Gift Giving Etiquette

It is customary to provide a small gift for the hostess when you visit a Polish home, such as flowers, chocolates, candies, or wine. Birthdays, name days (the anniversary of the saint they are named after), and Christmas are other occasions for presenting gifts.

Birthdays, name days (the date of the saint after whom they are named), and Christmas are the customary occasions for presenting gifts. Here are some general rules for gift-giving: Avoid giving extravagant presents since they could make the recipient feel bad.

To celebrate their name day, employees bring cake and champagne to the workplace. Giving little gifts to service providers like postal employees and trash collectors throughout the holiday season is customary. Bring wine, flowers, pastries, or sweets for the hostess if you are invited to a Pole's home for supper.

Give flowers in odd numbers. Chrysanthemums in the color yellow are not appropriate as funeral flowers. Give no red or white flowers, especially lilies and carnations. Gifts are typically unwrapped right away.