Article on Gift Giving in Ukraine from the Kyiv Post - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Article on Gift Giving in Ukraine from the Kyiv Post
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Posted by: Jill

Gift-giving in Ukraine
By Olena Bearden, Kyiv Post Staff Writer
Mar 17, 2004 00:52

Forget the two-month salary guideline in Ukraine. Instead, say something in French (like “eau de parfum”), or simply give something useful, like shampoo. And stop worrying about offending anyone!

March 8 fever has finally passed, and gifters and giftees are undergoing a recovery period. In particular, some ex-pats who experienced the cheerful chaos of International Women’s Day for the first time are recovering from their shock over the Ukrainian culture of gift-giving.

A young Canadian living in Kyiv says she received a set of cosmetics from the Ukrainian administration of the business venture she works for. The set included a shower gel, shampoo and a deodorant.

“I could have put up with a shower gel as a present. But a deodorant and a shampoo for oily hair was too much,” the lady complained. She perceived the gift as a message that screamed: “Use me because you need it!”

Naturally, the gift didn’t put the Canadian in a festive mood; blame it on cultural differences. Only after a lengthy explanation from her native coworkers, and assurances that no one was trying to insult her, did she cheer up some.

The major difference in gift-giving between Ukrainian and Anglo-American cultures is that Ukrainians tend to give gifts they consider practical and necessary, while Anglo-Americans think good gifts should be exactly the opposite: artsy, precious, aesthetic and often completely extraneous to household needs.

The Ukrainian gift-giving logic comes especially into play when presents are given to acquaintances rather than friends. The chances are quite small that you’ll guess what your acquaintances might like. In giving practical things, you free up your recipients’ money so they can buy what they really want.

On the other hand, it can get a little more complicated than that. It’s hard to go amiss with alcohol when you’re gifting men, as only a committed teetotaler will refuse a bottle of good liquor in this country. As to female gifts, beauty-conscious Ukrainian women have always been keen on cosmetics.

Beauty products in the USSR (a rarity) were divided into three categories. Local stuff was naturally the least desirable. The Baltic brand Dzintars represented a significant step up in status. Anything French was unquestionably elite, and was the pinnacle of commodity success for every self-respecting woman. The object of unquenchable desire was the elusive bottle of French perfume, the price for which could easily equal an average Soviet engineer’s monthly salary.

Indeed, the words “Made in France” on the box were enough to make a certain perfume precious. Women old enough to remember the sort of brand “variety” that existed in the USSR still appreciate items with foreign names prominent on the box. It seems they’ve also taught their daughters to appreciate the “right,” that is, foreign, brands.

According to a Kiev International Institute of Sociology poll of 1,986 Ukrainian women on the eve of March 8, 2003, perfume and other cosmetics still top the list of desirable presents. (By comparison, a similar survey conducted by American psychologist Jennifer Wynn shows that perfume occupies only sixth place in the imaginations of American women, who dream of more significant gifts.) Besides cosmetics Ukrainian women also fancy romantic dinners (second place) and clothes (third). Jewelry comes fourth, tourist packages fell into eighth place and money in ninth.

The most extreme “present” – a baby – bottoms the list. A mere 0.2% of women consider it to be the most desirable present to get; on the other hand, 0.5% of men consider it the most desirable present to give.

Naturally you don’t have to follow common stereotypes in gift-giving; healthy surprises are most welcome. But remember, there is such a thing as precedent, and don’t be offended when someone presents you with a bottle of shampoo. It’s just tradition.

Posted by: Michael Blue

Thank Jill!

I heard a very wise man once say "the more I lean, the more I know I need to learn"...Shampoo, huh...LOL!