The Culture of Sending Parcels Assignment

RUNNING HEAD: HOME IS WHERE PARCEL IS
Title: Home is where Parcel is
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

1HOME IS WHERE PARCEL IS
The culture of sending parcels is more likely to be finding in the migrant worlds because
of the lack of physical connection among the close ones. Gifting of parceled gifts has been a
point of interests among various anthropologists and sociologists as well as the consumer
researchers. However, apart from the economical point of view of parceling of gifts the inclusion
of emotions, the feeling of security or the behavioral aspects on sending or receiving the gifts
have also been studied by the researchers. The current essay will analyses the main three macro
concepts involved in the gifting procedure. Through a process of interview, this essay aims at
shedding light on the emotion of the sender and the receiver’s side and the shop’s role in the
whole process.
While parceling the gifts, it has been pointed out by the behavior analysts that the whole
process is guided by either of the two propositions. The motives of gifting are either altruistic
where the pleasure of the recipient is mainly focused on; or is agonistic where the donor’s
satisfaction of gifting is stressed on. In my research I came across the fact that, in the process of
parceling, both these propositions are equally true and valuable. While researching on the
feelings of the parents in Italy about giving parceled gifts to their children, I came across the idea
that this ritual, according to them is one of the most efficient and passionate ways of showing
love and attraction towards their children who are living in different areas for educational or
occupational purposes. I interviewed my parents as well as the parents of some of my school
mates and referred to the Italian Blog named as “my daughter and I” where my key finding was
that the senders; parents in this case, are highly concerned with the well being and attachment
with their children. Italy has been known to the outside world as a region where familial ties are
very strong and the people of the country gives a great value to the family. Moreover, Italian
parents are known to have a strong sense of belongingness with their children. This made them

2HOME IS WHERE PARCEL IS
feel worried about the health of their sons or daughters who have to live outside. While I asked
Luca’s mom about her feelings on sending parcels, her prompt reply was that it has been a daily
custom or habit on part of her to send his son parcels. For her, it was the only way to show her
love and care for her son. Moreover, the familial ties became more visible to me while she said
that every time while eating any food that is preferred by her son as well, she is always reminded
of her son and cannot help herself from sending stuffs to Luca. On investigating more on this
matter, I found that the content in the parcels are mostly food items that the children preferred
but cannot have because of the unavailability of those things in the regions they are currently
living. This fact made me realize the fact that in the Italian culture, the wellbeing of the family
members is seen with importance rather than the materialistic interests. Again, it can also be
pointed out that, the Italian parents are comparatively more attached with their children to know
exactly what are their likes and dislikes. The main stuffs are items like pasta, sausage or dry
items like biscuits. The content in the parcel however, varies according to the different regional
tastes. While pasta or sausages are the main content in the parcels for the children who have their
origin in Campania or Naples, children having home at Liguria gets more items that has
vegetables and sea foods as the main ingredients. The Italian parents love to include the personal
touch of love and care to the parceled gifts. Hence, gifting something homemade is considered to
be a thoughtful gift as it is a product of love and labor. The Italian parents also think that the
sending of parceled gifts, specially the food items is customary for every parent so that the
children living outside do not feel less loved. Parents who do not send parcels are seen as
careless parents in Italy. This again holds the strong sense of familial ties in the tradition of Italy.
While interviewing the parents, I also analyzed the emotion of love, sorrow of detachment with
their children and the face full of joy and satisfaction while the whole process of parceling and