happy to buy watches and various accessories. Interestingly, the list of the most unpopular gifts is headed by perfumes and clothes. All these socks, scarves and sweaters are not associated with the holiday, they are rather an attribute of everyday life. And perfumes, although they are, in general, a luxury item, are perceived as an inability or unwillingness to find more original gift. In addition, perfume, for that matter, every woman should choose for herself.
But in honor is everything that makes the house cozier and more beautiful: blankets, vases, ornamental plants. These women, however, also prefer to buy on their own. Men are trusted to choose antiques and kitchen appliances (by prior agreement, of course). In addition, women do not like to give and receive cash as a gift.
The best gift is the opportunity to give
But in general: the main thing that women wish for themselves for Christmas is the holiday itself. And the opportunity to give - for many best gift. “You know, I’m 83 years old,” the elderly lady smiles. “What else do I need? in November, I sit down at the computer and buy all these gifts via the Internet. I wish you a good holiday, and most importantly, good health!"
Three pillars of German well-being - punctuality, practicality, pedantry. Therefore, do not be surprised that even in souvenir shops in Germany, useful things are sold, and not knick-knacks for tourists. What can we say about branded stores, whose products serve (and please) for decades.
You don't have to rack your brains about what gift to bring from Germany: Kidpassage has collected ideas for the most useful and original souvenirs for adults and children.
Souvenirs from Germany: what to bring to children
Finding a gift for a child in Germany is easy - the choice of toys is huge, but also difficult - how to choose one of the string of dolls, cars, play sets, constructors? While you're considering all your options, take a look at win-win gifts.
1. Christmas decorations "Nutcracker" (Nussknacker)- as if greetings from Hoffmann's fairy tale. Wooden nutcrackers will cope with cracking nuts, glass ones will good decoration for the Christmas tree. You can easily find the Nutcracker toy: you can buy it at the Christmas market.
2. Bear Berliner Bar- not just a toy, but a symbol of Berlin. He also has brothers, Buddy Bears, figurines of bears painted with bright colors. The real Buddy Bears have gone to different cities world, and in souvenir shops in Germany you can buy their smaller copies.
3. Steiff bear cubs- these Stuffed Toys from Germany are listed as the closest relatives of Teddy bears. Now the company also produces other animals, as well as children's clothing.
These are some typical souvenirs from Germany - what should children bring from different cities?
4. Gifts from different regions. If you are in the port of Hamburg, look for a gift for a child Buddelschiff, that is, a ship in a bottle. From Munich you can bring a toy figurine of a wolpertinger - a fantastic animal in the form of a hare with deer antlers and owl wings. From Düsseldorf - a souvenir, which depicts a Radschleger (a little man making a wheel).
In Germany, you can buy not just souvenirs, but useful and beautiful toys for children.
5. Baby wooden Toys from Germany. Babies will love Heimess mobiles and rattles, two or three year olds will love Haba educational games, Goki pyramids and wheelchairs, Grimm’s rainbow puzzles, and simple Selecta construction sets. All these toys are made reliably, conscientiously - such things can be passed down from generation to generation.
6. Toys for older children. Fantasists will appreciate the Schleich sets. Here you can find figures of knights and dragons, horses and seahorses, heroes of DC and Marvel comics. Children who are looking at special equipment will be happy to receive a Bruder truck crane or excavator as a gift. The cars of this company are made of the same plastic that is used in the automotive industry. As for the choice of dolls, in stores the eyes run up from the abundance of baby dolls and elegant young ladies. Among the well-known German doll manufacturers is the Götz company.
Tip: you don’t have to look for toys for children - they are sold both in branded outlets and in ordinary toy stores.
7. PLAYMOBIL sets. The choice of sets from this company is huge - from princesses and unicorns to ghost hunters. If you're looking for a special winter gift, check out Advent calendars, nativity scenes, and Santa figurines from the Playmobil collection.
8. Board games. On the shelves next to the toys are boxes of board games. Famous German manufacturers of board games are Ravensburger and Zoch, but lesser-known companies also produce fun, colorful games: simpler for kids, harder for schoolchildren. Having presented such a gift, get ready to keep your child company and enjoy the plot and details of each game.
