10415 Presents For Italians

Almost certainly the money would come in very useful, but Italians are very proud and will often refuse cash.

I have a lady who 'does for me' once a week and you would not believe the fight I had to give her a pay rise after two years... I fully expected her to TELL me that her rates had gone up (my lady in England did so every year!). In the end I gave her a 5% rise on what she had asked for, and did so again this year. She said I was the only one of her ladies who had EVER done so - and she has worked for some of them for 5 years. I am in the country and now pay her €8ph. But in the city this would be €10 - 12 ph! Perhaps you could work out the time and base a cash payment along these lines and just give it to them explaining that it is for the hours of their time they have given you.

So - having wandered 'off track' with that bit of information - why not think about a gift voucher from a local store - or sit down and have a serious talk and explain how you [I]really[/I] value their help, but you cannot go on accepting it unless they allow you to repay them for their valuable time.

DON'T mention thier gifts of fruit and veg - all Italians [I]delight[/I] in giving their surplus to others... my cleaning lady brings me all sorts of fruit and veg and even a few cuts of meat and salami when they kill their pig every year. [U]My[/U] Christmas present from her was 1kg of home grown, home ground maize flour (for polenta) - a lovely thought!

Failing that, perhaps a really nice box of English chocolates for the lady (mine is partial to Terry's Old Gold at Christmas)!!! Do petrol stations 'do' gift vouchers? - that's just another possibility...

I do pay the going rate (Liana is E8 and Roberto is E10) - I had the outside rendered and re pointed and she was soooo apologetic about the amount of hours required to clean it afterwards- I have builders in at home (we're suckers for punishment) and I KNEW how much mess she had to clean - it was like no builders had been near the house after she cleaned it. Anyway, I like the idea of gift vouchers (money without being money..) and i think I might go for some "beauty" products - when you shake her hands you KNOW how hard she works!
But Roberto is a bit of a problem - I have given him all our empty wine bottles (gee that's good of us) for his home made wine but what can we give an Italian working man- over and above money?

I've been told other nice hand lotion and other beauty skin care products to be found at - [url=http://www.moltonbrown.co.uk]Molton Brown: Skincare, Hair Care, Mens Grooming, Luxury Gifts, Hand Wash and Lotion[/url]

My Italian friend in Italy actually rang the shop and arranged for a gift basket to be sent to him by courier to Italy. He had the item within two days of the order. You can also of course pay online and have it sent wherever.

Does Roberto also do gardening for other clients. If so maybe a really good set of small gardening tools???

Hand lotion may be nice for city folk but I rather think a country man who is gardening might think it a bit foppish!!.

A really good grappa, or a nice cheese might go down better.

I have found that gifts that can be shared are more welcome because out here the people seem less selfish and more interested in socialising and sharing with friends.

I wasn't suggesting hand cream for Roberto Nielo!!! My friend ordered the gift basket as a birthday present for his favourite auntie. Jinty had mentioned hand lotion.

Yes a shared present would be cool. If for Christmas, well what about the obvious, Christmas pudding, cake or luxury mince pies perhaps. Shortbread too???

[quote]"....and i think I might go for some "beauty" products - when you shake her hands you KNOW how hard she works!"[/quote]

I got my son to bring me over a full [I]Boot's Hand Repair Kit[/I] for my lady (Nicoletta) - her hands were like sandpaper too...
She loved it - but I had to translate the instructions for her - we had great fun doing that! But it really helped her cracked skin during the winter months and the cold.
How about a gift voucher from a garden centre for him. He might need some new tools...

P.S. Sorry I misunderstood about 'paying them'. I thought they wouldn't accept anything...

