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Asouvenir (French for 'a remembrance or memory'),[1]memento,keepsake, ortoken of remembrance[1] is an object a person acquires for thememories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a memento of a visit. The object itself may haveintrinsic value, or be a symbol of experience. Without the owner's input, the symbolic meaning is lost and cannot be articulated.[2]
Thetourism industry designates tourism souvenirs as commemorative merchandise associated with a location, often including geographic information and usually produced in a manner that promotes souvenir collecting.
Throughout the world, the souvenir trade is an important part of the tourism industry serving a dual role, first to help improve the local economy, and second to allow visitors to take with them a memento of their visit, ultimately to encourage an opportunity for a return visit, or to promote the locale to other tourists as a form ofword-of-mouth marketing. Promotionaltchotchke attrade shows serve a similar function.[3] Perhaps the most collected souvenirs by tourists are self-generated: photographs as a medium to document specific events and places for remembrance.[2]
Souvenirs as objects include mass-produced merchandise such asclothing:T-shirts andhats;collectables:postcards,refrigerator magnets,key chains,pins, souvenircoins andtokens, miniaturebells,models,figurines,statues; household items:spoons,mugs,bowls,plates,ashtrays,egg timers,fudge,notepads,coasters, and many others.
Souvenirs also include non-mass-produced items such asfolk art, local artisanhandicrafts, objects that represent the traditions and culture of the area, non-commercial, natural objects such as sand from a beach, and anything else that a person attachesnostalgic value to and collects among their personal belongings. The collecting of natural items such as seashells, plants, or rocks is often discouraged due to ecological damage. Especially the export of endangered plants and animals (or products made of their fur or leather) as souvenirs is strictly regulated by international laws.
A more grisly form of souvenir (here as an example ofwar booty) in theFirst World War was displayed by aPathan soldier to anEnglishTerritorial. After carefully studying theTommy's acquisitions (a fragment ofshell, a spike and badge from aGerman helmet), he produced a cord with the ears of enemy soldiers he claimed to have killed. He was keeping them to take back toIndia for his wife.[4]
Similar to souvenirs,memorabilia (Latin for 'memorable (things)'; plural ofmemorābile) are objects treasured for their memories or historical interest; however, unlike souvenirs, memorabilia can be valued for a connection to an event or a particular professional field, company or brand. Memorabilia can also be related to collections, such as action figures, or video games.
Examples include sporting events, historical events, culture, and entertainment. Such items include:clothing; game equipment; publicity photographs andposters;magic memorabilia; other entertainment-relatedmerchandise & memorabilia;movie memorabilia; airline[5] and other transportation-related memorabilia; andpins, among others.
Often memorabilia items are kept in protective covers or display cases to safeguard and preserve their condition.
InJapan, souvenirs are known asomiyage(お土産), and are frequently selected frommeibutsu, or products associated with a particular region. Bringing backomiyage from trips to co-workers and families is a social obligation and can be considered a form of apology for the traveller's absence.[6]Omiyage sales are big business at Japanesetourist sites. Unlike souvenirs, however,omiyage are frequently special food products, packaged into several small portions to be easily distributed to all the members of a family or a workplace.
Travelers may buy souvenirs asgifts for those who did not make the trip. A common tradition is to bring a thank-you gift for someone who provided a service such aspet sitting during the trip.
In thePhilippines a similar tradition of bringing souvenirs as a gift to family members, friends, and coworkers is calledpasalubong.
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Media related toSouvenirs at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition ofsouvenir at Wiktionary
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