Regift
Encyclopedia
Regifting or regiving is the act of taking a gift
that has been received and giving it to somebody else, sometimes in the guise of a new gift. One example of a formalization of this activity are the white elephant gift exchange
s, in which items can be regifted from year to year.
In the USA, "National Regifting Day" is defined as December 18. In Canada, eBay marketed "National Re-gifting Week" as December 26-30 (December 26 being Boxing Day
, a time traditionally associated with gift-giving).
Regiving differs from straightforward giving in that goods are not acquired specifically for donation. Typically, goods that have been received as a gift are offered to others, unbeknown to them that it was originally a gift to the person offering it. Often the motives are principally charitable but also includes giving items which are surplus to one's needs.
However, re-gifting also refers the means of giving away unwanted gifts as a way of disposing them. Consider the "fruitcake
gift" scenario. Someone receives a fruit cake but they don't like (or want) fruit cake but think someone else might. They give it away to them who also may not like fruit cake either. The recipient re-gifts the product again and it ends in a potentially infinite loop
of gift giving.
Regiving differs from recycling in that recycling is most often associated with breaking components down and rebuilding into new products.
sitcom Seinfeld
("The Label Maker
"), although the practice pre-dates the term substantially. In the episode, the character Elaine
calls Dr. Tim Whatley a "regifter" after he gives Jerry Seinfeld
a label-maker that was originally given to Whatley by Elaine.
Another variant introduced in Seinfeld
is degifting (see Indian giver
), which refers to the act of demanding a gift back from the receiver.
are proposed in popular media regarding regifting; they include rewrapping the gift, not using the gift before regifting it, and not giving the gift back to the original gift-giver.
Regifting has become a popular addition to many white elephant gift exchanges or yankee swap events. There are no rules that specifically prohibit or encourage the practice of regifting at these parties, but generally the host of the party suggests regifting if it is an option. However, if the host suggests a spending limit for the party, it is generally poor etiquette to regift in lieu of making a purchase. The online variations of these exchanges eliminate this situation through their online purchasing requirements.
A variant of regifting was mentioned as one of Oprah's Favorite Things
during the recession-themed 2008 episode.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University
PublicMind Poll in Dec. 2010 showed that regifting was "commonplace." Burçak Ertimur, one of the investigators in the study, and a professor of marketing at FDU, said “The popularity of regifting is driven by many things for different people. For some, it’s thrift in difficult economic times, or it’s a way to get around annoyingly high expectations about gift-giving. It’s also awareness of, or guilt over, how much stuff goes into the landfill. But the main reason might be just the sheer volume of stuff we have,” she said.
Regifting has recently become more acceptable when it was adopted by environmentally and budgetary conscience people that encourage the Green Gifting
concept.
Gift
A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to...
that has been received and giving it to somebody else, sometimes in the guise of a new gift. One example of a formalization of this activity are the white elephant gift exchange
White elephant gift exchange
A white elephant gift exchange is a popular holiday party game found primarily in North America. It has many variations in both the name and the game play. Generally, white elephant parties need a minimum of six participants. With a larger group, game play may be more protracted...
s, in which items can be regifted from year to year.
In the USA, "National Regifting Day" is defined as December 18. In Canada, eBay marketed "National Re-gifting Week" as December 26-30 (December 26 being Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
, a time traditionally associated with gift-giving).
Regiving differs from straightforward giving in that goods are not acquired specifically for donation. Typically, goods that have been received as a gift are offered to others, unbeknown to them that it was originally a gift to the person offering it. Often the motives are principally charitable but also includes giving items which are surplus to one's needs.
However, re-gifting also refers the means of giving away unwanted gifts as a way of disposing them. Consider the "fruitcake
Fruitcake
Fruitcake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and soaked in spirits. A cake that simply has fruit in it as an ingredient can also be colloquially called a fruitcake. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated...
gift" scenario. Someone receives a fruit cake but they don't like (or want) fruit cake but think someone else might. They give it away to them who also may not like fruit cake either. The recipient re-gifts the product again and it ends in a potentially infinite loop
Infinite loop
An infinite loop is a sequence of instructions in a computer program which loops endlessly, either due to the loop having no terminating condition, having one that can never be met, or one that causes the loop to start over...
of gift giving.
Regiving differs from recycling in that recycling is most often associated with breaking components down and rebuilding into new products.
Origin of the term
The term was popularized by an episode of the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
("The Label Maker
The Label Maker
"The Label Maker" is the 98th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 12th episode for the 6th season. It aired on January 19, 1995.-Plot:...
"), although the practice pre-dates the term substantially. In the episode, the character Elaine
Elaine Benes
Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld; she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer...
calls Dr. Tim Whatley a "regifter" after he gives Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
a label-maker that was originally given to Whatley by Elaine.
Another variant introduced in Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
is degifting (see Indian giver
Indian giver
Indian giver is an expression used mostly by European Americans to describe a person who gives a gift and later wants it back, or something equivalent in return...
), which refers to the act of demanding a gift back from the receiver.
Etiquette
Several rules of etiquetteEtiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
are proposed in popular media regarding regifting; they include rewrapping the gift, not using the gift before regifting it, and not giving the gift back to the original gift-giver.
Regifting has become a popular addition to many white elephant gift exchanges or yankee swap events. There are no rules that specifically prohibit or encourage the practice of regifting at these parties, but generally the host of the party suggests regifting if it is an option. However, if the host suggests a spending limit for the party, it is generally poor etiquette to regift in lieu of making a purchase. The online variations of these exchanges eliminate this situation through their online purchasing requirements.
A variant of regifting was mentioned as one of Oprah's Favorite Things
Oprah's Favorite Things
"Oprah's Favorite Things" was an annual segment that appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2002 to 2010, with a one-year hiatus in 2009. In the segment, which was typically aired during the holiday season, Winfrey shared products with her audience that she felt were noteworthy or that would make...
during the recession-themed 2008 episode.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
PublicMind Poll in Dec. 2010 showed that regifting was "commonplace." Burçak Ertimur, one of the investigators in the study, and a professor of marketing at FDU, said “The popularity of regifting is driven by many things for different people. For some, it’s thrift in difficult economic times, or it’s a way to get around annoyingly high expectations about gift-giving. It’s also awareness of, or guilt over, how much stuff goes into the landfill. But the main reason might be just the sheer volume of stuff we have,” she said.
Regifting has recently become more acceptable when it was adopted by environmentally and budgetary conscience people that encourage the Green Gifting
Green Gifting
Green Gifting is an emerging trend that results in a lower environmental impact as well as a lower impact on personal budgets from the gift giving process...
concept.
Further reading
- "Regifting Commonplace," Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
's PublicMind Poll, Dec. 20, 2010, accessed at http://publicmind.fdu.edu/regift/