The gift-giving season is just around the corner. Some of us are great at giving gifts and some of us aren’t. If this is your first year in Canada, or if you are still confused about gift-giving customs, here are some general rules on how to give presents in Canada.
Gift-giving rules depend on the level of formality of the situation. Corporate or business parties are more formal, and therefore, require more formal gifts. Private or family parties are usually informal, so the rules around them are not as strict.
Gift-giving customs for business and corporate parties and events
Canada is famous for business and corporate parties. Organizations hold Christmas and Thanksgiving parties for their employees, and staff are often invited with their spouses or significant others, as well as the children. Parties are also held to celebrate achievements of individual staff or the entire team.
Secret Santa is sometimes arranged during Christmas where staff exchange gifts with others. It is usually done through lottery where a worker draws a piece of paper with the name of a coworker and is to buy a present for that person. This way nobody feels left out and everybody feels happy.
Here are some do’s and don’ts of gift giving in business and corporate situations:
Do:
- Buy thoughtful and formal gifts, especially if you don’t know the person well.
- Offer smaller and more-valuable gifts.
- Consider things such as personalized bags, customized pen drives, photo bookmarks, personalized coffee mugs rather than generic items.
Don’t:
- Ever try to bribe anyone with gifts. Bribery is punishable by law in Canada and generally badly received. You can seriously offend someone by offering them a gift that looks like a bribe or is out of your budget.
- Offer informal or inappropriate gifts.
Gift-giving customs for semi-formal and semi-informal parties
Attending parties is a great way to make new friends in Canada. You have probably already attended parties or are going to attend some in the future. It is very important to know some of the customs of gift-giving if you visit someone for the first time.
Do:
- Bring a small present for the host / hostess of a party. An appropriate gift would be good wine, a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers. Do not give red roses as they are restricted to romantic relationships, or white lilies as they are funeral flowers. If there are children present, a small treat or a toy would be a nice touch.
- If you are going to a BYOB (bring your own booze) party, bring the kind of alcohol that you like and that you are going to drink at the party, plus a little more for somebody else…
- If you attend a housewarming party, bring the host or hostess a gift for the home. A houseplant, cutting board or a cheese set would be suitable.
Don’t:
- Go overboard and buy expensive gifts. You are trying to build a long-term relationship with the host/hostess and possibly, the people at the party, not wow them.
- Forget that it is the thought that counts more than anything else.
Giving gifts to loved ones
Giving gifts to loved ones is a lot less complicated. How much you want to spend is your personal matter, but keep in mind that according to Canadian values giving things of strong emotional worth is more appreciated than giving expensive gifts.
Do:
- Personalize gifts. Keep in mind that you know your loved ones the best, so it shouldn’t be so difficult to gift them. You can find some Christmas gift suggestions here.
- Remember that photos of shared good times or special moments are often the best gifts.
- Consider home décor gifts like chopping boards, mugs, pillows, cushions, wall art for senior females and quality alcohol for males of any age (but not any faith community; Muslims or Hindu, for example, wouldn’t appreciate it).
Don’t:
- Give money, no matter how well you know the person unless s/he is your teenage child.
- Give gifts too often.
When to exchange gifts
Canadians like to give and receive gifts on a number of occasions including:
- Christmas and Thanksgiving
- Birthdays
- Wedding and anniversaries
- Retirement parties
- Achievement parties
- Formal and semi-formal dinner parties
- Formal events
- Barbeques or housewarming parties
Happy gifting!