I always have problems trying to decide which presents should I bring for my lovely neighbours. Fortunately, the lady is a very religious person who helps a lot in the church doing the flowers, etc., so I have there a good source of inspiration. This time, I am bringing for her a chunky silver chain and pendant with the Basque rosary. I have a large one made of wrought iron in the house at Bagni and she admired it a lot. I cannot find the same thing, because it is an antique, but I managed to get her something very similar to this, which is really a ring, but as a pendant and with a chain.... have a look just in case you have never seen a Basque rosary before: [url=http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CATHOLIC-BASQUE-ROSARY-THUMB-RING-SILVER-CROSS_W0QQitemZ290260129374QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20080912?IMSfp=TL080912116005r6194]VINTAGE CATHOLIC BASQUE ROSARY THUMB RING SILVER CROSS - eBay (item 290260129374 end time Sep-18-08 20:30:53 PDT)[/url]
I have also given them Christmas sweets, such as Nougat, Panetonne (a special one made by the local baker and beautifully wrapped), gifts for the garden, such as small pruning scissors, seeds, special gardening gloves, and I think that those in the UK could get very good presents as there are plenty of excellent gardening tools and accessories.
If there are any children around, T-shirts and other similar items will be welcome and the parents will not mind if the presents go to the children. On the contrary.
A good, solid British umbrella will also be very good in some regions where it rains a lot. Much better than the 3 euro ones sold in the streets.
For a man, drinks are also welcome, try to find some special liqueur which is not available through the Italian supermarkets. Also, all those great sets you can find in the UK to replace the corks in bottles of wine which have been opened, etc. Look around and you will find plenty of gadgets available.
Finally, most people will be very happy to receive any kind of present because it means that you care for them.... so do not worry too much.

If you want the present to have a UK theme - I've found shortbread biscuits in a tin with a Scottish themed picture good. Or v posh biccies from Fortnums - which you can buy in Stansted airport!

I thought about shortbread (M&S have some nice tins) but as I personally don't like it - I am reluctant to give it as a present!
I don't think I can bring anything religous - as I don't know if they are practising - in fact in the village I tried to find out the times for mass for a visitor and NOT ONE shopkeeper knew! (Or maybe it was my Italian?)
I think I might try and find some bottle labels and print his name on for his grappa and wine.
And probably some nice cheese from the local "posh" cheese shop.

Thanks to all for your suggestions

As we are currently restoring and the builders and project manager are doing a fantastic job, we had their company/business names embroidered onto shirts. They were delighted and I have to say that they have reciprocated with free extras that would have cost us a small fortune.

Great idea - we have our own business and we have fleeces and T Shirts - so I think Roberto I will give him a couple of them!
Cheers!!

[quote=Jinty;96938]I would like some advice about giving presents in Italy.

We have a lovely couple who are looking after our house - Liana is doing cleaning and washing and Roberto is doing the gardening and millions of odd jobs (He is wonderful) - We bought him a bottle of whisky from Scotland- only to realise the same bottle was £5 cheaper in LeClerc! and my friend suggested tea bags for Liana (she looked a little non plussed at them!)

Every time we arrive they leave us gifts - cherries/chesnuts/walnuts/grappa/wine/porcini mushrooms......FAB

and I have real difficulty getting them to tell us how much we owe - my Italian improves every time I speak to them as the have no english (and why should they!) but I really want to show our appreciation of the work they do for us - so any suggestions???[/quote]
I, personally would decide a fair rate (es.Euro 8,00 x hour) pay them (whether they want to accept or not) for the approximation of the hours or a fair forfeit sum for all the things done ,after that if you want to bring them a box of biscuits or whatever from M&S i', sure they'd be happy with that too...
that would help you to keep them doing it also when and how you want,and maintain the goodwill and produce they give you in the long term...

