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A souvenir (from French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
, for memory), memento or keepsake is an object a traveler brings home for the memories
Memory

In psychology, memory is an organism's mental ability to store, retain and recall information. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of mnemonic....
 associated with it. Souvenirs include clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
 such as T-shirt
T-shirt

A T-shirt is a shirt which is pulled on over the head to cover most of a person's torso. A T-shirt is usually buttonless, collarless, and pocketless, with a round neck and short sleeves....
s or hat
Hat

A hat is a headcovering. It may be worn for protection against the elements, for religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status....
s, postcard
Postcard

A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin Card stock intended for writing and mailing without an envelope and at a lower rate than a letter ....
s, refrigerator magnet
Refrigerator magnet

A refrigerator magnet is an decoration attached to a magnet that is used to post items such as shopping lists or report cards on a refrigerator, or simply as decoration....
s, miniature figures, household items such as mug
Mug

A mug is a sturdily built type of Drinkware often used for drinking hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mugs, by definition, have handles and often hold a larger amount of fluid than other types of cup....
s and bowls
Bowl (vessel)

A bowl is a common open-top container used in many cultures to serve food, and is also used for drinking and storing other items. They are typically small and shallow, although some, such as Punch bowls and salad bowls, are larger and often intended to serve many people....
, ashtray
Ashtray

An ashtray is a receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars of tobacco and Cannabis . Ashtrays are typically made of glass, pottery, or metal....
s, egg timer
Egg timer

An egg timer is a device whose primary function is to measure a set amount of time. Its primary purpose was to assist in cooking an egg in water....
s, spoon
Spoon

A spoon is a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl, oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery , especially as part of a table setting, it is used primarily for serving and eating liquid or semisolid food , and solid foods such as rice and cereal which cannot easily be lifted with a fork....
s, notepads
Notebook

A notebook is a book, usually of paper, of which various uses can be made, including writing, drawing, and scrapbooking. Notebooks can be distinguished along several dimensions and sub-dimensions:...
, and many others.






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Souvenir
A souvenir (from French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
, for memory), memento or keepsake is an object a traveler brings home for the memories
Memory

In psychology, memory is an organism's mental ability to store, retain and recall information. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of mnemonic....
 associated with it. Souvenirs include clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
 such as T-shirt
T-shirt

A T-shirt is a shirt which is pulled on over the head to cover most of a person's torso. A T-shirt is usually buttonless, collarless, and pocketless, with a round neck and short sleeves....
s or hat
Hat

A hat is a headcovering. It may be worn for protection against the elements, for religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status....
s, postcard
Postcard

A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin Card stock intended for writing and mailing without an envelope and at a lower rate than a letter ....
s, refrigerator magnet
Refrigerator magnet

A refrigerator magnet is an decoration attached to a magnet that is used to post items such as shopping lists or report cards on a refrigerator, or simply as decoration....
s, miniature figures, household items such as mug
Mug

A mug is a sturdily built type of Drinkware often used for drinking hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mugs, by definition, have handles and often hold a larger amount of fluid than other types of cup....
s and bowls
Bowl (vessel)

A bowl is a common open-top container used in many cultures to serve food, and is also used for drinking and storing other items. They are typically small and shallow, although some, such as Punch bowls and salad bowls, are larger and often intended to serve many people....
, ashtray
Ashtray

An ashtray is a receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars of tobacco and Cannabis . Ashtrays are typically made of glass, pottery, or metal....
s, egg timer
Egg timer

An egg timer is a device whose primary function is to measure a set amount of time. Its primary purpose was to assist in cooking an egg in water....
s, spoon
Spoon

A spoon is a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl, oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery , especially as part of a table setting, it is used primarily for serving and eating liquid or semisolid food , and solid foods such as rice and cereal which cannot easily be lifted with a fork....
s, notepads
Notebook

A notebook is a book, usually of paper, of which various uses can be made, including writing, drawing, and scrapbooking. Notebooks can be distinguished along several dimensions and sub-dimensions:...
, and many others. They may be marked to indicate their origin: "A Souvenir from Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea

Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town on the Tendring Peninsula, in Essex, England and was founded in 1871. It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the 1960s and '70s, but which like other English resorts has been in decline since foreign holidays became more fashionable and affordable making it more popular as a retirement hotsp...
".

In Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
, souvenirs are known as meibutsu
Meibutsu

Meibutsu is a Japanese term for famous products associated with particular regions. Meibutsu are usually items of Japanese regional cuisine, although the category includes local handicrafts....
 (products associated with a particular region); and omiyage, candies or other edibles to be shared with co-workers. Omiyage sales are big business at Japanese tourist
Tourism

Tourism is travel for recreational or leisure purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from...
 sites.

Travelers may buy souvenirs as gift
Gift

A gift or a present is the transfer of something, without the need for compensation that is involved in trade. A gift is a voluntary act which does not require anything in return....
s for those who did not make the trip. In Cameroon
Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary state of central and western Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south....
, the principle is that someone who can afford to travel can afford to bring something back (as a gift, or cadeau) for those who cannot.

Memorabilia

Similar to a souvenir, memorabilia (from Latin, for memorable) is an object that is treasured for its memories; however, unlike souvenirs, memorabilia are valued for a connection to a historical, sporting event, culture, entertainment. Such items include cigarette cards, air sickness bags, publicity photographs, poster
Poster

A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both typography and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly textual....
s, entertainment-related merchandise, movie memorabilia, pins and other, often-license
License

The verb license or grant license means to give permission. The noun license refers to that permission as well as to the document memorializing that permission....
d, items.

Souvenirs in Japan


In Japan, souvenirs are called omiyage. These are customary gifts typically given by someone upon returning from a trip to be given to family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, business associates, teachers, classmates and any other person socially related to the returning vacationer. By age-old Japanese conventions, it is shame
Shame

Shame is, variously, an Affect_, emotion, cognition, state_of_being. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
ful to arrive or return empty-handed and such acts as going on a vacation away from one's society could be perceived as selfish in a manner, anti-social at the very least. The omiyage gift placates all concerned and smooths intricate social ties, absolving
Absolution

Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the traditional Churches in the Sacrament of Reconciliation....
 the traveler of such shame. Omiyage shows the traveler was thinking of his or her family and community members while away.

Because of the number of omiyage often required following a vacation, travelers need to buy souvenirs in bulk (it is not unusual to bring one empty suitcase solely for the omiyage). Thoughtfulness is always an issue. It cannot look too cheap, and it is preferred it be something universally practical like towels, dinnerware, tasteful decorative items, broadly-popular foods and the like. It is not even necessary the choice of omiyage be particularly relevant to the place visited. Key chains and unfamiliar foods are not well received.

Places that cater to Japanese travelers will offer selections of suitable omiyage arranged by price, size and category. Several items of all-purpose omiyage are often kept by wise housewives to give on a moment's notice to avoid embarrassments. Due to the expense and effort involved in collecting and distributing omiyage, Japanese are often very close-lipped about their travel plans, hoping to minimize their omiyage responsibilities.

See also

  • Gift shop
    Gift shop

    A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic, often to simply provide evidence that the consumer has visited that location....
  • Goss crested china
    Goss crested china

    Goss crested china is typically in the form of small white glazed porcelain models, made from 1858 to 1939, carrying the coat of arms of the place where they were sold as a souvenir....
  • Magic mug
    Magic Mug

    A magic mug is a mug that, when filled with a hot liquid, changes colour. This effect is created by using a special oxidized ink.These mugs are often manufactured and sold as Souvenir....