1. The Chinese are natural in all their manifestations, and in the first place among the desired gifts, they put what we are usually embarrassed to give, or give when we cannot think of anything to give, namely hongbao - red envelopes. IN New Year's Eve Envelopes with an even amount of money are always placed under the children's pillow; it is believed that in this way one can scare off the evil ones and attract the good spirits of the New Year, and then in the coming year the person receiving the gift will experience prosperity and luck.
Red envelopes are also given to newlyweds for their wedding, but this custom is not surprising to us.
2. The number two thing that should be given for any holiday in China is meishi - or simply “beautiful food”.
Mostly they give delicious fruits and sweets beautifully packaged in gold and red wrappers.
Mooncakes, honey, dried and sweetened meat, fruits and dried fruits, nut candies, traditional wine and expensive types of alcohol, as well as products from other provinces and countries are considered delicacies.
The main criterion, in the opinion of a European, is not taste at all, but the rich and brilliant packaging of the gift. Fruit baskets decorated with ribbons are one of the most popular gifts on the occasion of family and social celebrations in China.
However, not all fruits are equally useful; apples, tangerines and peaches are most often given as gifts. Whereas giving pears and plums, for example, is a bad omen, since both of them are pronounced “li” in China, which is similar in sound to another word “li” - separation.
3. In third place among traditional gifts are paired amulets.
These are traditional New Year Nianhua paintings, hieroglyphic inscriptions and souvenirs made of paper, fabric, clay, glass, wood, precious and semi-precious stones, etc.
Usually for the New Year they give a pair of amulet for the upcoming lunar sign.
But there are also universal holiday gifts - amulets, among which the most popular are fish and mandarin ducks - symbolizing family happiness, as well as paired piglets, lions, tiger cubs, dogs, mythical dragons and unicorns - symbolizing good luck, career growth and prosperity.
Two in China are always better than one - interestingly, this also applies to flowers. Quite often in cafes there are bouquets of two red carnations on the tables.
And the attitude towards flowers in general is different from ours, let’s say an even number of large flower wreaths in China it is customary to place it in front of the entrance to a newly opened establishment, be it a bank or a cheap eatery. And the Chinese began giving each other bouquets of roses and lilies not so long ago, following the unfolding globalization.
4. In fourth place in the line of popular Chinese gifts are tea and related products - tea sets, porcelain, thermos flasks and thermal mugs.
Tea gift is neutrally formal. Beautifully packaged, expensive and delicious tea is an indispensable cure for all ills. By the way, giving medicine as a gift in China is also not considered in bad taste, and even vice versa is an expression of extreme care and participation. This is especially true for traditional Chinese dietary supplements, various extracts from bones and plants that help strengthen the spirit and body.
5. The top five leaders in Chinese gifts are books.
: January 1, as in most Christian countries, and during the new moon - the so-called "Chinese New Year" - Chunjie (Spring Festival).
The history of Chinese New Year celebrations goes back many centuries. It does not have a fixed date; it is calculated according to the Far Eastern lunisolar calendar. The beginning of the year occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice and therefore moves between January 21 and February 21.
Each year is associated with a specific zodiac sign and element.
In northern China, it is customary to eat dumplings (jiaozi) on New Year's Day, while in the south, they eat slices made from glutinous rice (niangao). Northerners prefer dumplings because... Chinese the word "jiaozi" is consonant with the words "farewell to the old and welcome to the new." In addition, dumplings resemble traditional gold and silver bars in their shape and symbolize the desire for wealth. For the same reason, southerners eat "niangao", symbolizing the improvement of life every year.
The festive New Year's dinner ends with the distribution of "happiness money." Adults give children red envelopes containing money, which are supposed to bring good luck throughout the new year. In ancient times, New Year's money was presented in the form of one hundred copper coins tied together and symbolizing the hope of living to one hundred years. After the festive dinner, you should not go to bed so as not to miss your happiness.
In China, there is also a tradition that originated in ancient times: during the New Year celebration, when you come to visit, you present your hosts with two tangerines, and when you leave, you receive two other tangerines from them. The emergence of this tradition is associated with the fact that in Chinese “a pair of tangerines” is consonant with the word “gold”.
In China, in general, on New Year's Day it is customary to give gifts from paired items symbolizing unity, family harmony: two vases, two mugs, and so on.
