WE WANT YOU TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MONGOLIA

GIFTS
It is common practice in Mongolia to give gifts to family and friends, accompanied by a blessing and good wishes.
Traditionally, the most important gift was of the nine whites: eight white horses and one white camel, with gold and silver items, silk, clothes, khadags, dairy products and sweets.
The value of the gift is actually quite unimportant; a host may give a bottle of alcohol and pieces of mutton to a guest. Gifts differ according to the occasion. Newly married couples are usually given pieces of furniture for their new home; children who have had their hair cut for the first time are given sweets, money, games or toys.
Mongolians often reward someone for hard work. Gifts are traditionally given to a lama-physician when medicine is needed; or when becoming a lama's student; or for the disposal of a corpse. If someone asks for a 'non-virtuous action' on behalf of themselves they should give a small present.
After difficult work like slaughtering livestock for winter, castrating animals, killing vermin or performing an abortion, the hands are washed with mineral water for purification and then tea is served.
Gifts differ according to type of work, but significant gifts are seldom given in exchange of labor.