Singapore Expats

Hi all,

this weekend I am invited to a housewarming BBQ at a colleages place. Can anyone tell me what kind of gift is suitable?

I think all these present things very difficult as the meanings are s o different sometimes than in germany.. like flowers etc...

Hope someone can help !

Thanks !

I have not come across any host(ess) who has an aversion to plants. So I would think a good gift is to get a small set of mini potted plants. You can find in the Far East Flora/IKEA or such shops. They can hang them on the balcony railings or even window sils. Another item is the small cushion covers or a small set of aromatic candle holders.

Nice bottle of champagne to celebrate their new home.

hi,

in germany we have a tradition that we give breead and salt for a housewarming pary. bread for food and salt for wealth. You think it is ok to bring a gift like that, to bring some tradition from my homecountry?

Thanks all !

Ofcourse, yes, germangirl.

Singapore is a land of diversity and a melting pot for various religions, nationalities.

If I were hosting this party, I would be delighted to know this fact about German.

Bread and salt?

Haaaaaaaeeeeeh?

No laaaaaaaaaaah!

germangirl wrote:we give bread and salt for a housewarming pary. bread for food and salt for wealth

The local equivalent would be rice and sugar; I believe they signify abundance (always enough food to eat) and sweet relations . . .

However, I don't think anyone does it anymore . . .

hah.
rice and sugar. that went away in favor of cash in red packets? haha

more like shopping vouchers . . . so you won't end up with a dozen toasters / kettles / tea sets or household items that don't match your home's colour scheme or interior design theme . . .

Red packets are for Chinese New Year or Chinese weddings.

the bread and salt thing is still done in germany. bread is like for always have enough food, and the salt for wealth, as it used to be very expensive in the mid evil times... the tradition is pretty old... but still people do it.

germangirl wrote:Hi all,

this weekend I am invited to a housewarming BBQ at a colleages place. Can anyone tell me what kind of gift is suitable?

I think all these present things very difficult as the meanings are s o different sometimes than in germany.. like flowers etc...

Hope someone can help !

Thanks !

I always like to give someone things they can use at home, a coffee maker, air purifier, fryer. etc. They will come in handy.