Sweet gifts
Which of the children can resist a chocolate bar in a bright wrapper or a weighty bar of marzipan? Here are some sweets from Germany that you should definitely buy as a gift for a child:
9. Chocolate Ritter Sport. Among the brands of German chocolate, this is perhaps the most famous. Square tiles with nuts, fruits, cereals, cookies, yogurt, nougat - you can buy a whole set of mini tiles with different flavors or a couple of large tiles of your favorite varieties.
10. Chocolate Feodora. Assorted chocolates, sweet bars, holiday sets - Feodora has the right treat for lovers of milk and extra dark chocolate.
11. Candy Factory Halloren Schokoladenfabrik. The oldest German chocolate factory keeps up with the times: for example, it produces sweets in the form of emoji.
12. Leysieffe Chocolate. Unusual ingredients are added to chocolate bars: lavender flowers, cranberries, ginger, red pepper.
13. Marzipan Niederegger. The company from Lübeck has been producing marzipan for 200 years, and the number of types of marzipan in its assortment has also exceeded 200.
14. Haribo gummies. Yes, now you can buy them in any store, but in Germany the choice is definitely wider: black licorice rounds with the Pontefract Cakes stamp alone can surprise a child.
Tip: For Christmas, candy makers release chocolate Advent calendars and Nikolaus figurines.
Souvenirs from Germany for adults
Going through the options of what souvenir to bring from Germany, you can look at the Alpine bells or national costumes. And you can choose something tasty or something useful in the household - such gifts will appeal to everyone.
table invitation
What to bring from Germany from products? First of all, beer and sausages are remembered. Let's start with them.
15. German sausages- classic Bratwurst, Bavarian Weißwurst white sausages, spicy Currywurst, unusual Mettwurst (they are made from raw minced meat, and they are not supposed to be boiled or fried). You can bring sausages in vacuum packaging or in a jar - they will be well preserved on the road.
16. Mustard. Sausages, of course, need mustard - sweet Sußer Senf or spicy Scharf Senf. Top manufacturers mustards are considered to be Handlmaier's and Thomy.
17. Beer. There are only two options - choose a gift among popular beer brands (Oettinger, Krombacher, Paulaner, Warsteiner, etc.) or bring local beer from different regions (Kölsch from Cologne or Altbier from Düsseldorf) to sample.
18. Beer mug or glass. A very useful gift from Germany is a liter Maßkrug beer mug. Maß is the name of a measure of beer in Bavaria and Swabia: here they are sure that pouring less than a liter does not make sense. You can choose from a thick-walled ceramic mug with a lid, a glass mug, a crystal mug, or even a pewter mug. An alternative to a mug is the thin-walled Pilsner beer glass. It keeps foam for a long time, and the beer fits less, from 0.33 to 0.5 liters.
19. German wines. From Germany, you can bring as a gift Eiswein, that is, dessert "Ice Wine", which is made from grapes frozen on the vine. Dry Moselle wines are also good (it is better to entrust the choice to a specialist who knows the years of good harvest in the Moselle Valley).
20. Wine glasses. To wine you can add elegant crystal glasses. Among the German manufacturers with a name - Arnstadt, Nachtmann, Schott Zwiesel, Bohemia Cristal (the company is related to the Czech manufacturers of Bohemian glass).
21. Jägermeister herbal liqueur with a strength of 35% - another famous alcoholic German souvenir. It consists of 56 components: even connoisseurs cannot recognize them all by taste, and the full composition of the liquor is kept secret.
22. German cheeses. There are dozens of varieties of cheese in Germany. In order not to experience the pangs of choice, you can bring a little bit of everything as a gift:
- delicate, with a creamy Tilsiter taste;
- fragrant, slightly sour Emmentaler;
- lactose-free Bergkäse (you should look for it in alpine villages, not in supermarkets);
- covered with noble mold Bavaria blu and Cambozola;
- a good companion to Weisslacker beer;
- sung in verse Limburger and other cheeses.
23. Knives. You need a good knife to cut cheese. And Germany knows a lot about this: WÜSTHOF, Güde and Burgvogel knives from Solingen (Solingen has official name"city of blades"), as well as Friedr. Dick (or F. Dick) will serve in the kitchen for decades.
24. Frankfurt Green Sauce. It consists of eggs, oil, salt, vinegar and a dozen herbs. It is herbs that you can bring as a gift: packages of greens for Frankfurter Grüne Soße are sold in the markets. In the package you will find sorrel, watercress, parsley, dill, lemon balm, basil, as well as lesser-known chervil, borage, chives, burnet.
