Gifts - what is the correct things to do in your culture?

But a person who receives the gift should respect the feelings of the giver and open gift in front of him and thank him for the same.

In my country we can also choose if we want to open the gift immediately or later if the gift is sent to us. One of my close friends lives in another part of the country and we send eachother birthday gifts and christmas gifts. We usually save the christmas gifts and open them in front our families and open the birthday gifts immediately. If a family member or a friend gives us a gift in person instead of sending it we open the gift immediately. It is seen as polite to open gifts in front of the giver when it is possible. Do you also do that in your country? I mean when someone gives you a gift and you are both in same room?

Not all gifts are given in a person so then there for there is no need to open in front of them. Not all people live close to those they give gifts and it's not disrespecting someone if they opening in front of them or not. That is just stupid and silly if someone felt hurt over a gift. The gift being received is up to the person to either open it when they want to then or there or later. Going out to eat your not going to open your present at a restaurant are you? I don't expect anyone to open there gifts in front of me at all. That is up to them and it isn't going to hurt my feelings at all because it's a gift it's not my choice when they want to open it in. For my daughter's birthday we are opening her gifts at home. We did the same last year but we weren't around family like we are now but that doesn't change when we open them. It's not about who or when you open. It's the thought of the person getting you something when they don't have to get you anything unless they want to. You should just be thankful they where nice enough to even think about getting you something.

I also think that some people open gifts later because of their tradition. One of my friends from Asia once told me that they open the gifts when they are alone because they don't want to hurt the giver's feelings (in case they get disappointed in the gift and are unable to hide it) I thought that it was interesting to hear that explanation, because in my country you might the hurt the giver more if you don't open the gift in front of them, and people might think that you aren't really interested in the gift if you don't open it immediately. But they actually do it because it is the polite thing to do according to their culture.

I have experienced that myself because I have Asian friends (immigrants in my country) and it surpriced we when I discovered that they didn't open the gift in front of me. Some of them have lived in my country for many years and they follow the Danish traditions now and open the gifts immediately, but others still put the gift aside and open when it when they are alone. It is interesting that there is a difference between the different countries and cultures. That is one of the reasons why I posted this discussions. Mylot has members from around the world and I thought that it could be interesting to hear about the differences.

Yup!!! It depends from culture to culture and the atiquettes given by your parents to you.

I agree with that. I think that it is important to thank the giver. Even when we don't like the gift the give has spent time picking out a gift for us and I think that it is the thought that counts. One of my friends from Asia told me that they don't open gifts in front of the giver to avoid an embarrasing situation and that they don't want to hurt the giver and show him or her that they got disappointed in the gift. Instead they open the gifts when they are alone and thank the giver later. The first time that I experienced that it surpriced me a lot because in my country we always open the gifts immediately and that the giver immediately.

It's true, we have different culture even in receiving the gifts. It is nice to open the gifts in front of the giver but sometimes it makes them feel embarrassed. Like what you've said it is not the gift itself that matters but the reason behind it is given.

Of course we need to say thank you in everything we received it is one good sign of respect and appreciation no matter what we've received. I don't blame you if you feel disappointed in that incident because you are used to different style but you know sometimes we can suggest to them to open the give after you hand it over, simply by saying it with convincing tactics plus sweet smile ;)

In my country we do the same thing. When you receive a gift the giver expects you to open the gift in front of them, because they want to find out straight away if you like it or not. When you open the gift straight away you also have the chance to thank the giver immediately and that is the polite thing to do in my culture. If we receive a gift and put it aside most people would ask you directly: "Aren't you going to open the gift?" because you are expected to open it while the giver is still there.