View source for Souvenir

{{Short description|Object that may be bought to recall an event from the past, like travel}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Collecting Hobby}}
A '''souvenir''' ([[French language|French]] for 'a remembrance or memory'),<ref name="etym">{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=souvenir|title=souvenir|publisher=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]|access-date=2011-03-05|archive-date=2010-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118074514/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=souvenir|url-status=live}}</ref> '''memento''', '''keepsake''', or '''token of remembrance'''<ref name="etym"/> is an object a person acquires for the [[memory|memories]] 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 have [[Intrinsic value (finance)|intrinsic value]], or be a symbol of experience. Without the owner's input, the symbolic meaning is lost and cannot be articulated.<ref name="museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.byte-time.net/souvenir/ch4.htm |title=Museum of the personal: the souvenir and nostalgia|publisher=byte-time.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034110/http://www.byte-time.net/souvenir/ch4.htm|archive-date=2011-07-23}}</ref>

== As objects ==
[[File:Eiffel tower models.jpg|thumb|[[Eiffel Tower]] souvenirs from [[Paris]], France]]
[[File:Haunzenbergersöll 1900.JPG|thumb|Souvenir porcelain mug, {{circa|1900}}]]
The [[tourism]] 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 of [[word-of-mouth marketing]]. Promotional [[tchotchke]] at [[trade shows]] serve a similar function.<ref>{{cite conference|title=The Design and Development of Tourist Souvenirs in Henan|last=Niu|first=Jiurong|conference=International Symposium on Tourism Resources and Management|date=February 2010|pages=329–332|url=http://www.seiofbluemountain.com/upload/product/201004/2010lyhy06a4.pdf|access-date=17 April 2016|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019105946/http://www.seiofbluemountain.com/upload/product/201004/2010lyhy06a4.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Perhaps the most collected souvenirs by tourists are self-generated: photographs as a medium to document specific events and places for remembrance.<ref name="museum"/>

Souvenirs as objects include mass-produced merchandise such as [[clothing]]: [[T-shirt]]s and [[hat]]s; [[collectable]]s: [[postcard]]s, [[refrigerator magnet]]s, [[key chain]]s, [[pin]]s, souvenir [[coin]]s and [[Token coin|token]]s, miniature [[bell]]s, [[Physical model|model]]s, [[figurine]]s, [[statue]]s; household items: [[souvenir spoon|spoons]], [[mug]]s, [[Bowl (vessel)|bowls]], [[Plate (dishware)|plate]]s, [[ashtray]]s, [[egg timer]]s, [[fudge]], [[notebook|notepads]], [[Drink coaster|coaster]]s, and many others.

Souvenirs also include non-mass-produced items such as [[folk art]], local artisan [[handicrafts]], 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 attaches [[Nostalgia|nostalgic]] 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 of [[war booty]]) in the [[First World War]] was displayed by a [[Pathan]] soldier to an [[England|English]] [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial]]. After carefully studying the [[Tommy Atkins|Tommy]]'s acquisitions (a fragment of [[shell (projectile)|shell]], a spike and badge from a [[Germany|German]] helmet), he produced a cord with the ears of enemy soldiers he claimed to have killed. He was keeping them to take back to [[India]] for his wife.<ref>Reagan, Geoffrey: Military Anecdotes (1992), Guinness Publishing, p. 20, {{ISBN|0-85112-519-0}}</ref>

== As memorabilia ==
{{Redirect|Memorabilia}}
[[File:Souvenir Album of Houston.jpg|thumb|Souvenir Album of Houston, 1891]]
Similar to souvenirs, '''memorabilia''' ([[Latin]] for 'memorable (things)'; plural of ''memorābile'') 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: [[apparel|clothing]]; game equipment; publicity photographs and [[poster]]s; [[Magic (illusion)|magic memorabilia]]; other entertainment-related [[merchandising|merchandise & memorabilia]]; [[film memorabilia|movie memorabilia]]; airline<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectorsweekly.com/advertising/aviation|title=Aviation and Airline Memorabilia|work=Collectors Weekly|access-date=2015-01-14|archive-date=2019-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419125019/https://www.collectorsweekly.com/advertising/aviation|url-status=live}}</ref> and other transportation-related memorabilia; and [[pin]]s, among others.

