7 Fun Facts About Souvenirs

Souvenirs are bought all around the world in tourist locations in every major international city every day of the week by travellers wanting keepsakes and mementos for themselves, friends, loved ones and colleagues.

But here are some interesting and questions that we have tried to find the answers for, including some tit-bits that you might not know:

1. What does a “souvenir” mean?

The word “souvenir” originates from the French meaning of the word (of the same spelling). It means memory, and they are often used as a keepsake or memento of a memorable event or holiday location.

2. What are the most common types of souvenirs?

Common souvenirs that are often bought by international tourists and travellers include clothing such as t-shirts, hats, and scarves, and also common household items such as mugs, tea towels, spoons and stationery.

3. Why do we usually buy souvenirs anyway?

Travellers often buy souvenirs as giftware for friends, family and co-workers who could not attend the trip. This is especially so in Japan, where traditional “meibutsu” or “omiyage” are items of food or handicrafts, and are big business in Japan, to the point where is is deemed shameful if you do not return from your trip without gifts for those left behind!

4. What souvenirs can’t we bring back from our holidays?

Bringing back souvenirs to the UK from overseas could land you in a lot of trouble with HM Revenue and Customs if the souvenirs are certain types of animal skins, shells and ivory, due to international trade restrictions.

You could land your self in even more serious trouble if the item were “prohibited goods” such as unlicensed drugs (heroin, morphine, cocaine etc), offensive weapons, indecent or pornographic material banned in the UK, material depicting extreme violence or counterfeited or pirated goods such as watches, CDs and DVDs etc.

Without a license (which most if not all travellers will not have) if will also be illegal to import firearms, live animals (without a British import license), endangered species (whether alive or dead) and also certain radio transmitters that are not allowed in the UK.

5. What do souvenirs and Dan Fogelberg have in common?

“Souvenirs” is the title of Dan Fogelberg’s second album released in 1974. It includes such tracks as “Song From Half Mountain”, “Changing Horses” and the title track of the album “Souvenirs”.

6. What are the most popular souvenirs for tourists in China?

The most popular souvenirs for those coming back from China are Chinese Tea, arts and crafts, and clothing. This all comes from a survey from the 2008 Beijing Games and travel to China by VISA international.

7. What is the most expensive souvenir?

Well in 2008, a bank note with a face value of £1 million (which was not legal tender I might add) was sold at auction in London for £78,300. It and one other known surviving note was kept as a souvenir of the eight Marshall Plan £1 million bank notes in World War 2 by British and American secretaries.