1. It's a tradition to put crisp, new bills inside a Chinese New Year red envelope. Giving dirty or wrinkled bills is in bad taste. In the week leading up to Chinese New Year, many people stand in long queues at banks to exchange old bills for new ones. 2. You're supposed to avoid putting coins in the envelopes. 3. When do you give it? For anyone who has felt awkward at Chinese New Year, here’s a simple guide to navigating the social minefield of red envelopes – condensed into eight simple rules. 1. You give out red envelopes if you’re married. Don’t commit the classic faux-pas of handing out one red envelope from the two of you. Both spouses give During the new year season, the giving should only be within the fifteen days of Chinese New Year celebration (from New Year’s Eve to Lantern Festival), not before or after. Give and receive lai see with both hands; it is impolite if you do it with one hand only. Do not attempt to open the envelope in front of the giver; this is also impolite. As for those envelopes, Ng says, "feel free to politely decline a gift at first — 'oh no, please, you shouldn’t have!' — before graciously accepting, 'OK thank you, happy new year!'" How You Can Give Chinese New Year Red Envelopes for Lucky Vibes All Year Long You will be prepared come February 10. By Mikhaila Archer and Annabel Iwegbue Published: Jan 19, 2024 Today, strings of coins are essentially obsolete, and red envelopes ubiquitous. The importance of hongbao (literally: ‘red bag’) isn’t the cash inside, it’s the envelope itself. In the roughly 65 years since red envelopes came into circulation, their eye-catching designs are a key part of the arresting visual language of Chinese New Year. These envelopes given on New Year's Eve, which falls on Jan. 28 this year, symbolize “pressing down the Sui” to ensure a safe and prosperous year. They can also be given from the first day of the Lunar New Year through the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated from Jan. 29 to Feb. 12 this year. The main time that red envelopes are handed out will be during Chinese New Year to children and unmarried adults. For 2025, the Chinese New Year falls on 29 th of January, although this date will change every year. Chinese New Year dates: 2024: 10 th February; 2025: 29 th January; 2026: 17 th February; 2027: 7 th February; 2028: 26 th January The recipient of a red envelope at Chinese New Year or on his or her birthday should not open it in front of the giver. At Chinese weddings , the procedure is different. At a Chinese wedding, there is a table at the entrance of the wedding reception where guests give their red envelopes to attendants and sign their names on a large scroll. The Lunar New Year marks the transition from one animal to another. The Year of the Dragon, which began on Feb. 10, 2024, ends on Tuesday. Wednesday begins the Year of the Snake. A traditional gift for children during Chinese New Year, red pockets (hong bao in Mandarin), are small red envelopes filled with lucky money. As you give and receive red envelopes, don’t forget these basic etiquette tips: Choose new bills, don’t ever include coins and wait to open your red envelopes until after you part company. Amounts in even numbers are generally preferred, except for the number 4 because of its resemblance to the word meaning death. Chinese new year red envelopes, aka hongbao, are lucky money wrapped in red packet given to kids and elders during Chinese New Year, or given on weddings and birthday parties. Ringing in the Chinese New Year comes with traditional gifts like ang paos (or red envelopes). The red envelopes (red pockets or red packets), lucky money, hong bao in Mandarin, or lai see in Cantonese, are commonly used as a monetary gift during the Chinese New Year. service@chinatravel.com 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply) @dejashu Don’t do this on Chinese New Year 🐍🧧 8 things not to do during Chinese New Year (according to my superstitious parents). Bring on the Lunar New Year content as the Year of the Giving red envelopes during the Chinese New Year is a joyful tradition, but there are certain taboos you should avoid to prevent offending others. Here are some important rules to remember: 2025 Chinese Snake Year Red Envelopes Red envelopes, also called red packets, lucky money, or hongbao in Chinese, are a popular monetary gift given on some important occasions or festivals in China and some other Asian countries, especially widely seen during the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). It is a Chinese New Year gift with money stuffed into red paper to kids. Here are six simple rules of Chinese New Year gift giving etiquette. These etiquette tips will help you give the right gift, in the right way, at the right time. 1. Select the New Year gifts in right colors. When giving a gift at Chinese New Year pay close attention to the color of the gift as well as the wrapping paper or bag in which it is Posted by u/throwaway504780ahk - 2 votes and 15 comments
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