Often memorabilia items are kept in protective covers or display cases to safeguard and preserve their condition.

== As gifts ==
[[File:Momiji Manju -Nishikido.jpg|thumb|{{Transliteration|ja|Momiji manju omiyage}} from Japan]]
In [[Japan]], souvenirs are known as {{Transliteration|ja|[[omiyage]]}} {{nihongo||お土産}}, and are frequently selected from {{Transliteration|ja|[[meibutsu]]}}, or products associated with a particular region. Bringing back {{Transliteration|ja|omiyage}} from trips to co-workers and families is a social obligation and can be considered a form of apology for the traveller's absence.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.acrwebsite.org/search/view-conference-proceedings.aspx?Id=7150|title=Omiyage Gift Purchasing By Japanese Travelers in the U.S.|journal=Acr North American Advances|year=1991|volume=NA-18|access-date=2015-04-29|archive-date=2017-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019105830/http://www.acrwebsite.org/search/view-conference-proceedings.aspx?Id=7150|url-status=live|last1=Witkowski|first1=Terrence H.|last2=Yamamoto|first2=Yoshito}}</ref> {{Transliteration|ja|Omiyage}} sales are big business at Japanese [[tourism|tourist]] sites. Unlike souvenirs, however, {{Transliteration|ja|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 as [[gift]]s 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 as [[pet sitting]] during the trip.

In the [[Philippines]] a similar tradition of bringing souvenirs as a gift to family members, friends, and coworkers is called {{lang|tl|[[pasalubong]]}}.

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="180">
File:Cultural Fashion and Adornment, El Moez St., 00 (26).JPG|[[Egyptian pyramids|Pyramid]] and [[Great Sphinx of Giza|Great Sphinx]] souvenirs from [[Egypt]]
File:Souvenirs.jpg|Examples of souvenirs: [[figurine]]s, [[Physical model|model]]s, [[snow globe]]
File:Colección de imanes de frigorífico (RPS 28-06-2015).png|[[Fridge magnet]]s
File:SouvenirsChichenItza002.JPG|Hand-carved wood souvenirs ([[Chichén Itzá]], [[Yucatán]], Mexico)
File:RomSouvenirs.jpg|Souvenir statues ([[Rome]], Italy)
File:Souvenirs-Athen.jpg|Souvenir statues ([[Greece]])
File:Matryoshka dolls put up for sale.jpg|[[Matryoshka doll]]s ([[Russia]])
File:Souvenir Shop - panoramio.jpg|A souvenir shop along [[Aleksanterinkatu]] ([[Helsinki]], Finland)
File:Souvenirs de Paris, Quai aux Fleurs (Paris) 2010-07-29.jpg|A souvenir shop ([[Paris]], France)
File:Flickr - schmuela - IMG 6595.jpg|A souvenir shop ([[Egypt]])
File:Сувенирный киоск на набережной Евпатории.jpg|A souvenir kiosk ([[Yevpatoria|Eupatoria]], [[Crimea]], [[Ukraine]])
File:Souvenir.london.arp.750pix.jpg|A souvenir stall ([[London]], UK)
File:Souvenir Seller Namibia.jpg|A souvenir stall ([[Namibia]])
File:SouvenirsPalenque04.JPG|Street traders selling souvenirs ([[Palenque]], [[Mexico]])
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Commons category-inline|Souvenirs}}
{{Wiktionary-inline|souvenir}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of collectibles]]
* [[Devotional articles]]
* [[Charm bracelet]]
* [[Gift shop]]
* [[Goss crested china]]
* [[Heirloom]]
* [[Magic mug]]
* ''[[Memento mori]]''
* ''[[Miyagegashi]]''
* [[Nostalgia industry]]
* [[Railroadiana]]
* [[Retail]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
<references/>

{{Tourism}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Retailing by products and services sold]]
[[Category:Sales]]
[[Category:Tourism]]
[[Category:Memorabilia]]