{"id":45,"date":"2012-12-11T09:53:18","date_gmt":"2012-12-11T16:53:18","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2022-08-23T03:32:29","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T09:32:29","slug":"thing-love-samoan-gift-giving-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virgingifts.com\/blog\/thing-love-samoan-gift-giving-101","title":{"rendered":"A Thing of Love: Samoan Gift Giving 101"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Gift giving in Samoan culture is a common practice that holds a lot of weight. In fact, they call gifts \u201cMeaalofa\u201d which translates to \u201ca thing of love.\u2019 Samoans view every gift as a tangible representation of their feelings toward the recipient because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virgingifts.com\/gift-ideas-for-him\">gifts are the best way to express love<\/a>, gratitude, respect and affirm a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Samoan culture tightly grasps the ceremonies and gift giving customs from their origination even though the majority of Samoans are now Christians. Ceremonial gifts are called \u201cFa\u2019aaloaloga Fa\u2019aSamoa\u201d which translates to the \u201cSamoan way of showing honor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Gift Wrap and Presentation:<\/strong>\u00a0Traditionally gifts were often wrapped in handmade and hand painted bark cloth called siapo. Modernly, when gifts are wrapped they are usually in wrapping paper like here in the states.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Gift Giving Etiquette:<\/strong>\u00a0Never refuse a gift.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Go to Gifts:<\/strong>\u00a0Mats. The Samoan culture has perfected the art of handcrafted mats and these mats are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virgingifts.com\/gift-ideas-for-him\">seen as the highest gift<\/a> one can give and are exchanged in almost every ceremony or formal occasion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Since mats are given at formal occasions, informal go-to gifts are \u201cmoney and great amounts of food. For example, a whole roast pig, limbs and cuts of beef, boxes of canned corned beef, buckets of corned beef or baskets of cooked food.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Business Gift Giving Standards:\u00a0<\/strong>Business gifts are expected and are viewed as a representation of respect. If the giver is from another country, a token from their home country is the standard business gift to a Samoan associate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Gift Giving Occasions:<\/strong>\u00a0Since the majority of Samoans are Christian, the gift giving holidays are aligned with Christianity. However, Samoans blend their traditional rituals with modern Christianity and there are some fun \u201cextra\u201d holidays and gift giving occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*New Year:<\/strong>\u00a0New Year is heavily celebrated. Houses are decorated with streamers and flowers, dancing and feasts are standard and family members and close friends all present each other with small gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>* Birthday:<\/strong>\u00a0Birthday gifts are not customary, except these days, certain milestones are celebrated in a big way: 21 years, 40, 50, 60, 70, 75 etc. For these a feast is usually thrown and people give gifts and\/or money. Those celebrating their 21st are sometimes given a mirror key symbolic of their freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Hostess:<\/strong>\u00a0Hostess gifts are fairly customary. If you don\u2019t bring one it would not be seen as rude but it\u2019s a nice gesture. Common hostess gifts are flowers or chocolates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*White Sunday:<\/strong>\u00a0Unique to Samoan culture, this holiday falls on the second Sunday in October. White Sunday celebrates childhood and gifts are given to children only.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>* Weddings:<\/strong>\u00a0At traditional Samoan weddings, gifts are given more to the families of the bride and to the guests than the actual bride and grooms themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As in most cultures, the bride\u2019s family is expected to assume the cost of the wedding which is quite costly. In Samoan culture, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virgingifts.com\/gift-ideas-for-him\">the addition of gifts<\/a> to the cost of the wedding and reception make Samoan weddings quite costly to the bride\u2019s family. Traditionally the groom\u2019s family is gifted woven mats. Guests with \u201chigh status\u2019 are given gifts from the bride\u2019s family, often these gifts were monetary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Gifts for the newlywed couple come from many of the guests. These gifts include things for the home and money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Funerals:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s custom to give gifts to the immediate family of the deceased. Usually these gifts are mats or money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Thank You:\u00a0<\/strong>A traditional gift giving belief that Samoans cling to is that the giver receives more spiritual blessings than the receiver. Therefore, thank you gifts almost always are given.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Ava Ceremony:\u00a0<\/strong>The most formal ceremony that takes place. An Ava ceremony takes place when bestowing a chief title and when welcoming important, high status visitors. The gift of a feast and mats are usually given.