Is it rude to regift a present?
Guilty
The short answer
Regifting is acceptable if the gift is new and goes to someone outside the original circle. Giving it back to the person who bought it is not.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06113
The aunt who gave the candle v. The niece who gave it back
Filed 10/18/2026
- Plaintiff
- The aunt who gave the candle
- Defendant
- The niece who gave it back
Statement of claim
Last Christmas I gave my niece a lavender candle. This Christmas she gave me a lavender candle. It was the same candle. My card was still in the box. It said Merry Christmas, love, your aunt.
Charge
Return of a gifted candle to its original giver, one year later, with the original card enclosed
Judgment
Guilty
Niece found guilty of regifting a candle back to the aunt who gave it
Sentence
The defendant buys the plaintiff a new candle of her own choosing and checks every box for cards before wrapping it.
How the court usually rules on this
The court does not object to regifting in principle, since an unused gift helps nobody in a closet. The rules are that the item is new, suits the new person and travels far from its source. Regifting within the same family raises the risk sharply. Leaving the original card inside is treated as an aggravating factor.
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