Tip: we recommend buying knives, porcelain, crystal and other expensive souvenirs in Germany in company stores.
25. Porcelain. To turn the gatherings at the table into a luxurious lunch or dinner, present exquisite German porcelain to relatives or friends. The most famous is Meissen, produced at the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe. Fürstenberg, Nymphenburg and Rosenthal porcelain is not inferior to it in quality and elegance.
Cosmetics for women and men
You know exactly the names of at least two brands of German cosmetics and perfumes. But now out of much more.
26. Eau de Cologne- for a man. "Cologne water", invented in 1709, is now sold only in. But in stores you can buy modern version perfume, Echt Kolnisch Wasser No. 4711.
27. Care cosmetics- for women. The brands Nivea, Schwarzkopf, Essence are known all over the world, but it has long been noticed that in Germany their quality is higher than in Eastern Europe. In addition, you should pay attention to eco-cosmetics, which are represented by Lavera, Weleda, Logona, Dr. Haushka.
New Year gifts
Christmas markets in Germany are filled with all sorts of cute souvenirs, Christmas decorations and fragrant pastries. What special can be found on the shelves?
28. Glass toys for the Christmas tree. famous manufacturer Christmas decorations in Germany - Krebs Glas Lauscha. Expensive but true magic decorations they are able to bring a holiday to the house. At fairs, it is not necessary to look for toys with a name: choose what you like.
29. Weihnachtspyramide carousel pyramids. The main part of such carousels is candles and a propeller that spins from the warm air emanating from the candles. The decor can be very different: from a simple wooden mill to a multi-tiered composition.
30. Räuchermännchen smoking men. Such Christmas toys are very popular in Saxony. They represent a figurine of a man with a smoking pipe in his teeth. Inside the figurine there is a niche where a smoking candle is inserted. The smoke from the candle comes out through the tube.
31. Musical toys. Boxes from which the melody of Christmas carols is heard are a very touching gift. Such music boxes can be found, for example, in the Villeroy & Boch collection.
32. Lebkuchen gingerbread. It's hard not to get lost here - in Germany they bake a huge amount of sweets for Christmas, and each region has its own recipes. Fairs sell huge painted gingerbread, but you can also look for something special: round Nuremberg gingerbread, rectangular Aachen gingerbread with whole almonds or marzipan Frankfurt gingerbread.
33. Dresden Stollen. A dense dry cake with raisins, candied fruits and almonds only becomes tastier after a long aging. A person who likes to tinker with dough can give the recipe for this Christmas treat along with stollen.
Tip: Vintage Christmas decorations and nativity scenes can be found at flea markets.
Buying souvenirs takes several hours, and a few weeks are not enough to get acquainted with the sights of Germany. If you have not yet decided on a travel route, take a look at: this will help you create a vacation program.
Russians have always been distinguished by their generosity and readiness to give the last shirt to their friend to their own detriment. The Germans, on the contrary, are not inclined to grand gestures. Gifting traditions in Germany are strikingly different from our customs, since the inhabitants of this country are guided not by the heart, but by the mind.
Flowers
My neighbor Mia always goes to visit her friends with a bunch of flowers. By the way, she buys flowers from the flower girl Hannah. In our house, all the grannies are bought from Hannah, because she is very good man- kind, smiling, sincere. Once Hanna explained to me how to care for lavender and whether it makes sense to plant pansies on the balcony. However, I didn’t turn out to be a botanist, but I learned a lot about the traditions of giving bouquets.
Flower shop in the center of Kiel
For family celebrations in Germany, it is supposed to bring a modest bouquet bought in a supermarket or plucked in your backyard. Ordinary wild flowers will do, but not yellow and, in no case, not white. These colors symbolize grief, mourning. But their number can be even, the Germans do not know at all about such a sign as "even - odd".
If you are invited to a birthday party, you can buy a potted flower or an expensive bouquet. However, you should not spend more than 20 euros on a gift so that your friend does not feel embarrassed.