[quote=Nielo;96949]A really good grappa...[/quote]

Nardini, of course... :winki:

Perhaps because I am half Italian, I agreeded and sometimes disagreed with you all. I was also envious that the expected hourly rates of pay were so low. Money is always difficult but I am certain that it is greatly appreciated and can, as others have suggested, be "wrapped" into a small gift at Christmas. I have found that's the best time to give money as a gift, mixed in with ...yes shortbread for him and Clarins handcream (the very best for her hard working hands) but looks plain and not too good to use!!!
What never ceases to amaze me is how much Italian ladies of a certain age like things with embroidery on them, so if you can guess the ladies size M&S do embroidered nightdresses in pastel colours or small towels for the bathroom with embroidered flowers. THE EMBROIDERY is the thing they like. A great big pot plant, showy and brightly ribboned has always gone down well. Leave it to the florist and wear your dark glasses when you collect it!!! Men are difficult and we gave sleeveless fleeces (gilets) from England that were better made than here but when we gave a hunting sleeveless jerkin that cost more than our friend would pay we hit the jack pot.

Thanks everyone for your replies - Can I just re-iterate that I want to buy them a "present" because they have made/make my life so much easier and to say Thank You!
I do pay them for what they do - but have to force them into telling me how much! ( I was told 8 and 10 Euros was the going rate however, I always round up to the next 10 Euros anyway)

So.....
For Her
Hand Cream - pretty box with embrodiery?
Embroidered things......
Chocolates or Shortbread

For Him

Fleece
Personalised Wine Bottle Labels which I have just ordered from Canada!
Cheese from the posh cheese shop in Castelnouvo and some Scottish Oatcakes?

[quote=Jinty;96969]I thought about shortbread (M&S have some nice tins) but as I personally don't like it - I am reluctant to give it as a present!
I don't think I can bring anything religous - as I don't know if they are practising - in fact in the village I tried to find out the times for mass for a visitor and NOT ONE shopkeeper knew! (Or maybe it was my Italian?)
I think I might try and find some bottle labels and print his name on for his grappa and wine.
And probably some nice cheese from the local "posh" cheese shop.

Thanks to all for your suggestions[/quote]

Our helpful Italian friend loves shortbread! She works for the firm from whom we bought, speaks excellent english and has been a great help to us. Also, both she and her friend, who helped us find the 'tende' we wanted, both couples like green tea! Yes! When we first met one couple they sat us down to an 'english tea' with both milk and lemon available. So this last trip we took out a tin of F&M shortbread and a mixed case of 'QI' green tea, made a lemon cake and invited them over, plus children. And when they arrived they brought a tray of patisseries with them! Nielo is right, they are so kind. When we left this time, our neighbour came round with some plum jam she had made and some local plums.
Annie.

I was recently in hospital, and the nurses went nuts for a tin of butter scotch that I bought them........on another note ..........how big do you go up to with your clothing line ?

mmm.. i think an italian would find petrol gift vouchers a bit odd...
you could always take a nice cashmere cardi from some scottish shop, or an English style cashmere scarf packaged in a nice way if a cardi is too dear.
Maybe something from liberty? you can get this sort of thing online.
I took our neighbours some kent wine - i dont even think they drank it as they never commented on it again
wendy

Wendy if you brought Kent wine do you think I could get away with HAGGIS :)

On second thoughts.....

Museums like the V and A, Natural History Museum, British Museum have shops both in situ and online. Lots and lots of goodies there.

[quote=wendyE;97009]mmm.. i think an italian would find petrol gift vouchers a bit odd...
you could always take a nice cashmere cardi from some scottish shop, or an English style cashmere scarf packaged in a nice way if a cardi is too dear.
Maybe something from liberty? you can get this sort of thing online.
I took our neighbours some kent wine - i dont even think they drank it as they never commented on it again
wendy[/quote]
I assume that we are talking about country, working people? Cashmere cardi's???? In Umbria cashmere cardigans are manufactured and sold through outlet shops...they are far far better quality than anything you could buy in Great Britain infact they are sold in shops in Knightsbridge at exhorbitant prices...I doubt very much that such a gift would impress contadini, they would miss the point of your generosity. Trinkets from the V&A?? Again you'd be thanked and the item, no matter how beautiful, would immediately be put into the glass cabinet and be brought out to show friends as "something from our English friends..." The boasting would be the real present...I speak from experience. You'll win hands down with a plant or flowers, the showier the better and those biscuits and sweets but be aware that many older ladies have diabetes!!!