It is not customary to give watches, especially to older people, or toys and children's things to those who have not yet had children. Usually, guests give New Year's gifts to the hosts before leaving, sometimes even leaving them secretly.
The New Year is followed by three holidays: Chui, Chuer and Chusan, during which friends and relatives pay each other visits and give gifts. Then the holiday resumes, and the festivities continue for another two weeks.
During the festive performances, traditional lion and dragon dances are performed. The lion dance, symbolizing protection in the new year from troubles and misfortunes, began to be performed and spread throughout China during the Chunjie festival in the 14th-16th centuries. The dance of dragons also has a long history.
It was included in festive rituals back in the 12th century and expressed people’s admiration for the dragon.
The dragon, made of paper, wire and willow twigs, can reach 8-10 meters. His body is flexible and consists of a different, but always odd number of parts. Each part is controlled by one dancer using a pole; the undulating, writhing movements of the dragon require great coordination among the participants.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Chinese New Year is a time for gifts, both the traditional red envelopes containing money (红包 hóngbāo) and ordinary things. But be careful: the impression of even the most generous gift can be spoiled if you present it without observing special etiquette.
There are basic rules to follow when choosing and giving a gift at any time of the year, but they are especially important during Chinese New Year.
· Happy c veta吉祥颜色 jíxiáng yánsè
When preparing a gift for Chinese New Year, you should pay attention to its color, as well as the wrapping paper or gift bag. The rules are simple: avoid white, as it is associated with funerals, and black or blue, as they are synonymous with death. The best choices are red, yellow and gold: they all symbolize wealth and prosperity.
If you want to give an envelope with money for Chinese New Year, do not buy a white envelope: this is the type used when giving money for a funeral.
· Happy c ifrs吉祥数字 jíxiáng shùzì
Another important factor when choosing a gift - these are Chinese superstitions associated with certain numbers. Never give a sum of money that includes a four, as the pronunciation of 四 sì ("four") is very close to 死 sǐ ("death"). Eight is considered a lucky number in China, so the ideal amount for a gift would be 88 or 888.
In addition to money, this rule also applies to gift sets: do not give sets of four things, but eight gifts are believed to bring good luck.
· Rules for giving gifts礼品礼仪 lǐ pǐ n lǐ yí
Once you've chosen a gift or settled on a certain amount of money, it's important to remember a few rules to follow when giving (or receiving).
First, always use two hands when giving or receiving a gift. This custom traditionally also applies to money (when purchasing something) and business cards. If you are giving a gift, say: little present I want to give it to you. If they give you a gift, be sure to thank：好漂亮，谢谢！你太客气了（hǎo piàoliang, xièxie, nǐ tài kèqi le）- how beautiful, thank you, you are very kind!
Secondly, if you are giving money as a gift, make sure that the banknotes are new. People all over China spend the weeks leading up to the New Year getting new banknotes from banks as... giving old or torn ones is considered a sign of disrespect. If you are giving money to a large group of people or a family, always start with the most important (or oldest) person.
It is also known that in China it is considered bad manners to open a gift immediately after receiving it. The person receiving the gift is likely to express their gratitude and put the gift aside to open it later in a private setting. Don't take this as disrespect.
What gifts should the Chinese give for Chinese New Year?
If you are invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year in China - actually called the Spring Festival - your gifts should not be too expensive, fruit or good alcohol will be enough. Don't forget to put them in beautiful box or a bag and remember that red and gold are considered the colors of good luck, and white and black are taboo for the holiday.
Gifts for friends
The choice of New Year's gift mainly depends on the closeness of your friendship. Most often they give alcohol, tobacco products, flowers, tea, and fruits. If you want something unusual, you should think it through carefully.
· Alcohol 酒jiǔ
If your friends are connoisseurs of good spirits, a bottle of quality alcohol can be a great choice.
- Tobacco products香烟 xiāngyān
If the owner smokes, find out what products he prefers. He will be happy with the packaging of his favorite brand.
- Tea 茶 cha
Most Chinese people love tea. Tea is always a nice gesture, whether your hosts are Chinese or not. Wrapped in wrapping paper a box of loose leaf tea is much better than bagged tea.
- Fruits水果 shuǐguǒ
Fruit baskets are a common gift for the Chinese and can be found in many supermarkets. But some market sellers can “hide” spoiled fruits at the bottom of ready-made baskets. Therefore it is better to buy fresh fruits and wrap them in gift wrapping with a red ribbon. Giving a box of oranges or tangerines is also a good idea, as they symbolize prosperity and security.