My neighbor says that such bouquets are considered mourning
This orchid was given to me by a friend who came to visit.
crafts
Coffee notebooks, cardboard or wooden boxes decorated using decoupage technique, soft toys, knitted key chains, candles decorated with colored glisters and acrylic paints- all this causes genuine delight among the Germans. Therefore, having decided to win the favor of a local resident, it is worth making some pleasant trifle for him.
Small sweet compliments for guests
Gift certificates
Gutscheine is perhaps the most popular present in Germany. A certificate worth around 20 euros is given in all occasions: be it a wedding, birthday or housewarming. For me personally, the ideal Gutscheine is a certificate for purchase in the Douglas perfume chain.
A sweet souvenir from Switzerland is a great gift idea for Christmas
Souvenirs
In Germany, it is not considered shameful to give each other souvenirs. On the contrary, the Germans are very happy with pleasant little things brought from abroad or bought in the nearest shopping center. Sachets, scented candles, photo frames, a personalized cup, a puzzle with the image of your favorite city, sets of postcards - all this can and should be given to your friends, colleagues, relatives. Here people do not attach as much importance to gifts as in the CIS, they believe that the most important thing is attention.
At the Christmas market you can buy a lot of trinkets that are pleasant for every German
Hobby
There are a lot of people here who are passionate about something. My friend Tami buys stuff from Flohmarkt because she thinks vintage is her passion for the rest of her life. Neighbor Sarah sews toys, and her husband's friend, a sedate lawyer Maximilian, is engaged in modeling. In his house, an entire room is devoted to railway! Each of them is delighted to receive small gifts dedicated to their hobby for the holidays.
This cute panda was brought to me from China
Something about gift etiquette
My neighbor Theo told me that in Germany, friends give gifts that cost 30 euros. Of course, the amount may vary depending on the income and social status of the donor, but even very wealthy Germans do not consider it necessary to spend more on a present. And students even more so buy some kind of trinket within 10 euros and this is not considered something out of the ordinary.
For a wedding, representatives of the middle class give 50-70 euros or Gutscheine. If you decide to splurge and give an insanely expensive gift, you will not be understood. Moreover, your friends may consider it an insult.
The German mentality is very close to me in spirit. I also feel embarrassed if someone gives me something expensive, so I immediately try to give something in return so as not to be due. I also don't like having a noisy party with a huge mountain of dirty dishes at the end of the evening, so when I celebrate my birthday, I limit myself to a birthday cake from the bakery, drinks and snacks. However, I will write about how the Germans celebrate their holidays some other time.
Choosing a present for a close friend, beloved wife or work colleague is not a tricky business. You can make a choice based on the preferences and hobbies of a well-known person, it is a completely different matter when you need to give a present for a foreigner, for example, a German.
Germany is known to everyone for its adherence to traditions and, not knowing the peculiarities of culture, you can get into a mess. Our article can right choice, we will tell you what gifts the Germans love, what they value and how to behave when giving a present.
How about flowers
In Germany, as in most countries, it is not customary to visit empty-handed. In the case when there is no time to choose, or if there are simply problems with choosing a present, flowers can help out.
Germans love to receive and give flowers. 
Flowers can be presented in any way: in a pot, freshly cut, plucked from your own garden or painted on canvas. And if you manage to present your “bouquet” beautifully, then the hostess of the house will be simply delighted.
Unfortunately, flowers in Germany are expensive, and since the inhabitants of Germany are very prudent, it is best to give not a bouquet of roses that will please the donee for several days, but an unusual flowerpot or decorative tree that can become a home decoration for many years.
It is important when giving a gift to behave very politely and courteously. Be sure to compliment the hostess of the house, if there are children in the house, it would be nice to give them something. For example, or.
Souvenirs
Departing from Russia to Germany, do not forget to take a few souvenirs with you. A souvenir brought from a distant “snow-covered” country is a curiosity. And, rest assured, attention to it will be no less than from a souvenir with or.
As a gift, a German can bring handicrafts, for example, a variety of badges or alcoholic drinks.
From the Germans, in response to such seemingly simple presents, you will receive many words of gratitude and sparks of joy in your eyes.
Some traditional stuff
It can be a great gift for a German. Despite the fact that today not every family can see a nesting doll, for foreigners it is an indispensable attribute of Russian life. In addition, the matryoshka is a symbolic, colorful and memorable souvenir. An original photo mug with the symbols of nesting dolls will help to complement such a present. Here's a great option:
Advice! Do not give nesting dolls to families with small children. The bright matryoshka will undoubtedly delight the baby. But these souvenirs are varnished, so they are very slippery and dangerous for the crumbs, who strive to taste everything.
