THE FUTURE OF MONEY Bernard A. Lietaer - library.uniteddiversity ...

While we often tend to think of gift societies as primitive and
dismiss them in a condescending way, some of these gift rituals are
extraordinarily complex and sophisticated. In traditional societies,
gift rituals are considered among the most important social activities
within the community. Their very complexity is a sign of the
significance given to them.
For example, the Tikopia who live in an archipelago in Polynesia
engage in no less than 24 different kinds of ritual gift exchanges to
complete one single wedding. The whole process requires several
days.
In another island group, the Massim archipelago, otherwise totally
useless ornaments called the Kula are always moving as ceremonial
gifts from one island to the other. Specific 'soulava' necklaces - worn
only by women circulate in a counter-clockwise sequence among the
islands, while the male 'mwali' armshells circulate among the men in
clockwise sequence.
The North-western American Indians had great meetings of all
neighbouring vibes to celebrate potlatch (literally to nourish, to give).
Status was marked by the quality and quantity of objects given. We
consider people famous because they have accumulated a lot of
money, or because they bear a tide such as 'Her Royal Highness'. In
contrast, the Kwakiutl honorific titles characterise the generosity of
the giving in which people have engaged: e.g., 'Whose Property was
eaten in Feasts' or 'For Whom Property Flows'.'
Modern societies and scientific communities
What is left of our Western world family communities still occurs
around Christmas and birthday reunions, and - as all retailers will
tell you - around gift exchanges. Today's marriages the ritual where