First timer needs help with greek custom.
 

We will be visiting Greece for the first time in a couple of weeks and I've read that it is customary to bring gifts when visiting. We will be meeting some relatives that we've never met before - would anyone have any suggestions as to what to bring? (Nothing too big since we'll have to take it on the plane) Thanks to anyone who is able to help!

Bring things that are made in your area.

A bottle of wine from your region is one idea.

Jewelry might be nice, and it is certainly small.

Carry on chocolates etc in September or they would melt in checked baggage.

Also bring a small book or calendar with photos of your area.

You make me laugh suggesting things "local to (one's) area".

These people live in Greece, they're not a tribe who live a million miles from any other civilisation. They have access to the internet, they read magazines, they read newspapers and know all about the world! Photos of you hometown will be of little interest to them I can assure you.

Jewellery is too small, too personal. They're relatives, not lovers (I presume).

If they smoke buy them a table lighter, an ashtray from somewhere smart. Or buy them something Dior Homme's new "toiletries" lines - a toothbrush holder in platinum plate, a couple of bone or wood beautifully made pill boxes, a shoe horn, a soap dish. And also a smart scented candle - I love Dior Homme's 30 Ave. Montaigne one, but of course get them any that you particularly enjoy.

A good bottle of champagne always goes down well too.

A Greek friend of mine came to my home and what she brought as a gift were a relief plate of some Greek hero (yuck), and home made balsamic vinegar, capers and honey (yummie!) and a great bottle of Greek wine. So I think they'd probably appreciate similar home made things or a local produce from where you're from!

Hi C,

Some suggestions:

Flowers are always welcome and can be purchased locally.

Local products (Native crafts, maple syrup, pecans), a picture book of your home city or town if possible, kids like tee shirts and baseball caps.

((I))

I really can't imagine that people want a photographic record of your hometown unless it's a world class/picturesque destination. It's the sort of thing that will be looked at once and tossed aside into a vacant drawer.

Useful, and useless beautiful things are always the best!

Carolas, it is indeed customary to brings gifts when visiting. A Greek would never go to someone's house without bringing SOMETHING, whether it be flowers, a bottle of local wine, or something from the states.

Part of the answer to your questions depends on where the relatives live and their economic background. If you are talking about Athenians, it would be one kind of gift. If you are talking about villagers, it is another kind. For example, the kinds of things that M-K is proposing would just not go over well in a village environment.

Having bought zillions of gifts for people in Greece, I've had first-hand experience of what goes over and what doesn't. SO, to more easily answer your question, where do the relatives live, and how much money do you want to spend? Do you want a generic hostess gift, or a gift for a particular person? If for a person (or persons), what are their age, sex, and occupation? Let me know, and I'll give it my best shot!

We just got back from our honeymoon in Greece and visited many of my husband's relatives while we were there. We brought everyone chocolates from the US. Godiva, which, yes they can very well get in Greece. Everyone seemed to really like it. When Nick's relatives come to visit from Greece they also tend to bring honey or chocolates or some kind of sweet. Since you say you've never met these relatives before I'd say candy/sweets is the best way to go.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Eleni, the people we're bringing gifts to live in Athens. There's a male cousin about 55, his wife, a daughter about 24 and a son about 22. Also, I need a lot of little things for relatives that I know nothing about! For the cousin and family I thought maybe shirts by american designers for the men and perfume for the women?? Again, thank you for all of your help!

carolas,

May I suggest a small (4" x 6") high-end keepsake box. One was given to me by Italian friends and it is made of highly-polished burl wood with a hammered silver top with our initials etched on the lid.

Or a pewter serving bowl with their family name engraved in script on the inside bottom of the bowl. Really nice.

Neither of these items will break during transport. However, you are probably looking at minimum $50 each.

If you know their sizes, shirts by American designers are an excellent idea and will be actually used. I think perfume is difficult as it is hard to know what would appeal to a virtual stranger. I have found that beautiful silk scarves usually go over well with women.

Do you have pictures of common relatives, like a grandparent, that your Greek relatives may not have seen? These pictures, nicely framed, are proudly displayed for years and very welcome. Making up a little photo album of your family is also a good gift.

The 22 and 24 year old son and daughter will like exactly the same kinds of things that Americans that age would appreciate. Again if you know sizes, clothes work well, if not, a recent big hit for me for a similarly aged girl was a gorgeous set of bracelets. They spent an entire summer apparently glued to her arm. As for 22 year old males, they are a challenge to buy for, no matter the country. I've had the best luck with t-shirts and CDs, but have never felt particularly good about either choice. My best male presents have resulted from asking the nearest American boy of the right age what present costing x amount of dollars would make you really happy. And, every time I've done that the present has worked.

Liz is right, chocolates are always welcome and I've never had a problem with them melting in baggage altho I know it is always a possibility. It is mandatory with our relatives that I bring them cans of macadamia nuts from Costco that they absolutely love!

In general, think of what you would like for a hostess gift, and bring that. If you like it, so will they!

I don't have any specialized knowledge about Greek customs in giving hostess gifts. the custom of taking a gift when visiting someone's home is certainly not limited to greece. I'm American, and it's common practice here in the US, though, it is not universally followed. It's the practice in Italy, and many other countries, as far as I know.

While I don't know the special Greek variations on this custom, I think, in general, when visiting people in another country, it is interesting to take something native to the place where you live. Food is always appropriate, so, e.g., dried fruits or nuts, confections, candy, marmelades, sauces and condiments that are made in your locality or region can be a nice small gift. For a more lavish gift, you might take a well made item, e.g., a work of fine wood, ceramic, textile, made by a good craftsperson/artist from the area near where you live. My Sicilian cousins were particularly enthusiastic about the simplest thing that I gave them: big bunches of postcards showing very varied scenes of the state where I live--from bucolic farmland scenes to Victorian streets to a Revolutionary War historic site to sand dunes to Pine Barrens to a rural covered bridge to an attractive university campus to a glitzy urban scene to a well-kept university town. Except for the urban scene, the views weren't at all the way they imagined my state to look. The other thing they really liked was copies of old photos of relatives, and photos of my father at various stages in his life.

I wouldn't suggest perfume for the women, it's simply too personal IMO. I know I would never likely wear a scent that someone else picked out for me.

I think the food ideas are all good, especially if you have a local specialty in your home town... nuts, brittle, candies, jam, honey, dried fruits. Or a small handmade item for the house (i.e., hand blown glass bud vase, small pretty pottery bowl).

Hello carolas, gifts are hard to figure out when you really do not know the people.

You have been given some good thoughts here. Here are some gifts I have brought to Italy that certainly seemed to please; a sterling letter opener, I chose the pattern of my flatwear sterling. A small bowl or paperweight made in the glass factory of the small town I lived in, a coffeetable type book of San Francisco, a watch (for a young man in his 20's)..forget which brand but it was a US brand..and at times I have purchased chocolates or flowers or wine locally when I was invited to dinner. Best wishes.

When I visit friends or relatives abroad, I bring gifts from museum shops at home. Not only are the offerings tasteful, they usually have inserts that give some of the history of the gift. And, since I live in New Jersey and most of our friends have senses of humor, I also stop at the largest Garden State Parkway rest stop and pick up some true Jersey kitsch. For our journey to Britain and Ireland this month, I got some really wonderful spoon rests and funky Jersey Girl t-shirts for the younger women. Next week, I hit the Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop for the serious gifts.