Well if you forget the oatcakes or shortbread Jinty you can pop up the road to Barga and get them there. :bigergrin:

Why does everyone assume she's an "older lady" she is younger than me!
I'm 46!
The hand cream is because her hands are rough from all the hard work she does - she is very very fit and slim and has a wicked sense of humour - I have decorated the house with very "moderno" things which she loves - so I am now thinking a bit of Alessi - something you tend not to buy yourself...
Roberto is getting personalised bottle labels which I have ordered and will print the 1st batch of with his name Vino Rosso/Vino Bianco/ Grappa and the year on - his son who is studying chemistry at university - I am sure will be able to do the rest and one of our company logo'd fleeces for l'inverno.
I'll let you all know how these go down when I'm over in September.
Thanks again for all the suggestions

From The British Museum - aw

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/cmcp88140_l-1.jpg[/IMG]

Can't figure out though what he's holding!!!

[quote=IRITALIA;97029]Well if you forget the oatcakes or shortbread Jinty you can pop up the road to Barga and get them there. :bigergrin:[/quote]

Don't forget the Irn Bru at the great Ice cream shop:yes:

Couple of last thoughts, Lemon Curd, Dundee Cake.

[quote=Sally Donaldson;97034]Couple of last thoughts, Lemon Curd, Dundee Cake.[/quote]
That's a couple of the reasons I want to live in Italy!

We live in the US and some of the gifts we have given that were appreciated were:

a photo book of Vermont - perhaps they'd appreciate one from England?
handmade wind chimes
handmade porcelain or pottery from a local artist.
silk and woolen scarves
hand made wooden cheese boards

If anyone does consider giving flowers or a plant as a gift, be very careful and check the significance first.

For example chrysanthemums are flowers for the dead so you might unwittingly give quite the wrong message!!

[quote=Nielo;97073]If anyone does consider giving flowers or a plant as a gift, be very careful and check the significance first.

For example chrysanthemums are flowers for the dead so you might unwittingly give quite the wrong message!![/quote]

Carnations too... alas!

My friedn loved the White Company toiletries I bought her (in the sale!) because the packaging was plain and said London on it. Whittards was another hit a proper "English" mug and a gift pack of assorted teas. She also has a thing for stripey or checked Englsih pyjamas but not sure if that would be considered too personal. Big hits with the neighbours hav ebeen Roses chocolates & a calendar of English countryside

Our Italian friends and neighbors always appreciate maple syrup and small-batch specialty bourbon (like Knob or Maker's Mark). We also take over balsam pillows, an Adirondack specialty, little decorated pillows stuffed with fresh balsam needles, smells like the North Woods, lasts about 6 months. It's hard to come up with "typically American" gifts, but the I love NY T-shirts were also a hit with the kids/teenagers.

[I][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=4]My new friend and penpal, she is italian,(a local) and she is getting married soon....Oct. 3rd! I want to send her something for her and her new husband, but not sure what to send that won't get broken in the mail and something that will be practical????[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

[quote=shubendr;97589][I][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=4]My new friend and penpal, she is italian,(a local) and she is getting married soon....Oct. 3rd! I want to send her something for her and her new husband, but not sure what to send that won't get broken in the mail and something that will be practical????[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/quote]

A nice photo frame which is boxed travels very well and it is easy to send. Put an extra layer of bubble wrap over the glass, just in case. After the wedding, your friend is going to have plenty of photographs to display....

