Gung Hay Fat Choy to all who is celebrating chinese new year...

[msdarlinjoy]

Websailor,

Thanks for posting the pic of the dragon! Way cool! The fireworks in the background remind me of how much fun I would have as child, watching in awe of the parades!

Have a great day!

 

[msdarlinjoy]

I really like the idea of exchanging the tangerines for the red envelopes. I think it teaches the young ones at an early age to "give" (even if they have other motives).

I know it was always drilled into our heads at a young age that whenever we went to someone''s house, It was always nice to bestow some fresh fruit as good will. It''s funny, I still think this way ... do not go to someone''s house empty handed!

 

[CdnBlingGal]

Date: 1/29/2006 5:23:51 PM
Author: Mrs Darlin Joy
I find this all very, very interesting ...

When you hand out the ''Lai see'' let say to your neices & nephews, typically how much do you give? And do they reciprocate by giving you a card of wishing happiness or good fortune for the new year to the Auntie or Uncle?

I love learning about tradition and customs!

Also, is it customary to have a 12 course meal? Do people in the family go to the parents house to celebrate generally, or does it rotate?

And do the women the night prior to the celebration ''spring clean''?

If anyone would like to share, I am interested in knowing if there is a special tradition in particular that means alot to you, or brings back a special memory.

Happiness to all!

It''s not really ''how much you give them'', it just has to be in a bill form (paper money). Since in Canada, our $1 dollar and $2 dollar bills no longer exsist,they are in coin form now, we are subject to giving the next denomination which is $5.00. Now considering each child gets one lai see from each aunt and uncle, that adds up to 10 bucks, in our case we had 9 nephews and nieces plus another 3 second cousins (young children as well). So that''s $120.00 Cdn.
So, my sister and I (DINKS, double income no kids) ended up giving each child $2.00 USD per couple. I''m glad there is no limit. With our family, there is no recipicating of anything. Just thanks! Basically, the DINKS get the short end of the stick on that one.

Usually, if you order a set menu, it''s 12 courses. That''s including a soup and dessert. We usually have supper out.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/30/2006 1:45:08 AM
Author: SeattleSparkle
CHUC MUNG NAM MOI!! (I''m so glad I can write it and not have to say it, my Vietnamese is so bad!) I had dinner w/ my boyfriend''s Vietnamese family last night and collected a few red envelopes myself. I am the year of the dog... not really sure what that means for this year, but its kind of cool.

wish i was 24 yrs old.

 

[SeattleSparkle]

Haha, Dancing Fire!! How do you I''m not 35/36? You got me .... I''m 23 actually!! (I''ll turn 24 this year)

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/30/2006 11:57:16 AM
Author: SeattleSparkle
Haha, Dancing Fire!! How do you I'm not 35/36? You got me .... I'm 23 actually!! (I'll turn 24 this year)

SS

i'am a fortune teller.

 

[zdrastvootya]

GHFC!

I''m a Happy Dragon. (I think you can pin the year down with that.)

Gave out red pockets for the first time this year. My wife has too many nieces & nephews! (More than 10!)

Unfortunately, not too much food. MIL not feeling very well. My family out of town. We were so busy running around, we hardly ate anything. Will have to do better next year!

Z.

 

[flopkins]

sooo DF as your chinese grandma will we be celebrating your happy 60th this year or maybe just your 48th???

I am a monkey too... like aphisig.

Happy New Year everyone!

I got a few lai see.... my mom was like, oh, last year... next year you will have to give on e to us! (Supposedly she says in Shanghainese culture after you are married you give lai see to you parents, but maybe she is making this up! hehe)

Like qtiekiki and ginger next year FI and I will be giving them out... in fact we had a heated discussion about this last night because two of FI''s cousins are OLDER than him, but unmarried (and living at home, w/o jobs to boot!) - and we both feel it is, ah... kind of silly to be giving them lai see ?!!!! They are almost 30!!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/30/2006 6:01:40 PM
Author: flopkins
sooo DF as your chinese grandma will we be celebrating your happy 60th this year or maybe just your 48th???

or 36th.

 

[flopkins]

DF if you have been married 20 yrs then if you are 36 you got married when you were 16?!

 

[GGLW]

I read an article in the NY Times saying this is a very lucky year to get married, so that''s good news to all of those who are getting married before February of 2007.
It mentioned that a lot of couples had decided to hold off on getting married until this year because it was such a lucky year for marriage...interesting.

 

[qtiekiki]

Date: 1/30/2006 6:01:40 PM
Author: flopkins
Like qtiekiki and ginger next year FI and I will be giving them out... in fact we had a heated discussion about this last night because two of FI''s cousins are OLDER than him, but unmarried (and living at home, w/o jobs to boot!) - and we both feel it is, ah... kind of silly to be giving them lai see ?!!!! They are almost 30!!!

I was told that traditionally you are supposed to give it to people older than you even if they are not married. So we are not giving lai see to any unmarried cousins who are older than us.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/30/2006 7:53:08 PM
Author: flopkins
DF if you have been married 20 yrs then if you are 36 you got married when you were 16?!

grandma flopkins

of all people,you should know that chinese get marry very early in life.