My gf's mom invited me over for Chinese New Year. I'm a total gringo and they are off the boat. Are there any customs I should know about? What should I bring?
2007-02-06 02:17:36 · 5 answers · asked by rery7777 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
if you are not married, you are not expected to be giving red envelope.
when you meet any older people in her family, you may greet them : " Gong Xi Fa Cai " when u see them for the first time during the first day till the 15th day of the new year.
so if u see them again in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th day, u dont need to say that again.
You had better not wear black shirt.
You had better not sweep any floor on the 1st day.
You can bring some oranges for the family.
Oranges sounds like gold in cantonese language, which is associated with prosperity.
I am not living in China , so the customs I know are not too much either.
2007-02-06 04:07:13 · answer #1 · answered by Vast_Sea 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, try to wear brighter colors and not dark colors because since it's the New Year, people usually wear brighter colors to look more formal.( Try a red shirt- traditional color of Chinese new Year. O yeah..almost forgot, dont overdo the bright colors.)
During the dinner, don't reject food that is offered to you (cosidered rude if you do) , unless you really, REALLY dislike the food!
Whatever you do, don't talk about death!! It's considered inappropriate!
When you are being greeted at the door and coming into the house, greet them by saying some customary chinese New Year Idioms. ( Gong shi Fa Tsia (wish you fortune and prosperity) and Shing Nian Kwai Luh ( Happy new year) are some good ones)
As for somethings to bring, try some rip fruit like Mandarin Oranges.
Important! Act extremely polite to all of the elders! Disrepect on Chinese New Year is Hazardous!!
Good luck!!!!
2007-02-09 14:25:18 · answer #2 · answered by Smallbutdeadly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will probably have tons of the traditional dishes so don't bring food. Red Envelopes with money is a tradition.
If she has young siblings , get a new $10 bill and put them in red envelopes (unless there are like 10 kids, then just do $5 each / 1 envelope per child )
Hope you are somewhere where they will be doing the Dragon Head dances . . . they are cool !
2007-02-06 02:29:34 · answer #3 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can bring her some oranges but remember you can give her 8 oranges but don't give her 7 or else she will chuck them back at you because 7 is a bad number (if you don't trust me you can try). And you can also give her a box of chocolate, a box of lollies or bottle of wine wrap them with red giftwrap paper. Please don't give mooncakes they are not for Chinese New year.
Good luck and have fun!!!
2007-02-09 18:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by BB WONG 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
google Chinese New Year and this will put you in touch with several ideas which may be of benefit.
2007-02-06 07:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