Gifts for Chinese Elderly
Instead of alcohol and tobacco, it is better to choose for older people New Year's gift, which will help them feel healthier and make their life more enjoyable.
- Hat, gloves, scarf or clothing
- Massage brush or foot massage bath
Gifts for children
A New Year's gift for a child should express your wishes to grow up healthy and smart.
- Sweets, books, school supplies, toys, clothes
- Red envelopes for children红包hóngbāo
10 things that not accepted giving for New Year in China
Sharp objects刀 dāo
Giving someone a sharp object means hinting that you want to terminate (“cut off”) your relationship with that person. According to the Chinese proverb, “one sharp blow, two parts,” which means the end of a relationship between people.
Digit 4四字 sìzì
In China, the number 4 (四 sì) sounds similar to the word for death (死 sǐ). Therefore, everything associated with this number is considered to bring bad luck. You should not give sets of four items. The Chinese dislike this figure so much that some buildings, such as hotels, do not have a fourth floor. Often on the doors of hotel rooms located on this floor, 8 is written before the number four.
Shoes鞋子 xiezi
Giving shoes to Chinese people for New Year is a bad idea because the word “shoes” (鞋 xié) sounds exactly like “evil” (邪 xié) in Chinese. Besides, shoes are what we wear. It's not like a gift the best option. It's better to choose something else.
Handkerchiefs手帕 shǒupà
The Chinese usually give handkerchiefs at the end of a funeral, symbolizing saying goodbye forever. By presenting such a gift to your friend, you seem to be hinting that you want to part with him, to break the connection forever.
Watch钟 zhōng
In Chinese, the expression “giving a watch” (送钟 sòng zhōng) sounds the same as “attending a funeral” (送终 sòng zhōng), and therefore such a gift is considered to bring bad luck. In addition, watches often symbolize lack of time. This is especially emphasized if the one to whom you plan to give a gift is older than you. Both wrist and Wall Clock should not be given to friends from China.
Pears梨 lí
Giving fruit is a good idea, but pears are an exception. The Chinese word for "pears" (梨 lí) sounds the same as "leaving" or "breaking" (离 lí).
Cut flowers花 huā
It is customary to give cut flowers for funerals, but not for New Year! This especially applies to yellow chrysanthemums and any white flowers that symbolize death. In Chinese culture White color It is considered to bring bad luck (funeral), so you should not choose white flowers for the New Year.
Umbrellas雨伞 yǔ sǎ n
Umbrellas are also not best idea, since the word “umbrella” (伞 sǎn) in Chinese is consonant with the word “parting” (散 sàn). Such a gift may mean that you want to stop communicating with this person.
Typical Chinese New Year greetings
Any wish must begin with the words: 我想祝你…… wǒ xiǎng zhù nǐ, and then add a wish of four hieroglyphs. This traditional version congratulations in China. If you want to congratulate on the holiday in advance, use the phrase 我想预祝你…… wǒ xiǎng yùzhù nǐ……
- 恭喜发财 - gōng xǐ fā cái Happiness and prosperity
- 万事如意 - wàn shì rú yì - Fulfillment of all your desires
- 长命百岁 - cháng mìng bǎi suì - For long years life!
- 天天开心 – tiān tiān kāi xīn - every day, enjoy life every day
- 合家欢乐 – hé jiā huān lè - May your whole family be happy!
- 心想事成 - xīn xiǎng shì chéng - May all your wishes come true!
- 好运连连 - hǎo yùn liánlián - May luck always accompany you!
