The right gifts for the Chinese new year. Celebrating the new year in China
On the Chinese New Year, following the usual holiday from December 31 to January 1, more and more people exchange gifts. Presentations that are relevant for the Eastern New Year and for Eastern culture bring good luck, happiness and money to any part of the world.
Chinese New Year
Due to modern trends, many of the customs and rituals of the Eastern New Year were borrowed by Europeans from Asian countries.
According to the rules, the Chinese New Year is supposed to be celebrated between January 21 and February 21. This tradition is due to the fact that Eastern culture is firmly based on the lunar calendar. In total, the New Year is celebrated by the Chinese and neighboring countries for 15 days, and the first day of the holiday necessarily falls on the second New Moon after the winter solstice on December 21.
Usually, the fifteen-day holiday marathon is not fully celebrated by Western cultures, but the Chinese celebrate the New Year strictly following tradition. That is why there are special days off in the Celestial Empire, provided even for those who do not work in their home country - Chinese workers are allowed to go home for 15 days, showing respect for their culture.
Gifts that bring good luck and money
According to eastern beliefs, gifts depend primarily on which animal will patronize the next year and which element corresponds to it. The Chinese donate toys and images of these patron beasts. Such a thing - protective talisman for a year that brings good luck.
Bring luck and money will help Red color- Eastern traditions oblige to give more red things for the New Year in order to scare away evil spirits and call on good spirits for help. According to feng shui masters - and this teaching is closely related to the Chinese traditions of the New Year - red tones also bring money.
Very popular in Western countries is such a gift as bouquet of flowers... According to the rules, flowers must be packed in accordance with the holiday - the dominant color is chosen all the same.
Good luck and money will bring coins... You can give rare specimens of coins or souvenirs that have a similar shape. In any case, such a gift will also be very "oriental".
You can also pay attention to Toad with a coin or Hoteya Are ancient talismans of well-being and prosperity in the countries of the East.
Chinese New Year is a special celebration in Eastern culture. The traditions of the Celestial Empire exist and persist for more than one thousand years. Be happy and respect the cultural values of the whole world. We wish you well and do not forget to press the buttons and
23.01.2016 01:10
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Making the right gift in a different culture is not easy. In China, there is a taboo on some types of gifts (). Let's now take a look at what is good and right to give. Choose these gifts for your Chinese friends and colleagues, give your friends and acquaintances for the Chinese New Year!
Buying gifts for Chinese friends can be a real challenge outside of China when it is unclear how conscientiously people adhere to traditional customs. Much has been written about gift etiquette in China, but this guide will help you choose a good gift.
Gifts for friends
Choosing a New Year's gift for friends is based largely on the closeness of your friendship. Formal relationships with traditional people in serious cases require more traditional gifts, while casual relationships with modern people in informal relationships require less traditional gifts.
The key concept that is important to keep in mind is that your gift is a symbol of the strength of your relationship... Exactly thoughtfulness the gift matters, not necessarily its value.
Alcohol, tobacco, flowers, tea, or fruits are common gifts. If you want to be more original, you need to be more discreet.
Chinese new year gifts
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage is a gentle and effective way to rejuvenate yourself. You can donate a high-quality comb for head massage, or a hydro-massager, a foot bath, which will improve blood circulation and bring warmth in cold winter.
Gifts for children
The key point when choosing a New Year's gift for children is choosing an item that can express your good wishes for children - both for their healthy growth and for their quick wits.
Candies: Carry candy with you during Chinese New Year so you can give treats to the kids you come across.
School supplies: pens, notebooks and notepads, a nice box with brushes and paints for drawing (if children are fond of painting) - a useful and pleasant surprise.
Books: Encyclopedias or some of the world's great classics, perfectly matched to the interests and age of the child, highly recommended as a gift, expressing your best wishes for the future.
Toys: A quality toy is also an enjoyable gift for children, such as a barbie doll for a little girl, or an Asian family figurine set and a remote control car for a little boy. Chess set, dominoes in different languages, large puzzle or other board game- a good gift for a teenager.
Clothes: If you are close enough with the family, you can buy their children a set of clothes as a gift.
And it is desirable to give a gift in a red holiday bag. Red paper and gold ribbon are the most classic color combination.
Things not worth giving as a New Year's gift
There are some things that should never be gifted to your Chinese friends. Don't buy them, or your friends may end their relationship with you.
And in short, then don’t give in China: things in black or white (the lucky color in China is red). Necklaces: do not give necklaces to friends and acquaintances; The Chinese believe that things such as necklaces, ties and belts are associated with intimate relationships, and these things are given only to your couple. You cannot give a man a green headdress. Never give a watch, shoes, cut flowers, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, towels, or sharp objects such as knives and scissors. They all symbolize various variations of bad luck, death and separation.