Also, painted spoons, Gzhel ceramics and enamel products can be good offerings. It is in these souvenirs that the soul of the people is invested, and therefore such a present will cause special gratitude and admiration among your friends.
Much appreciated in Germany handmade. But, you should not buy expensive offerings at all, with too valuable a surprise you can put the donee in an awkward position.
Alcoholic drinks
In Russia, it is customary to take a bottle of alcohol with you when visiting, but is it worth following this tradition when visiting a foreigner? The question is, of course, a very delicate one. If you were invited for a cup of tea, then most likely a bottle of alcohol will be superfluous.
But for a solemn event, where a meal is expected, which implies alcohol, it would be quite appropriate to bring a bottle of high-quality
Alexander Alexandrovich Novik
Gifts for colleagues, close relatives, teachers, loved ones cause us a lot of questions, but we somehow know how to deal with them. But what to do if a gift needs to be made to a foreigner, say a German, with whom we are planning a long and profitable cooperation in the future. Here we think and sometimes we can’t come up with anything for a long time. After all, Germany is known for its adherence to traditions and a long-established scale of spiritual and material values.
What gift will bring pleasure and joy? Will we inadvertently offend with our gift? What should we do so that our gift looks appropriate and spectacular, and we act as a gallant and smart giver?
Let's talk about this not at all simple topic.
What to take with you to visit? How about flowers?
This problem confronts everyone who goes on a visit to a private home. It's not nice to go empty-handed. And what to take with you is not always clear. This problem becomes even greater abroad. It is not customary to visit without a gift in Germany. Great idea - flowers. The Germans love flowers. They love them in any form: freshly cut, dried, in pots and tubs. They love flowers artificial and drawn on paper, bought in a store and plucked in their own garden.
When choosing a bouquet for the hostess of the house, try to apply all your imagination and taste. They will appreciate, believe me, a very modest bouquet of wild flowers, and a luxurious basket of roses from an expensive store. Flowers in Germany are expensive. The hostess will be very pleased to receive an expensive bouquet as a gift, which will stand in a vase for only a few days, but for which enough money has been spent. Rational and prudent Germans love it when money is spent on them irrationally and imprudently. But the cost of the bouquet is not the main criterion. The main thing is attention and gallantry.
Often the Germans give flowers from their own garden. This is a very cute and good custom. The most beautiful and fragrant flowers are cut directly from the flower bed for you. And since they have just been cut, they will stay with you for a very long time, reminding you of a good time.
Sometimes they give flowers in a pot. it good gift a bachelor or colleagues in the office, but such a pot may not be suitable for the atmosphere of a private home, its design, color solution. I would recommend to refrain from such a gift to unfamiliar people or those whom you have never visited before.
When choosing a bouquet, you need to remember the following. By tradition, white flowers are perceived in Germany as mourning. The same applies to yellow flowers. Of course, many have already forgotten about the former color symbolism. Some Germans will even assure you that there is nothing reprehensible in presenting a white bouquet to your beloved girlfriend or old lady. However, who will exclude the possibility that you will present such a bouquet to a person for whom traditions still matter? Therefore, when composing a bouquet, remember that if it contains white and yellow flowers, then they should be combined with flowers of other shades. In general, combined bouquets are extremely popular among the Germans. A huge selection of flowers in shops and flower shops will give you the opportunity to show your imagination when composing a bouquet. If you are not confident in your own abilities, ask the seller for help. Knowing the reason for which you are invited to visit, the age of the hostess and her occupation, an experienced specialist will always help you in choosing a bouquet.
Very popular now in Germany are bouquets of wild flowers, as well as with the use of cereals - ears of wheat, rye, oats. Decorative sunflowers framed with various branches and stems, tied with straw, are also a great gift for a visit. If you live in the provinces or, even better, in the countryside, you can make it yourself (but of course not from plants from someone else's peasant field!). Such a bouquet will not be perceived as an attempt at amateur performance: it will certainly be accepted with gratitude.
