Gift Parcels: Tradition That Never Disappears

Jakarta - For shops that deal in gift parcels, Idul Fitri is a moment they have been waiting for as it is a time of booming business. During the holiday, it is a tradition for many Indonesians to send gift parcels to relatives, superiors and business partners.

A set of stacked containers or a tiffin basket containing food is sent to a gift recipient to enhance social ties or to express friendship.

The exchange of food in stacked containers is a token of sharing and gratitude to God for His blessings. Some upper class people also distribute food to the poor.

So next to being thankful to God, the tradition is also a token of social justice in action. The tradition is also a part of a diverse culture in the country. The country`s first president, Sukarno, said the diverse culture was akin to a beautiful garden (taman sari) for Indonesia.

The Betawi (natives of Jakarta) exchange juadah (delicacy made from rice) and dodol (taffy made from sticky rice, coconut milk and palm sugar), while the Minang of West Sumatra give rendang (meat simmered in spices and coconut milk), the Sundanese of West Java give tape uli (sweet cake made from fermented rice or tubers), the Melayu in Medan give lontong (rice steamed in banana leaf) and the Javanese give jenang (sweet rice porridge). The tradition is a process of a long transformation of cultures as historically there are Chinese, Arab and Indian influences in the country.

Over time the meaning and items have gradually changed. An economic element was also eventually included. The gift parcel in turn presented people with the opportunity to start a cottage industry. It also became problematic because there could be vested interests that involved more than a mere token of friendship or a social or cultural symbol.

As a result, gift parcels sent to business partners, superiors or government officials could be construed as a form of bribery and could disrupt good governance or good corporate conduct. Some observers have said there is a connection to the value of gift parcels, which is why many gift parcels these days are being returned by recipients as they do not want to risk being branded corrupt.

The gift parcel business is a seasonal business as people send or exchange parcels during Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year when cake shops, snack stores and supermarkets are full of parcels for sale.

There are several types of gift parcels. The ones for Idul Fitri usually contain Islamic items, such as prayer items, namely a mat, a sarong, a white cloak for a woman, a shirt, a peci cap, a Koran and a string of prayer beads as well as perhaps cups and saucers, cooking pans or food and beverages.

Other parcels include those for Christmas, wedding proposal gift parcels, and parcels to celebrate the birth of a child.

Each of these parcels naturally contains items appropriate to the occasion, such as Christmas cookies, bridal makeup, or baby products.

The gift parcel business has huge prospects. However, the global economic downturn has rendered it less profitable than before. In 2008, the business decreased by about 75 percent and shop owners dealing in this business in Cikini shopping center are feeling the pinch.

Due to the global economic crisis, not only have the prices of contents for the parcels increased, so too have the raw materials for the baskets, such as the rattan, basket base and glue. As a result, the prices of parcels have increased substantially and many people have become reluctant to buy them. Parcels at Cikini are priced from Rp 100,000 (US $10), with some costing Rp 500,000 or Rp 1 million. Parcels containing crystal items sell for between Rp 1 million and Rp 2 million.

A similar situation is found among parcel sellers at Asemka, Gang Ribal and Glodok in Jakarta, where the vendors are feeling the pinch after the government banned the sending of gift parcels to government officials. Parcel sellers have complained that business is slow, yet they still hope to earn a little profit to celebrate Idul Fitri with their own families. Faisal Chaniago

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com
Photo: http://kulowargokapribaden.wordpress.com

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