Avoid 4. Even numbers are generally better than odd numbers, and sets of 6 or 8 are especially favorable.
Do not sign the card or gift card in red ink (it means death).
Do not forget to remove the price tag from the gift. A gift with a price tag is a hint to the recipient that the gift is expensive and that you are expecting a gift of equal value.
Do not give the gift in public, especially if you are giving the gift to only one person in the group (to avoid embarrassment, favoritism, etc.).
Avoid visiting a newly grieving family on New Year's Day if the Chinese family has a funeral less than a month before Chinese New Year, as this is unfortunate (bringing more funerals in the coming year).
Take with you couple gifts, as the Chinese believe that good things must be paired.
Giving gifts is challenging in all circumstances, especially when there is a potentially important cultural element. Apply these guidelines in a note, and you can choose the most winning gift.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, New Year is celebrated in the spring. It is called that - Chunjie, which means the Spring Festival. By far, the New Year is the most important event for all people in China, and this is almost 1.5 billion people.
Traditionally, the Chinese New Year is between 20 January and February according to the Gregorian calendar. Chunjie Festival has an ancient history that goes back to ancient rituals and commemoration of ancestors performed before our era.
V Chinese New Year residents are pasting paired paper signs on both sides of the entrance to their house, and the interior is decorated with special New Year's pictures. Previously, such decorations and the launch of holiday firecrackers were considered a way of driving out evil spirits and evil spirits. Since then, it has been a solemn ritual of the Chinese, which is incredibly popular.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
On the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, all family members should get together. The festive table is laid, the performances of famous artists are shown on TV - preparation for the celebration is practically no different from the classic European New Year. Young Chinese people stay awake all night, spending time playing games and drinking table conversations. This time is called "Show sui", which means "waiting for the New Year".
The morning of the Chinese New Year begins with a meal of traditional Jiaozi dumplings. Their shape resembles gold bars, making them symbols of wealth and prosperity. After such a breakfast, it is customary to visit friends, family and colleagues and give gifts for chinese new year.
In China, in honor of this holiday, it is customary to give children small coins, which are wrapped in red paper. Such souvenirs are presented with wishes of prosperity in the family and the successful development of the child. According to an ancient legend, this gift drives away the evil spirit from the baby and brings him happiness.
Of course, every Chinese New Year is accompanied by vibrant events and concert programs. Here you can see dragon dance, lion dance and even stilt performances.
Corporate New Year gifts in China
If your partner is in China, then you should take care of a corporate gift for the Chinese New Year. This will serve not only as a sign that you value the relationship with your partner, but also become a unique chance to remind you of yourself. Ceremonies are highly valued in China, sometimes they are even more important than the souvenir itself. That is why the Chinese need to be careful when choosing a New Year's gift.
As in any other country in the world, in China there is a certain fashion for gifts, there are trends and preferences. More recently, the best corporate gift for chinese new year could become food, alcoholic beverages or tobacco. However, today it is better for your partner to present a bouquet of fresh flowers, made by a florist, taking into account all the peculiarities of the color scheme, or, for example, a lottery ticket.
Modern ways of congratulating you will save you from having to be personally present when presenting a New Year's gift to your Chinese business partner. The delivery service will cope with this no worse than you, and you can supplement the selected souvenir with a phone call or an electronic postcard.
Not a single New Year can be complete without sweets. Gourmet fruit baskets, sweet chocolate gifts and gastronomic delights will not leave anyone indifferent on this festive day. Most importantly, do not forget to put your company logo on the packaging or on the souvenir itself. Personalization will make it incredibly profitable to highlight your corporate gift for chinese new year among the rest!
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On February 5, 2019, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. Recently, this holiday has become more and more popular with us. Many people decorate their homes, create a festive menu based on Chinese traditions and choose gifts for the Chinese New Year.
What to give friends and family for Chinese New Year? What is customary to give for Chinese New Year? What gifts do the Chinese give for the New Year? This is what our story will go about.
Gift Ideas for Chinese New Year
Gifts for the Chinese New Year must be selected taking into account its symbolism. According to the eastern calendar, 2019 will be the year of the Yellow (Earthy) Pig.
What is the best gift for 2019 Chinese New Year? If you are visiting, then, according to Chinese tradition, gifts should not be too expensive.
There will be enough fruit or good alcohol. Put them in a beautiful box or bag and remember that red and gold are considered the colors of luck, and you should not use white and black for decorating gifts for the holiday.
What is customary to give for Chinese New Year? If you want to present something more significant, pay attention to the sets of paired objects symbolizing unity and family harmony: it can be two vases, two mugs, a candlestick for two candles, etc.
For this holiday, you can also present souvenirs in the oriental style, figurines, jewelry storage boxes, feng shui figurines. They also present gifts with meaning - a bowl of wealth; abacus that bring success in business; bells that cleanse the room from bad energy; hourglass that helps organize thoughts.
