Culturally Clueless!
October 22, 2006 9:26 PM Subscribe
What's a culturally appropriate gift to give my fiancee's Iranian parents?
My fiancee is Persian-American and I'm white American. His parents have been very generous and welcoming to me over the years and I would like to give them a gift to show my gratitude. Last time I overshot and gave too $$ a present which I felt was perceived as a cultural faux pas. What's a thoughtful, and culturally appropriate gift (my guy is clueless about the culture and has no helpful suggestions!)?
My fiancee is Persian-American and I'm white American. His parents have been very generous and welcoming to me over the years and I would like to give them a gift to show my gratitude. Last time I overshot and gave too $$ a present which I felt was perceived as a cultural faux pas. What's a thoughtful, and culturally appropriate gift (my guy is clueless about the culture and has no helpful suggestions!)?
If they are strict muslims then a ham may not be so great and maybe not a bottle of wine. Though I'd guess that since they raised a "culturally clueless" son who is also marrying a farengi then you could pretty much give them anything you'd give anyone's family. Don't get me wrong, it's not because they are "bad" persians but because they've shown that it's just not all that important to them.
The fruit basket would be good. Maybe some really good dates or nuts? It really depends on their taste and where they live. In Tehrangeles, Houston, DC, Nashville or NYC (as well as various other citys across North Anerica) they can pretty much get whatever they want at the highest quality, if they live in the sticks then the shopping list could be long. Really good coffee, finely ground, would be appreciated.
I know my mom always needed the following things until she moved near a persian grocer: dried limes, dried orange peel, pomegranate molassas, and dried herbs (mint, parsley, fenugreek, dill). Those herbs got a lot of strange looks at the airport, especially when my hair was to my butt.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:10 PM on October 22, 2006
The fruit basket would be good. Maybe some really good dates or nuts? It really depends on their taste and where they live. In Tehrangeles, Houston, DC, Nashville or NYC (as well as various other citys across North Anerica) they can pretty much get whatever they want at the highest quality, if they live in the sticks then the shopping list could be long. Really good coffee, finely ground, would be appreciated.
I know my mom always needed the following things until she moved near a persian grocer: dried limes, dried orange peel, pomegranate molassas, and dried herbs (mint, parsley, fenugreek, dill). Those herbs got a lot of strange looks at the airport, especially when my hair was to my butt.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:10 PM on October 22, 2006
Cities across America, North America, yes, spelling me bad.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:11 PM on October 22, 2006
posted by Pollomacho at 10:11 PM on October 22, 2006
Baklava is always a nice present if you can get decent stuff. I'm no expert but in my limited experience the quality seems to be better from places that carry a good selection of different types. I haven't tried ordering it from the internet but that might be an option for you.
posted by teleskiving at 12:44 AM on October 23, 2006
posted by teleskiving at 12:44 AM on October 23, 2006
Some Persian friends of mine used to rave about the kinds of fresh fruit they got back home and which, since they moved to the West, never seems to taste that good.
Please don't buy them a conventional fruit basket. Try to find out where the local sub-continent population or arabic population do their shopping. Then go find them some incredibly sweet mangos, melons, figs, etc., and spinkle in the things Pollomacho mentions above, dried limes. pomegranate molasses etc., (Oh, for a good Garam Sabzi!)
They will love the attention to detail, good luck
posted by Wilder at 5:32 AM on October 23, 2006
Please don't buy them a conventional fruit basket. Try to find out where the local sub-continent population or arabic population do their shopping. Then go find them some incredibly sweet mangos, melons, figs, etc., and spinkle in the things Pollomacho mentions above, dried limes. pomegranate molasses etc., (Oh, for a good Garam Sabzi!)
They will love the attention to detail, good luck
posted by Wilder at 5:32 AM on October 23, 2006
If there is a persian bakery in the area, you can get them sweets.
posted by chunking express at 9:11 AM on October 23, 2006
posted by chunking express at 9:11 AM on October 23, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Don't try to express all your gratitude in one gift, that's how overdoing comes about. A token now, another some other time, just letting them know you think of them thankfully and often.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:37 PM on October 22, 2006