      thumb|170px|red gift box. a gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment. the gifted item should not be owned by the recipient. although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. in many countries, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may sustain social relations and contribute to social cohesion. economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy. by extension the term gift can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favour, including forgiveness and kindness. gifts are also first and foremost presented on occasions - birthdays and christmas being the main examples. == presentation == in many cultures gifts are traditionally packaged in some way. for example, in western cultures, gifts are often wrapped in wrapping paper and accompanied by a gift note which may note the occasion, the recipient's name, and the giver's name. in chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck.[3] == gift giving occasions == gift giving occasions may be: * an expression of love or friendship. * an expression of gratitude for a gift received. * an expression of piety, in the form of charity. * an expression of solidarity, in the form of mutual aid. * to share wealth. * to offset misfortune. * offering travel souvenirs. * custom, on occasions (often celebrations) such as ** a birthday (the person who has his or her birthday gives cake, etc. and/or receives gifts). ** a potlatch, in societies where status is associated with gift-giving rather than acquisition. ** christmas (people give one another gifts, often supposedly receiving them from santa claus, the christ child or saint nicholas.) ** feast of saint nicholas (people give each other gifts, often supposedly receiving them from saint nicholas.) ** easter baskets with chocolate eggs, jelly beans, and chocolate rabbits are gifts given on easter. ** greek orthodox christians in greece, will give gifts to family and friends on the feast of saint basil. ** muslims give gifts to family and friends, known as eidi, on eid al-fitr (the end of ramadan) and on eid al-adha. ** jews gives hanukkah gifts to family and friends. ** hindus give diwali and pongal gifts to family and friends. ** buddhists
Giving