Elderly people need warm clothes - hats, scarves, gloves. If you are familiar with an older person, you can give him a massage brush, massage foot bath or other similar item.
According to Chinese traditions, guests give New Year's gifts to the owners before leaving, sometimes they even leave them secretly.
Keep in mind that it is not customary to present a watch for this holiday, especially to older people. You should not give baby things to married couples who are just expecting a baby. They also do not choose gifts in the shape of an egg (in Chinese this word is used in many curses, and objects of this shape are an indecent gift), weapons or imitation weapons.
What gifts do the Chinese give for the New Year?
After a festive dinner, adults give the children money in red envelopes - such a present should bring happiness.
It is customary to give two tangerines to friends and relatives (in Chinese this phrase resembles the word "gold").
In response, the hosts also present these two fruits to the guests. Such a gift means a wish for a successful year.
If you are invited to celebrate Chinese New Year in China - in fact, this holiday is called the Spring Festival - your gifts should not be too expensive, there will be enough fruit or good alcohol. Do not forget to put them in a beautiful box or bag and remember that red and gold are considered the colors of luck, while white and black are taboo for the holiday.
Gifts for friends
Choosing a New Year's gift mainly depends on the closeness of your friendship. Most often they give alcohol, tobacco products, flowers, tea, fruits. If you want something unusual, you should think carefully about everything.
Alcohol
If your friends are connoisseurs of good liquor, a bottle of quality alcohol can be a great choice.
Tobacco products
If the owner smokes, find out what products he prefers. He will be delighted with the packaging of his favorite brand.
Most Chinese people love tea. Tea is always a beautiful gesture, whether the Chinese are your masters or not. A box of loose leaf tea wrapped in wrapping paper is much better than a bagged one.
Fruits
Fruit baskets are a common gift for the Chinese and can be found in many supermarkets. But some sellers in the markets at the bottom of the finished baskets may "hide" spoiled fruits. Therefore, it is better to buy fresh fruits and wrap them in a gift wrap with a red ribbon. Giving a box of oranges or apples is also a good idea, as they symbolize welfare and security.
Household products
If your friends have moved into a new home shortly before the holiday, home furnishings such as a tea set, electrical equipment, or utensils will not be superfluous.
Gifts for the elderly
Instead of alcohol and tobacco for seniors, it is better to choose a New Year's gift that will help them feel healthier and make their life more enjoyable.
Hat, gloves, scarf or clothing
If you are familiar with the family, you can prepare a hat, gloves, scarf or clothes as a gift for an elderly person.
Massage brush or massage foot bath
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage is an easy and effective way to maintain the health of the body. A high quality brush can be used to massage the head, and the foot massage bath will improve blood circulation in the feet, which will keep the elderly person warm in the cold winter.
Gifts for children
A New Year's gift for a child should express your wishes to grow up healthy and smart.
Sweets
During the Chinese New Year, bring some sweets with you to please the children you meet.
Red envelopes for children
If there are children in the family, be sure to prepare some traditional red (hongbao) envelopes. Both the owners and the children will be glad that you know their traditions.
School supplies
You will surprise the children by visiting the Chinese with school supplies, for example, beautiful pens, school notebooks or a set of brushes for painting (if children are fond of painting).
Books
Books that coincide with the interests of the child, for example, an encyclopedia or the essays of a great world classic, can also be recommended as a gift: this will be your best contribution to his future.
Toys
High quality toys will be a great gift for your friends' children. For example, a barbie doll for a little girl or a remote control car for a little boy. Chess or other similar games will be a good gift for a teenager.
clothing
If you are very close with a Chinese family, you can buy a set of children's clothes as a gift: it will be very practical.
Things not worth presenting for the New Year
There are some things that by no means can be gifts for your friends from China during the Spring Festival. Do not give them as gifts, otherwise you risk a quarrel.
Black or white clothes. Red is the color of good luck in China, and black and white are often used at funerals, so gifts and wrapping paper should be avoided.
Necklace or chain. Don't give this to your boyfriend / girlfriend. For the Chinese, necklaces, ties, and belts given as gifts can mean that you want intimacy. Such gifts are only possible for a boyfriend / girlfriend or spouse.
Green cap or hat. If a woman wears a green hat, it means that she is cheating on her husband. Therefore, green hats should be avoided.
Remember to remove the price tag. A gift with a price tag is a hint to the recipient that the sender has spent a lot and expects a present of the same value.
Don't publicly give the gift, especially if you only want to congratulate one person in the group (to avoid embarrassment, rumors about your relationship, etc.).
Do not visit a family on Chinese New Year that has had a funeral less than a month before the holiday, as this is considered a bad omen (there will be many funerals in the coming year).
When visiting, take a couple of gifts with you: the Chinese believe that good things should be paired.