Do you give money to your parents because they need it (i.e poverty), or because it's a cultural thing?

Here in Norway, it's more or less unheard of to give money to your parents, unless they're financially screwed (in other words, debt) - but that's usually a very temporary thing.

But I've worked with people from all over Asia, and many of them would regularly send money back home. Especially Indian co-workers would send significant sums back home.