Blogs

If you’ve ever wondered just what the differences are between Halloween vs Day of the Dead, don’t worry! Tons of people have asked exactly that. To be honest, as someone who spent my life in the middle of Generic Small Town, USA, I was one of them.  I can say that while I knew there WAS a difference, I couldn’t have told you what that was exactly.

Until the middle of college, my only experience with Dia de los Muertos was a Spanish teacher groaning every time I messed up the pronunciation. I was a kid raised on Halloween. Candy, costumes, pumpkins, and scary movies! So if you’d like to know a little bit more to better understand Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, look no further. Here are some of the most popular questions I could find put together for you in one handy blog!

…

Halloween vs Day Of The DeadRead More »

Since Brazilian Independence Day is coming soon, we wanted to take a closer look at holiday traditions in Brazil. Festivals are an integral part of the local culture. Brazil is a renowned party destination with plenty of regional holidays and celebratory events to experience.

If you’ve got friends, family or colleagues in the largest country in South America, this guide will tell you the most popular holidays in Brazil. We’ll also look at regional etiquette for gift-giving (and social faux pas to avoid), as well as some of the best gift ideas to Brazil for each event.

…

Holiday Traditions in BrazilRead More »

Independence Day in Ukraine

On August 24th the bright blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag will decorate the streets of all cities big and small across Ukraine. Also known as ‘День незалежності України’ (Den’ Nezalezhnosty Ukrainy’), this holiday is officially called Ukraine’s Independence Day. A very important national holiday, it commemorates Ukrainian Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

To this day, Independence Day in Ukraine is celebrated with great pomp. Ukrainians have always had their own culture and language, but for centuries were dominated by Russia, Poland, Turkey and other countries. Because of this, the holiday carries extra significance, allowing Ukrainians to express their love for a country ruled by and for them. The day has come to remember the heroes of Ukraine’s past and honor those who fought for their nation’s freedom.

…

How to Celebrate Independence Day in UkraineRead More »

Are you one of the lucky ones who’s being lavished with tons of Rosh Hashanah gifts every year? So many that you can’t even wrap your head around what to do with all these delicious goodies? Or maybe this time around you just want to make your traditional celebration a little bit different?

Gift giving etiquette does not allow you to re-gift, and honestly, you probably don’t want to do it. Besides, why would you if there are so many exciting ways to use all the honey, apples, and pomegranates from your kosher gift basket in ways you’d never thought possible! So, if after the celebration you still have plenty of gifts received for Rosh Hashanah as leftovers, just keep on reading to find out how to get the most of them:

…

What to Do With Leftover Apple & Honey Gifts from Rosh Hashanah?Read More »

Soon, millions of Muslims across the globe will come together to begin celebrating Eid al-Adha on August, 20 2018. If you are familiar with Islam’s culture you probably know that it is one of the two major festivals in Islam, the second largest religion in the world. Known as the Feast of Sacrifice or “big Eid,” this holy celebration marks the end of the Hajj. The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to follow God’s will to sacrifice his son.

Despite this trouble beginning to the tale, Eid al-Adha is a joyous occasion. It is time to celebrate and unite with family and friends. Around 2 billion Muslims share similar traditions observing the festival, however, depending on the region Eid festivities may vary and have its own unique cultural touch. So, which countries celebrate Eid al-Adha around the world?

…

Celebrating Eid al-Adha Around The WorldRead More »

You’ve got friends or associates on the other side of the world, and now you’re not sure how to send gifts to India? No worries, that’s why we’re here. The idea of gift giving in India goes back to ancient times when people gifted fabric, jewelry, even cattle and grain to the ones they loved and respected. Being a traditional culture, many people in India still remain faithful to old customs. Despite global modernization, sending gifts to India is still a good way to demonstrate mutual trust and bonding. It’s the best way to build friendships, professional relationships, romantic relationships, and make amends. For those who are spiritual it is thought to even clean your karma to be reincarnated in the next life.

…

How to Send Gifts to India – All You Need to KnowRead More »

Some call it soccer, some call it football, and everyone calls it fun! Once every 4 years, the whole world comes a little bit closer. 32 countries gather to play some amazing matches and discover the world’s best soccer (football) team! The FIFA World Cup 2018 is here. This is a unique time where nations all over the world bond over a single sport. Differences are all temporarily put aside in favor for cheering on your favorite team! But how do you celebrate it?

At GBO, we have TONS of soccer fans, so it’s only natural that we worked together to write a blog about some of the countries we are from. What does their team history look like? What’s the most popular gift to send to that country?   Below you’ll find our team’s comments on a few country’s soccer teams, and how best to cheer them on and support their fans!

…

FIFA World Cup 2018 – A List Of Gifts For Diehard FansRead More »

Continuing our tour through the world, gift by gift, we’ve landed in Greece. A beautiful and rich country, Greece is the go-to destination for many tourists. But that raises the question: how do you spoil people who live in a beautiful nation nestled near the sea? Along with that, how do you surprise friends and business partners with gifts? Additionally, what rules are there for sending a gift basket? Finally, what holidays are you forgetting?

…

How to Celebrate Greek Name DaysRead More »

The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong (or Tuen Ng) is a spectacular summer holiday in the region. Extremely popular in China and even outside the country, the festival is rich with tradition. Dragon Boat racing is the main focus of Tuen Ng, giving the festival its name and unique competitive flair.

The Dragon boats for the races are adorned with large colorful flags and flowers. They race in the river to the beat of a drum, providing the viewers with an exciting and colorful sight. Westerners call the competition ‘Dragon Boat Races’ because of the way the boats look. Strongly resembling Chinese dragons, their long narrow bodies are decorated with a dragon’s head and tail. The average boat length is about 20–35 meters. Each boat can carry from 20 to 60 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer. Tradition says the winning team will receive good fortune the following year.

…

What Is The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong?Read More »

Finding the perfect gift for friends, family, and business associates can feel daunting. We all want to do our very best to impress, and that’s hard even for people you know nearly as well as you know yourself. For someone miles away, it can feel impossible. When you’re navigating gift-giving culture in UAE, or the United Arab Emirates, if you’ve never visited (and even if you have), you likely have a ton of questions. To make things easy when you’re sending gifts to UAE, we’ve created a quick and easy cheat sheet for you to follow.

…

An Easy Guide To Sending Gifts To UAERead More »