Chinese New Year Etiquette
Chinese culture is a gift giving culture and Chinese New Year is made that much more auspicious by the traditional gift giving that occurs.
The year of the Snake is right around the corner and Kingsley has started receiving gifts from co-workers (delicious pineapple tarts) and wasn't sure exactly what the etiquette was for gift giving around CNY. I did a bit of research and I am oh so happy I did. There are some serious faux pas that could occur if you are not well educated. I only hope we can remember them all so we are thought of as "Zhong Guo Tong" (foreigners who understand China).
Make sure you:
Do NOT give anything in fours - the number four pronounced sì, can sound like “death” in Chinese.
Do NOT buy or give shoes as gifts - the word for “shoe” sounds similar to the word for “evil”.
Do NOT get a hair-cut in the first lunar month - doing so puts a curse on your maternal uncles. As a result before New Years Eve, barbershops prices go up and they are open almost 18 hours a day in the pre-holiday rush for haircuts that lasts for at least two weeks until the New Year's eve.
Do NOT say words like “finished” or “gone” as these are inauspicious on the New Year.
Do NOT give gifts or wear clothes in black and white, as black is a symbol of bad luck, and white is a traditional Chinese funeral color.
Do NOT give clocks - the Chinese word for clock sounds like the word funeral so giving a clock would be a major taboo.
Do NOT give umbrellas - the Chinese word for "umbrella" sounds like the word for lose/fall apart. Offering an umbrella as a gift would symbolize your friendship has fallen apart.
Do NOT give Hankercheifs - these are only given at the end of funerals to symbolize saying goodbye forever.
Some other helpful tips to survive Chinese New Years without offending anyone:
Do NOT give anything in fours - the number four pronounced sì, can sound like “death” in Chinese.
Do NOT buy or give shoes as gifts - the word for “shoe” sounds similar to the word for “evil”.
Do NOT get a hair-cut in the first lunar month - doing so puts a curse on your maternal uncles. As a result before New Years Eve, barbershops prices go up and they are open almost 18 hours a day in the pre-holiday rush for haircuts that lasts for at least two weeks until the New Year's eve.
Do NOT say words like “finished” or “gone” as these are inauspicious on the New Year.
Do NOT give gifts or wear clothes in black and white, as black is a symbol of bad luck, and white is a traditional Chinese funeral color.
Do NOT give clocks - the Chinese word for clock sounds like the word funeral so giving a clock would be a major taboo.
Do NOT give umbrellas - the Chinese word for "umbrella" sounds like the word for lose/fall apart. Offering an umbrella as a gift would symbolize your friendship has fallen apart.
Do NOT give Hankercheifs - these are only given at the end of funerals to symbolize saying goodbye forever.
Some other helpful tips to survive Chinese New Years without offending anyone:
Fresh fruit is always appreciated (unless it is a pear), especially if they are in a nice box or basket.
Refuse the gift at least two times before accepting it.
Accept the gift only after the person has insisted a couple of times.
Always receive gifts with both hands.
Don't open your gift in front of the person who gave it to you.
You most likely cant go wrong when giving:
Red Envelopes - stuffed with cash (AKA luck money)
Peaches
Dates or lotus seeds
Gifts (such as wine) in sets of 6 or 8
Tea
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Living in Singapore
Good that you did some research Lynn. Kingsley will be fine with the only accepting it after a while tradition. e.g. He would only have another roll that my mum was offering after the 4th, 5th, are you sure you don't want this lovely fresh, soft, roll....
Oh and I totally agree on the "pear" thing. They give me the heebies.