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Formal Apologies:<\/strong>\u00a0Traditionally apologies are accompanied with a gift. Many times the gift is a fine woven mat since it\u2019s considered the highest gift one can give.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>*Christmas:\u00a0<\/strong>Christmas celebrations mimic our Christmas in the states (except for the fact that December is one of the hottest months in Samoa).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"blog-experience-finder\" id=\"experience-finder-Z91B5J5T\">\n    <div class=\"form-group form-group-regions selectric-theme-flydown\">\n        <label> Region:<\/label>\n        <select class=\"finder_regions\" name=\"finder_regions\" required>\n        <\/select>\n    <\/div>\n            <div class=\"form-group selectric-theme-flydown form-group-categories\">\n            <label> Categories:<\/label>\n            <select class=\"finder_categories\" name=\"finder_categories\">\n            <\/select>\n        <\/div>\n        <button type=\"submit\">\n        Go!\n    <\/button>\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/javascript\">\n  $j(document).ready(function () {\n    var htmlId = \"Z91B5J5T\"\n    var showCategories = \"true\" === 'true'\n\n    var categories = _.sortBy(Cloud.getConfig('categories'), 'name');\n    var regions = _.filter(Cloud.getConfig('regions'), function (region) {\n      return region.name.toLowerCase() !== 'national'\n    });\n\n    var regionsOptionsMarkup = _.map(regions, function(region) {\n      var stateCode = '';\n      if(typeof region.state_code !== 'undefined') {\n        stateCode = region.state_code + ' - ';\n      }\n      return '<option value=\"'+ region.name +'\">' +\n        stateCode + region.name +\n        '' ;\n    });\n    regionsOptionsMarkup.shift()\n    regionsOptionsMarkup.unshift('<option disabled selected value=\"\"> Select a region');\n\n    \/\/ Add the options to the select\n    $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .finder_regions').append(regionsOptionsMarkup);\n\n    $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .finder_regions').selectric({\n      \"arrowButtonMarkup\": '<i class=\"fa fa-angle-down selectric-button\">',\n      onChange: function (element) {\n        removeError();\n      }\n    });\n\n\n    if (showCategories) {\n\n      var categoriesOptionsMarkup = _.map(categories, function (cat) {\n        return '<option value=\"' + cat.url_key + '\">' +\n          cat.name +\n          '';\n      });\n      categoriesOptionsMarkup.unshift('<option disabled selected value=\"\"> Select a category');\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .finder_categories').append(categoriesOptionsMarkup);\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .finder_categories').selectric({\n        \"arrowButtonMarkup\": '<i class=\"fa fa-angle-down selectric-button\">'\n      });\n    }\n\n    function renderError() {\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-regions').addClass('invalid');\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-regions').append('<small class=\"error\">Please select a region.')\n    }\n\n    function removeError() {\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-regions').removeClass('invalid');\n      $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-regions small').remove();\n    }\n\n    $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' button').click(function (evt) {\n      evt.preventDefault();\n\n      var regionText = $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-regions .selectric p.label').text();\n      var categoryText = showCategories ? $j('#experience-finder-' + htmlId + ' .form-group-categories .selectric p.label').text() : null\n\n      var region = _.find(regions, function (region) {\n        return region.state_code + ' - ' + region.name === regionText;\n      })\n      var category = _.find(categories, function (category) {\n        return category.name === categoryText;\n      })\n\n      var url = '';\n\n      \/\/ If no region, render an error and don't change url\n      if (!region) {\n        renderError();\n        return false;\n      } else {\n        \/\/ If region exists, change url!\n        url = Cloud.getUrl(region.url_key);\n        if (category) {\n          url = Cloud.getUrl(region.url_key);\n          if(category.url_key) {\n            url = Cloud.getUrl(region.url_key + \"\/\" + category.url_key);\n          }\n        }\n\n        window.location.href = url;\n        return false;\n      }\n    })\n  })\n<\/script>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gift giving in Samoan culture is a common practice that holds a lot of weight. In fact, they call gifts \u201cMeaalofa\u201d which translates to \u201ca thing of love.\u2019 Samoans view every gift as a tangible representation of their feelings toward the recipient because gifts are the best way to express love, gratitude, respect and affirm [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":9852,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[244,243],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","tag-culture","tag-fun-facts"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Thing of Love: Samoan Traditions &amp; Samoan Gift Giving<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about Samoan customs &amp; traditions involved with Samoan gift giving - 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