Just to let you know the reaction to my "gifts"
The personalised wine labels for Roberto (with the comune crest ) went down a storm (i nearly saw a tear) - he clutched them to his chest!
M&S Chocolates and Crabtree and Evelyn for Liana - "Mi piace chocolate!" however, she did ask if the Crabtree and Evelyn was Scottish (oops)
A Next red velvet party dress for my Geometra's 2 yr old was a HUGE sucess (given how "molto caro" childrens clothes are in Italy - and M&S Chocolates again "mi piace chocolate"
We were then presented with about 2 Kilos of Grapes, a jar of Roberto's olives and a "sack" of the most fab potatoes from Roberto!
Unfortunately, he had painted the "externo" windows instead of the "interno" windows (aaargh) however it means I get to go back for a week to paint the internal windows myself (RESULT!!!)

Thanks for all your tips and advice

I would have thought that giving neighbours expensive cashmire scarves and the like would cause some embarassment and make you seem a bit 'lady bountiful'.

Simple gifts or ones that you have spent time rather than lots of money on are lmore appropriate surely?

[quote=myabruzzohome;98278]I would have thought that giving neighbours expensive cashmire scarves and the like would cause some embarassment and make you seem a bit 'lady bountiful'.

Simple gifts or ones that you have spent time rather than lots of money on are lmore appropriate surely?[/quote]

I think that is true of all gifts to anyone! You can always tell when someone has put some thought into a gift - Hence the saying "It's the thought that counts"

However, I never got over the "gift" of a pair of American Tan tights in the eighties from my then boyfriend's stepmother - I think I knew what she was thinking :)

But it is almost impossible..no impossible...to give an Italian a gift without them giving you something back, be it ever so small...they always give "the last gift".

[quote=Noble;98291]But it is almost impossible..no impossible...to give an Italian a gift without them giving you something back, be it ever so small...they always give "the last gift".[/quote]

So very very true.
Anytime we have given our neighbours a little something to say thank you they disappear into the depths of their house only to reappear with, as you say, "the last gift"!

we found that anything homemade , cakes, jams, lemoncurd goes down well

You got Italians to eat Lemon Curd? Sono impressionato! :laughs:

Ok I confess........maybe not lemon curd..........

Heather Honey or Edinburgh Rock Jinty???

Sally

You CANNOT give them two porn stars...........

[quote=deborahandricky;98306]Sally

You CANNOT give them two porn stars...........[/quote]

Damn! NOW what will I do for Christmas presents...

[quote=deborahandricky;98306]Sally

You CANNOT give them two porn stars...........[/quote]

Yes perhaps a bit excessive on reflection..

As you probably know at Christmas presents are normally only given to small children rather than to adults. What we do for our wonderful Italian neighbours who give us many gifts of garden produce and look after our house is a Christmas hamper of sweets, cakes, biscuits and anything that we can find that is 'typically English'. We tend to wrap it all up with ribbons and crackers and it becomes a great talking point in their house when the parcel arrives and all of their friends are shown the gifts from their English friends. I always look for something a bit different. A tin of Cadburys chocolate fingers in a tin shaped like a van. A china mug with a picture of Buckingham Palace on it. Hope you like this idea. Caroline

I do Caroline - I think it is indeed a lovely idea. Grazie!

[quote=Caroline;98344]As you probably know at Christmas presents are normally only given to small children rather than to adults. What we do for our wonderful Italian neighbours who give us many gifts of garden produce and look after our house is a Christmas hamper of sweets, cakes, biscuits and anything that we can find that is 'typically English'. We tend to wrap it all up with ribbons and crackers and it becomes a great talking point in their house when the parcel arrives and all of their friends are shown the gifts from their English friends. I always look for something a bit different. A tin of Cadburys chocolate fingers in a tin shaped like a van. A china mug with a picture of Buckingham Palace on it. Hope you like this idea. Caroline[/quote]

Nah ......stick with the porn stars :laughs::yes::laughs::yes:

Thanks, I've found these suggestions useful. I have a lovely neighbour who is always giving me her produce - vegetables, fruit, wine and oil - a real old fashioned farmer's wife, who I doubt would be interested in beauty products, and I always struggle to reciprocate. Any more suggestions would be welcomed.