When someone helps us to accomplish a difficult task or gives us a helpng hand, we often want to give him a little present in order to say thank you… and sometimes in order to be certain to count on their support in the future. Then, there are always good reasons to give each other nice things.

However, even if the agents of the civil service in France are generally a great help, it is badly perceived to give them a present and even more so if it is money. It could be seen as an attempt at buying a favour and will embarrass the civil servant, like the person who gives the present.

However, there are some occasions to thanks these people: children (or their parents) often put together to buy an end of year present for their primary school teacher. After a stay in hospital, sick people regularly give little presents to the team that took care of them.

Last of all, the Holiday period is a great opportunity to give a few euros to your postman or the firemen when they come by to hand out their calendars.

Translation: I thought you might like a souvenir of my little angel…