Wedding Gifts
Wedding gift giving traditions, history, and symbolism.
Types of Kimono
Various kimono exist for specific events. These include: Hinamatsuri: These kimono are supposed to only be worn by dolls to celebrate happiness in childhood. Furisode: This is the most formal kimono that can be worn by an unmarried women and young girls. They are marked by the colorful patterns all over the garment, and worn... »
Kimono
In Japanese kimono means “the thing worn.” Variations have been worn since the early Nara period (roughly 7th and 8th century), influenced by Chinese fashion. During the Edo period (roughly 17th and through mid 19th century), it became more popular, and evolved to the basic style we see today. All members... »
Yin-Yang
The yin-yang is a symbol that represents the two great opposite but complementary forces at work in the cosmos. Yin represents things that are female, cold, dark, passive power, earth, rain, soft, evil, black, small, even (numbers). Yang represents masculinity, light, and warmth, heaven, sunshine, hard, good, white, and large. Together the interplay of... »
Gift giving anxiety
Because of the increasing complexity of gift giving within our society, givers and even recipients now become increasingly anxious in gift giving situations. Gift giving anxiety arises when the gift giver wants to make an impression upon the recipient in hopes of furthering or adding meaning the relationship. Often gifts are extensions of our inner-self,... »
Gift Certificates and Gift Cards
Today the idea of a gift certificate is nothing groundbreaking. However, in the 1930’s, the gift certificate was a revolutionary tool for consumers. It alleviated fears of getting the wrong gift, but avoided the impersonal stigma of giving cash. The process of obtaining the card has remained essentially unchanged. The giver would browse stores around... »