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Guidelines for hongbao(red packets) giving this Chinese New Year

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·         Married adults are supposed to give out hongbao during Chinese New Year.

·         They are not required to give out hongbao to older unmarried relatives.

·         They have to give hongbao to unmarried younger siblings or cousins, and on rare occasions, to older unmarried nephews.

·         Older single relatives are exempted from giving out hongbao to the younger generation.

·         Singles and people of important status in the family such as parents and grandparents are supposed to receive hongbao.

·         A good amount to put into the hongbao is an even number because odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals.

·         The number four, although considered inauspicious by many, is not necessarily a bad amount to put into hongbao packets.

·         It is traditional for working adults, regardless of marital status, to give hongbao to their parents as a sign of affection and gratitude.  Think of it as reciprocating all the hongbao one has received from them over the years.

This is an extract article from The New Paper January 21, 2012.