It is more blessed to give than to recieve!

The Culture of gift giving in Madagascar.

One of the many cultural differences between my experience in Canada and that of Madagascar is around gift giving. While both cultures give gifts at significant occasions such as birthdays and weddings, in Madagascar there is a tradition of giving gifts to ‘big men’. It is very common for people to give gifts to those in authority, in the church, but also senior members of the community.

The culture is very deferential towards anyone holding public office, business owners, military and police officers, etc. and this is certainly the case for the bishop within the church. I am humbled and a little embarrassed by the constant receiving of gifts, most especially because they often come from very poor Christians.

I tried, gently, to stop the Christians, but learned quickly that, while I was well intended, it was actually dishonouring them. Though I tried to re-gift some items, I learned that too was culturally insensitive. In one particular case, when visiting a parish, at the end of worship there was the familiar procession of Christians to give gifts to their Bishop. My chaplain stood waiting for me to pass the various gifts to him so that my arms weren’t overflowing. As I received the many gifts, I realized that one Christian in the line was presenting me with a live chicken…admittedly a gift I have never before received!

I immediately began to wonder what on earth I would do when presented with a live chicken. I’ve never held one and had a deep concern that I would do something wrong which would cause the bird to start making inappropriate noises, or worse, I wouldn’t be able to handle it and it would go flying around the church!! I actually prayed that my chaplain would take the bird and save me from unfolding mayhem!

To my great relief, he took the bird, and I could simply thank the Christian for the generous gift. After worship I suggested that we give the chicken to a Christian who needed it more than me (and who would know what to do with it!!). But I was reminded that to do such a thing would be to dishonour the person who gave it to me. When I asked what we do with it, my chaplain announced, ‘we will take it home with us in the truck!’.

He suggested however, that we put the chicken in the care of one of the Christians until we were ready to begin the 16 hour drive home. So off went the chicken into foster care! Two days later, when we were to begin our drive home, the chicken was delivered to us at a local restaurant where we were having lunch. After lunch the poor critter would make the long journey with us, only to be cooked when we got home. Lo and behold, three hours into our journey I asked how the chicken was, thinking it was in the back of the truck, but with great shock my driver announced that we had forgotten it…it was still tied to a post at the restaurant!!

A quick call to the archdeacon (other duties as assigned!) and he was off to collect the chicken! And, mercy of mercies, he would deliver it to a needy Christian. Of all the pictures I have taken while in Madagascar, this one warms my heart the most!

It is more blessed to give than to receive!