- 财源广进 — cái yuán guǎng jìn A lot of money
- 年年有余 — nián nián yǒu yú Annual profit
- 吉星高照 - jí xīng gāo zhào - Good luck (shining lucky star)
- 吉祥如意 — jí xiáng rú yì Good luck (I wish you all the best)
- 金玉满堂 - jīn yù mǎn táng - “may wealth fill your home”
- 迎春接福 - yíng chún jiē fú - “New Year's luck”
New Year's greetings related to health
- 龙马精神 - lóng mǎ jīng shén Powers of dragon and horse
- 身体健康 - shēn tǐ jiàn kāng Healthy body
- 精灵活泼 - jīng líng huó pō Cheerful spirit (especially used in relation to children under 10 years old, wishing them to be active and smart)
Chinese New Year's greetings for work and business
- 生意兴隆 (shēng yì xīng lóng) Prosperous business
- 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) Good luck in all your endeavors
- 工作顺利 (gōng zuò shùn lì) Smooth work
- 事业有成 (shì yè yǒu chéng) Good luck in your career
- 平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) Rapid rise (in a quarry)
Congratulations related to studies
- 学业有成 (xué yè yǒu chéng) To successfully graduate from school
- 学习进步 (xué xí jìn bù) Good luck in your studies
WORDS YOU CAN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT THE NEW YEAR IN CHINA
- 祝贺大家…… （zhù hè dàjiā……） – congratulate everyone on something
- 过春节 （guò chūnjié） – to celebrate Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
- 贴对联 （tiē duì lián） – stick paired inscriptions
- 贴福字 （tiē fú zì ）– stick the hieroglyph of Happiness
- 放鞭炮 （fàng biānpào） – shoot from firecrackers
- 给……送礼物 （gěi……sòng lǐwù） – to give gifts
- 给……送红包（gěi……sòng hóngbāo） – give red envelopes
- 打灯笼 （dǎ dēnglong） – to light and take out red lanterns
- 吃年夜饭 （chī nián yè fàn） – eat New Year’s dinner
If you are invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year in China - actually called the Spring Festival - your gifts should not be too expensive, fruit or good alcohol will be enough. Don't forget to put them in a nice box or bag and remember that red and gold are considered lucky colors, while white and black are taboo for holidays.
Gifts for friends
The choice of New Year's gift mainly depends on the closeness of your friendship. Most often they give alcohol, tobacco products, flowers, tea, and fruits. If you want something unusual, you should think it through carefully.
Alcohol
If your friends are connoisseurs of good spirits, 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 happy with the packaging of his favorite brand.
Most Chinese people love tea. Tea is always a nice gesture, whether your hosts are Chinese or not. A box of loose leaf tea wrapped in wrapping paper is much better than bagged tea.
Fruits
Fruit baskets are a common gift for the Chinese and can be found in many supermarkets. But some market sellers can “hide” spoiled fruits at the bottom of ready-made baskets. Therefore, it is better to buy fresh fruits and wrap them in gift wrapping with a red ribbon. Giving a box of oranges or apples is also a good idea, as they symbolize wealth and security.
Household products
If your friends have moved to new house shortly before the holiday, household goods such as a tea set, electrical equipment or dishes will not be superfluous.
Gifts for the elderly
Instead of alcohol and tobacco, consider choosing a New Year's gift for seniors that will help them feel healthier and make their lives more enjoyable.
Hat, gloves, scarf or clothing
If you know the family closely, you can prepare a hat, gloves, scarf or clothing as a gift for the elderly person.
Massage brush or foot massage bath
In traditional Chinese medicine, massage is a gentle and effective method maintain the health of the body. Brush High Quality can be used for head massage, and a foot massage bath will improve blood circulation in the feet, which will warm an elderly person in 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 Chinese New Year, bring some sweets with you to make the children you meet happy.
Red envelopes for children
If there are children in the family, be sure to prepare some traditional red envelopes (hongbao). Both the owners and the children will be glad that you know their traditions.
School supplies
you will do to the children a pleasant surprise, being visiting the Chinese with school supplies, for example, beautiful pens, school notebooks or a set of painting brushes (if children are interested in painting).
Books
Books that coincide with the child’s interests, for example, an encyclopedia or the works 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 an excellent gift for the children of your friends. 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 present for a teenager.
Cloth
If you are very close to a Chinese family, you can buy a set of children's clothes as a gift: it will be very practical.
Things you shouldn't give for New Year's
There are some things that should never be given as gifts to your Chinese friends during the Spring Festival. Don't give them as a gift otherwise you risk quarreling.
Things black or white. Red is the color of good luck in China, and black and white are often used at funerals, so gifts and wrapping paper such colors should be avoided.
Necklace or chain. Don't give this to your boyfriend/girlfriend. Among the Chinese, necklaces, ties and belts received as a gift can mean that you want a close relationship. 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 of money and is expecting a gift of similar value.
Don't give a gift in public, especially if you want to congratulate only one person in a group (to avoid embarrassment, rumors about your relationship, etc.).
Do not visit a family on Chinese New Year who had a funeral less than a month before the holiday, as this is considered 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 come in pairs.
