GIFT TRADITIONS OF TURKISH PEOPLE

In general it can be said that Turkish people is not the same in all aspects and have a great variety based on the age, religious belief, location, lifestyle and many more demographical parameters. We may specify some do's and dont's here to take into account when deciding for gifts for the average Turkish person. Some of them may seem same to ones in your culture, but please keep in mind that this site provides information to many people from different cultures.

GENERAL
DO / DON'T	WHY
Do not send alcholic drinks as a gift unless you are sure the recipient gets spirits.	This is mostly related with religion. Alcohol is evil in islam. If the recipient is devout that never gets sipirits, your gift may accepted as an insult. In general 99 % of population in Turkey is muslim but about 70% of population will like to have a valuable spirit.
Do not ask to the recipient what he/she needs or he/she would like to receive as gift.	This means directly "I will buy a gift for you". The recipient will feel like to offer a value of the expense for the gift. Instead of asking himself/herself, It would be better to ask one of his/her friends what he/she likes to receive or needs to, but only those who will keep the secret. If you do not have any means to get an idea, you may send a general type of gift, you do not need to worry about if he/she already have this, any general gift welcomed by Turkish people.
Do not tell the price of any gift to the recipient.	Gifts are being accepted more than its price regardless of its price. Telling the price may be understood "this is the value I estimate for you". In some cultures other than Turkish this is the same.
You may call the recipient by telephone after delivery of a gift, but do not immediately after the reception. Three or more hours would be the best after the gift delivery. The reason for your calling must be celebrating the recipient for the special day, be care of not to focus on the gift very much.	Give time to the recipient to call you for the thanking. But the recipient may not call you same day, because international phone calls are expensive in Turkey when compared to general US or European international phone call prices.
Do not send used gifts to the recipient unless it has a very very special meaning between you and us or he/she is especially interested in share and exchange belongings.	Used gift whatever is given, may be formulated that you do not want to spend time for a new gift for the recipient and gave the one under your hand.

GIFTS TO YOUNG WOMEN
Do not send a charming gift to a married woman (your colleague, business friend, etc.), prefer cute things or send the gift to the family.	In general Turkish people are hot blooded and Turkish husbands are jealous :-). Your good wishes may misunderstood by him.
Do not send the romantic gift for love to a young woman or a girl when she will receive under her families eyes unless you are approved as her boyfriend or they are intellectual. Prefer where she is alone or with her friends only if you are not sure.	Most of Turkish fathers and brothers may be conservative for their daugther. In some intellectual families it does not matter, but in some falmilies it does, this may be your last gift for her.
Women in Turkey generally like small house decorations, candles that they can put a special place to a reminder.	The gentlemen usually cannot understand why women are so interested in so useless things, but woman thinks different, remembering as well as being remembered is important and putting the reminders to shelves makes the person important.
Love requires special gifts than usual, anytime without any special occassion. Anyway, special occasions are must to send a gift.	Nothing to talk about love, this is my wife Burcu's opinion, we gentleman must obey to ladies.