A bouquet of flowers is a great gift from a different point of view as well. If for some reason you came to visit without a gift, then flowers can be sent to the hostess of the house the next day. This can be done through a messenger or bring flowers to the hostess yourself. Your visit will leave in this case the most pleasant memories. Everything else will be inappropriate: agree that a bottle of wine sent the next day will look somehow strange. But a bouquet of flowers is always appropriate.
Badges and other souvenirs
Going on a visit to a German home, take with you any souvenir brought from your homeland. We are foreigners in Germany, and Russia, despite frequent contacts lately, is still exotic for most Germans. A souvenir brought from such a distant and “snowy” country is a joke, a curiosity! Attention to it will be greater than, say, to a souvenir from Paris or Venice.
Therefore, if you are going to Germany, be sure to take souvenirs with you. These can be handicrafts (Russia is so rich in them!), alcoholic drinks, porcelain items, just badges. If you are going to meet with business partners, bring products with your company logo or branded souvenirs. All this will definitely come in handy. A whole bunch of souvenirs that you will prepare before the trip, only at first glance may seem redundant. During meetings with colleagues and friends, all this will melt very quickly. Don't skimp on the little things!
The Germans are very fond of gifts. They know how to be grateful for the smallest gifts. Sometimes it seems strange the childish admiration of a respectable German colleague about a simple badge presented to him. The Germans are brought up this way: any courtesy must be repaid with gratitude. Even if you give a perfect trifle, a German friend or colleague will express genuine joy. The gift will be put in a prominent place, and you will be assured that without it the life of the owners was incomplete and bleak. The badge right at the time of donation can be pinned to the lapel of a jacket and say that they will always wear it. All this, of course, does not mean that your souvenir will stand in the most prominent place in the living room, and the teenage son of a colleague will not part with your badge until he comes of age, but ... In general, do not forget about gifts.
Matryoshka - kitsch or kind old tradition?
Russian matryoshka, for example, is a great souvenir. Of course, if you are a guest of a specialist in Russia, he will be very surprised by such a gift. A connoisseur of Russian life is well aware that the matryoshka is a souvenir for foreigners, and it was created as a Russian curiosity for a foreign guest. Are there many families in Russia who have nesting dolls?
But in the minds of most Europeans, the matryoshka is an indispensable attribute of Russian life. In addition, a very colorful and iconic souvenir. So let's not break stereotypes!
However, it will be very prudent if you do not give a nesting doll to a family with very small children. Bright painted matryoshka will delight any child. Our craftsmen manage to put up to ten or more "daughters" into one nesting doll. But such small nesting dolls, varnished and therefore very slippery, are dangerous for small children who strive to taste everything. Therefore, it is worth considering that your gift does not cause trouble. If the children of your friends are already grown up and independent, your souvenir will cause universal rejoicing.
Other souvenirs are also good: painted spoons and other products of Khokhloma masters, lacquer miniatures, products with enamel, Gzhel ceramics. All this characterizes the original folk art of Russia, the soul of the people is invested in it, and therefore such a gift will cause special gratitude to your friends. Everything where manual labor is used is highly valued in Germany. But do not try to make very expensive gifts. On the one hand, you can put the receiving party in an uncomfortable position. On the other hand, a very valuable souvenir, made in a single copy by an illustrious master and worth a fortune, may well not be perceived as an exceptional masterpiece. Agree that even many of our compatriots do not always distinguish the exclusive work of Zhostovo masters from the in-line industrial stampings that flooded the souvenir market. And even if we are not always able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff, what can we say about people who are very little familiar with our artistic craft? And do not try to surprise your acquaintances with the breadth of scope and lordly generosity: this is not only unnecessary, but may even interfere with the establishment of strong contacts.
Another thing is if you know that your friend collects certain things. Then your gift can replenish his collection, and it will become the most desired and best.
For example, you know about the weakness of your German friends for porcelain. During their visit to Russia, they bought the products of the Gzhel masters. Any piece of porcelain, traditionally hand-painted and branded, will be a wonderful gift that your friends will be extremely pleased with. In any case, tact and taste are necessary for the gift to be made correctly. Think about it ahead of time.
Asia and Europe
What is the difference between gifts in Russia and gifts in Germany? Let's try to find the answer to this difficult, very philosophical question. It is not customary for Russians to give minor gifts on an important occasion. Of course, there are situations when it is appropriate to give a trinket or some inexpensive present. But if we go to friends for a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary of the company, etc., we simply cannot give something insignificant and inexpensive. That's the way it is with us.
