Corfu Travel Guide

• Corfu Guides

• Corfu Web Cams

• FAQs and Help

• Villas To Rent

• Corfu News

• Corfu Forum

• Message Boards

• Taverna Agni

• Virtual Corfu

• Gallery

• Yachting Guide

Welcome To Greece

• Food and Wine Guide

• Learn Greek

• Greek Life

• Ionian Artists

• Agni Member Pages

• Property Guide

Recent Forum Posts

The forum has now been moved to here: New Forum

110 people are viewing this web site.

Chat Room

Print this Page
Site Map

Email Page to a friend

Giving gifts to Greeks

Guest, you are viewing the Greek Life, Travel To Greece Forum

All Forums

Travel To Greece Forum : Greek Life

Topic:

Giving gifts to Greeks

Message posted by BBB on 04 June 2004 at 6:14pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

BBB

Can anyone help with this. We want to give some sort of gift to our new neighbours in Corfu. We do not want to offend them by an inappropriate present or even by giving them one if that is not the done thing. I understand that the greeks like to give you something when you visit them. The neighbours are a middle-aged local couple. We were thinking of bringing them something from England.

BBB

Message posted by Corfiot Mag on 04 June 2004 at 6:44pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Corfiot Mag

Hi

How very thoughtful of you! This is a difficult area, and without seeing where they live it is difficult to tell you what would be appropriate.

However, clothes are not unless the recipient is teenage or under, in which case it is fine. A nice silky scarf or shawl or tie from UK shop would be very acceptable though. Whether some sort of ornament would be appropriate is unlikely as it's difficult to judge a local's taste compared with ours, unless you've been extensively in their house and have seen what they like. I would stick to the conservative and go for a blow-out cake or a pot plant, if buying locally. Or if from the UK anything from M & S or Harrods (like the scarf and tie), overtly packaged. But not too exotic a foodstuff like smoked salmon.

Bit of a minefield all in all. But the only thing you can be sure of is that they will accept the pressie with grace even if it is not appropriate. And there will be no request for you to hand over the receipt so that they can go back and change it, which seems (certainly in my UK family) to be the rule nowadays.

One thing to note: unless things have changed, don't expect them to open it in front of you. The present will be put aside and enjoyed later.

Suzanna, can you also help with this in yr role as Miss Manners of Corfu?

Hilary

Message posted by Sailor on 04 June 2004 at 7:09pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Sailor

Hi BBB.

We take gifts to Corfu to give to our friends who own and run the hotel we stay at on our holidays. Normally something ornamental from the UK, or we club together and as we did last year, we brought them a piece of Ladro.

They were both well pleased that we even thought of it, and we have gone back, or one of group have gone back, it is proudly on view.

Its the thought that counts.

Best Wishes.

Message posted by kary on 04 June 2004 at 7:13pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

kary

Hi,

I would think some sort of ornament for the house would be appreciated and need not be purchased in the UK. There is plenty of choice in Corfu town. I was given a gift under similar circumstances of some lovely cakes presented on a lovely plate. Not the sort of plate you eat off but the kind that you could display. I think clothing would perhaps be a little too personal.

Message posted by doug on 04 June 2004 at 7:44pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

doug

Corfu

Hi BBB

It not always the present but the help and thought you can give to others whilst you are there.My neighbour was revamping his house I would give him a hand if he was struggling or just bringing back cold bottled water during the summer when shopping ,but he would end up giving me carrier bags full of oranges or making me greek coffee every time he saw me.

Doug

Message posted by BBB on 04 June 2004 at 8:04pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

BBB

Thank you all for your suggestions. It has given me a few ideas to work on. We actually bought our house from this couple and we want to be good neighbours and establish a friendship with them. They are also having to put up with all the noise etc with our building works. They have been extremely welcoming with gifts of eggs and produce. We are really looking forward to being a part of the local community albeit just for holidays at the moment.

What about alcohol or perfume?

Message posted by Susanna on 04 June 2004 at 9:39pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Susanna

Corfu

I've never been called that before, Hilary!

I think the alcohol for him, perfume for her idea is excellent. You can also never go wrong with cakes bought locally, but this is the type of gift you would take with you when going for a meal at their house, so for something a bit more special, some nice (well-known brand) perfume plus a bottle of whiskey sounds just right.

Actually, whilst on this topic, it wouldn't hurt to point out to any Brits coming to live here that you would NEVER go to someone's house empty-handed. Most shops in Greece would close down if it weren't for the tradition of taking presents for all occasions!

Susanna

Message posted by BBB on 04 June 2004 at 10:20pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

BBB

Thanks Susanna, that is really helpful.

While we're on the subject, any more tips on etiquette with the locals would be welcome.

Thanks, BBB.

Message posted by ali on 09 June 2004 at 9:24pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

ali

A gift in Greece is usually a token gesture like, as previously stated, an ornament or some nicely gift wrapped delicacies. A friend of mine, then in his twenties, received a crystal dish for sugared almonds on his name day from his best friend and seemed genuinely pleased to have it. I can just imagine my nephews face if he were to open such a present.

Choclates or fancy pastries are appreciated or if you have a local speciality from your home town they are often interested in trying them too. Although I do remember making christmas pudding one year which everyone thought was awful. Still they were very interested in trying it.

Message posted by BBB on 10 June 2004 at 12:05pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

BBB

Thanks Ali, I shall be shopping soon.

BBB.

Message posted by Corfoitbabe on 10 June 2004 at 10:35pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Corfoitbabe

and I would have just bought a box of chocolates well at least I know now!!

Message posted by al n ali on 11 June 2004 at 12:20am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

al n ali

we have been guests of a lovely corfu family and as gifts we have taken ornamental items ie fancy cake plate and figurine, and these have been received with great happiness and much admiration. However the greatest gift is your friendship as this is also given back 100 fold. Also try to learn a few words as the greeks have a great sence of humour and will be so pleased that you have tried to learn especially when they speak our language so well.

Message posted by Sailor on 11 June 2004 at 11:59am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Sailor

Hi Al and Ali.

I totally agree. Last night I received a telephone call from the owners of the hotel we stay at in Corfu, who are also very good friends of ours. They made the call to find out if we were all organised for August, and was there any thing special or in general we needed for our arrival. There command of the English language was excellent, and easy to understand on the telephone, luckily I have been learning Greek since our last visit, so I was able to say a few words only during the conversation, but they were so chuffed with this.

We always take something over with us, and normally buy a thank you gift before leaving, although they always remind us that just being there is enough for them, but then that is the Greek people all over, never thinking of themselves, but others.

This is one friendship I value highly.

Best Wishes.

If you wish to post a reply to this thread you must first Login
If you are not already registered you must first register

Printable version

Bookmark with:

What are these?

All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission. Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund

Agni Travel Office: ++30 26630 91609; Taverna Agni: ++30 26630 91142
Address: Agni Bay, Gimari, Kerkyra, Greece, TK49100 Corfu