What they give for the New Year in China is not a simple question, due to cultural differences and a complex language full of halftones and hints. Sometimes, an item presented as a gift can offend a Chinese person, even if he has a high European education. This happens because China is a country that fanatically values its culture, and even what the mind understands is not accepted by the soul.
What is customary to give in China for the New Year?
- You can purchase vases as a gift, in the plural. Since ancient times, in China it has been customary to give vases in pairs, and the vases must be absolutely identical. And of course, these vases should not be designed in the European pseudo-Chinese style.
- The painting is made on a large canvas, oil paints will also be a good gift, however, will require documents when crossing customs.
- A wristwatch is also a good gift, although not a simple one, but a presidential or silver one, you can also give a gold watch.
- Gilt or silver plated figures, excluding snake, goose, wolf, dog, duck, owl or rabbit. The figure, like the painting, should be large.
- Expensive national Russian souvenir.
- Expensive Russian national souvenirs.
- Wine set made of crystal, metal with gold or silver. Such a set can either be large in itself, or it should contain a large number of items.
In no case should any souvenir in the form of a weapon, an egg-shaped watch, or any souvenirs remotely similar to an egg be suitable as a gift. This is due to the fact that the word egg is used in most Chinese curse words. Scarves, shawls, bells or handkerchiefs are also unacceptable for gifts; umbrellas, stuffed animals, or shoes are also not suitable. When planning to present a bouquet, avoid yellow and white chrysanthemums, and in general, avoid white and yellow flowers. Icons and other religious objects are also unacceptable.
Quantity and quality of gifts
Be sure to keep in mind that the number of gifts should be equal to the number of all Chinese, even the most unimportant ones. You must give at least some gift to everyone who is present at the gift ceremony or give nothing. So, what they give for the New Year in China, the traditions have become a little clearer and simpler. Now, when choosing a gift for your Chinese partner, you will imagine what they give for the New Year in China.
Of course, there is a slightly different option, it is difficult to say exactly what it is connected with, but this option is almost a win-win. One truly high-quality, good and expensive gift for the first person or the entire organization will eliminate the need to give gifts to everyone present. The Chinese will consider this a completely acceptable option, and you will not flinch at the words gift, New Year, China.
And yet, despite the internal self-confidence, superficial knowledge of customs and traditions - best choice will consult with a specialist. A translator or simply a knowledgeable person. Thus, two are widely known sad stories about people who did not know what is customary to give for the New Year in China. As is typical for both stories, the main characters sincerely wanted the best, but it turned out as usual.
A few stories about gifts
So, a sweet girl Karina, who worked in a Chinese company, decided to surprise her employers closer to the New Year and decorate the office in her understanding of New Year's style. Karina was not lazy and cut out countless different snow-white snowflakes and decorated the office with them, including the huge window in the central room.
The CEO, of course Chinese, was not prepared for this surprise, and his immediate reaction was rage. The venerable employer stamped his feet and sprayed saliva. In China, great importance is attached to symbols, coincidences and other mystical phenomena. And if you consider that white in China is considered a mourning color, then the situation becomes completely ugly. The real point of the coincidence was that the director had recently buried his son, who died in a fire, and the snowflakes, in addition to their color, also resembled the shape of their chrysanthemum.
The sweet girl Karina worked in that company for another unhappy year, since all the Chinese expressed their dissatisfaction with her in one way or another, and was fired on her birthday.
Without consulting a translator, and without even bothering with much thought, the director of the Russian company took a painted egg out of his pocket and handed it to a high-ranking Chinese during a business lunch.
It was wild for the chairman of the board of directors of a Chinese corporation to receive such a gift, since the egg is a participant in numerous curses. In addition, this gift could also be interpreted as a call to leave this place, and in its rudest form.
Although in fact, it was the Chinese who could offer this to their partner. Since the Russian partner fulfilled his obligations disgustingly, and what he promised big project I haven't moved for over two years now. Thus, with a painted egg, the unlucky director voiced everything that his Chinese partners were thinking about, but due to their Eastern culture, they expressed it exclusively allegorically. Of course, the Chinese took everything with true calm, but no one can vouch for what flashed through their thoughts.
This big project was never launched, of course, for completely different reasons!
Trying on these stories, one should draw the following conclusion: a pleasant surprise will not always correspond to all aspects of a person’s life circumstances. Sometimes it is difficult to guess what to give to your compatriot, and when choosing a gift for a Chinese, the most reasonable thing would be to ask advice from a knowledgeable person.