In Germany, giving expensive and valuable gifts is not accepted. And this is surprising at first. Most Germans are wealthy and can afford significant gifts. However, they don't. We are surprised that a rather poor Frau gives her close friend a tie bought on the occasion at a sale. And a successful businessman gives his wife significant date a food processor, of which she already has three, albeit older models. The "gifted" are delighted, but we are at a loss.
What is the secret of such differences in the field of gifts? Maybe it's all about the traditions that influenced the Russian and German cultures? In Rus', there has long been a strong eastern influence. And in the East, as you know, to show off generosity, luxury, breadth of nature from time immemorial was considered laudable and the only possible one.
Unlike the East, Europe remained tight-fisted and practical. Money here was earned with difficulty, and spent with difficulty. Saving money in each case was taught by the local European tradition from childhood. Spending money since the Middle Ages was considered a sinful and ignoble deed. Russia, the great country between Asia and Europe, has inherited both traditions. However, in the field of gifts, we are still Asia. Even with modest incomes, we try to surprise loved ones with the breadth of nature - to make a stunning gift, to invite them to a ruinous treat.
In Europe, it is not necessary to go to such "exploits" in the name of fame and personal image. In Europe, you have to be European. Gratitude and appreciation can be earned with attention and sensitivity, and not necessarily with large funds and dizzying expenses. In a gift, attention and tact are valuable, not the amount of euros invested.
Should I take a bottle or not?
If you were invited to visit, then often along with the question of what to give, another question arises: should I take a bottle of alcohol? The question, it must be said, is a very delicate one.
Modern etiquette generally involves such an invitation practice, when on a card with a notice of an upcoming visit and a feast, the inviting party can indicate what she expects from the guest. According to the abbreviation put on the card, the invitee can immediately understand: whether you should come to visit with alcohol, with snacks, or the hosts generally expect you without any gifts.
But another situation is more common: you were invited to visit orally, and you don’t quite understand whether there will be alcohol on the table or not. If you were invited to lunch or dinner and it was very transparently hinted that a hearty meal was expected, then, of course, alcoholic drinks on the table are also implied. In this case, the bottle you brought will come in handy.
If you were invited for a cup of coffee, then the bottle will not be entirely appropriate. The host may be confused by the fact that you, apparently, were counting on a meal with various drinks, and he just wanted to treat you to coffee. Such awkwardness is not needed by either the host or the guest, and it is better to avoid it.
There are times when German hosts offer to drink a glass of wine or a glass of champagne on the occasion of the meeting, and after that coffee is offered. It is not necessary to bring alcohol to this reception. This shouldn't bother you. It is better to come into the house with flowers and be unexpectedly treated to some kind of drink than to come into the house with a bottle of wine when it was not expected.
If, however, you are invited to a dinner where liquor is expected, you might want to think about a bottle to take with you. A good gift will be a bottle of Russian vodka (of various brands), a bottle of domestic champagne, wine or cognac. These drinks are known to the German consumer (with the exception, however, of wine, which will be a curiosity). German friends tend to like the quality of our domestic spirits. Back in the days of the Soviet Union, Stolichnaya Vodka and Soviet Champagne, as well as other drinks, were sold on the shelves of German supermarkets. Their taste was liked by local connoisseurs, and the quality met international standards. Some Germans may even tell you “in confidence” that they like Russian sparkling wines more than the famous French champagne. But do not try to explain to everyone the merits of Russian drinks. Even without this, your attention will touch the German masters.
If you do not have a supply of domestic drinks brought with you, or you live in Germany for a long time, all that remains is to go to the store and choose some drink there. This is easier to do if you know your friends' tastes. If not, make your own choice. A bottle of dry red or white wine will always be appropriate.
Another question is how the owner will take the bottle you brought. According to the traditions adopted in our country (and not at all according to etiquette), the brought wine is immediately put on the table. If a guest brought something, it is somehow inconvenient to remove it and not taste it collectively. In Germany, it's not like that at all. Rather, the owner will put your bottle in a prominent place, but will leave it corked. And they will treat you to completely different drinks. I sympathize if you forked out a lot by buying a rare bottle and hoping to taste this new drink for yourself at a party. These are local, different from ours, traditions. And traditions must be respected!