Chinese Annual New Year

China
February 17, 2013 9:39pm CST
Chiese New Year is one of the most traditional festival in China which means get together with parents /relations/friends.Giving gifts when visiting others is common and be encouraged during festival. "Money" has been the first and best choice in the coming years and called "Hong Bao"in chinese.It means put money in a red envelope. As high inflation that the amount of "Hong Bao" rise a lot even add up to half of salary.Too little packet will make you feel embarrassed and lose face.It place a high burden in finance to young generations. Spring festival supposed to be happy hours with family. As a result ,people worry a lot about it due to "the expensive gifts." What about you?How to celebrate festival in your country?.Are there any kind of custom like Chinese "Hong Bao"?
4 responses
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
18 Feb 13
Oh yes, in Malaysia the Chinese society still carry on the tradition of celebration Chinese New year. We will have a reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New year either at home or at a restaurant. This year I decided to have it at a nearby restaurant and we also have a toast of 'yee sang / lou sang' to welcome a happy and prosperous spring festival and a great year ahead. We also giving out red packets to those young children and single/unmarried adults as a gesture of wishing them good luck and prosperity. Yes, we do spend a lot of red packet money.
• Malaysia
18 Feb 13
now I see some Malaysian people in mylot, it cool. yes CNY is very much wait by many chinese people in Malaysia. i can tell i also been wait long enough but i can't celebrate it due to my grandma pass way just 1 month on 10.1.2013. But i got the idea I went to the open house by the minister like in melaka, Ali rustam given out red ang pou so i went there to get it. actually it nice feeling to get it from what big people, government people.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
19 Feb 13
You mean they actually give out red packets to adults too? I thought they only give to the children. How much they put inside? (I am curious because I am from Melaka too). Wow...you very lucky. Nice to see fellow Malaysian @ myLot here.
• China
19 Feb 13
Not only the red envelope,the cost for Chinese new year really become a heavy burden for young generation,it due to our society especially people tend to compare unrealistically nowadays,but we can not change this phenomenon and just have to get used to it.We have no choice but earn more money and do more saving so that we can face the challenge of spring festival. But I really wish it will change a few year later.
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
18 Feb 13
Well, the lucky money really makes us stressed. I don't think it's a good thing. Many children even don't hand in the money to their parents, they spend money as they like, it is not good for children in this way. Maybe parents should tell the children how to deal with their "hongbao". I hope the amount of the money will be lowered, every year I will spend a lot of money on it, so it's hard to face the new year with low salary.
• Philippines
19 Feb 13
Yes gift giving, exchange gift if not merry making but all it defend on what you can afford. Merry making is no longer viable when it become compulsory. For us, we always maintain the saying " It is always better to give than to get "