おもてなしとお土産

Hospitality and souvenirs

Birth, shrine visit, first festival, Shichigosan... There are many celebrations, and some of them involve holding a meal with relatives. In the past, it was common for large groups of relatives to gather and eat together, as it was believed to bring good luck.
Nowadays, as lifestyles change, it has become more common to make reservations at restaurants or celebrate with small groups of people rather than dining at home, and these dinner parties are often gatherings of particularly close friends.

As the saying goes, "Courtesy is the key among friends," so the heartfelt congratulations from the other party will be even more heartfelt. In order to return the favor as the host, let's review the etiquette of the host at the celebration.

 

Hospitality

souvenir

souvenir

At celebrations, most people bring gifts in addition to the ceremony. Even if you are meeting someone for the first time in a long time, I think it is a good idea to prepare a gift as part of your hospitality, even if you are close to the person. It is not always the case, but in some areas it is considered good manners to prepare a gift. Prepare it while considering the way the two families do things and the format of the celebration.

In the past, it was common for the mother's family to prepare the baby's kimono and the father's family to host a meal, so when the meal was held, gifts such as red rice and red and white manju were given to both families. Even today, there is a view that the meal itself is a way of showing gratitude. If the grandparents attend the shrine visit and do not hold a meal, it is best to prepare a gift to show your gratitude.

[When it is better to bring a gift]

・When you come from far away
It is advisable to prepare a gift even if you are coming from a region far away from the shrine visit. In some cases, transportation and accommodation costs may be incurred, so the financial burden needs to be balanced.

・When you receive an expensive gift or kimono as a celebration gift
When you receive an expensive gift, some parents may want to give something in return, even if they are close to their child. In addition to preparing a gift, you can also give a gift as a thank you gift. Be sure to show your gratitude.
A typical gift is a seasonal Japanese sweet. For example, for the Girls' Festival, "Sakuramochi" or "Hina Arare" is recommended. For the Boys' Festival, "Kashiwamochi" or "Chimaki" are standard. Other auspicious items such as red and white manju or red rice are also good to bring. Unlike gifts in return for a celebration, you don't need to worry about the storage period or the price.

Return gift

Many people worry about returning gifts for celebrations. Recently, some people say they don't need gifts in return, but since it's a way of expressing gratitude, you should return the gift without making the recipient feel uncomfortable.
If you are not hosting a dinner party, it can also serve as a return gift. In some places, the standard is to give about one-third of the amount of the doll or gift you received, but in recent years, it is said that giving half of the amount is the norm.

If you receive something expensive or from a superior, give back as much as you can without overdoing it.

 

If a dinner party is being held, give a gift in return. If a dinner party is not being held, give a gift.

[List of things not to do when returning a gift]

　

●Knives and scissors → "Can cut"
● Handkerchief → Reminiscent of tears
● Japanese tea and green tea ➡ Often used as gifts in return for funeral offerings
● Fragile items (glass or ceramics)
● Underwear and socks
● In the case of food, things the other person dislikes or is allergic to
●There is no gift wrapping.
●There is no greeting card or message.
●Giving gifts too late or forgetting to give them.
(Make sure it arrives within a month.)

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