Where do I fit in to Chinese New Year?
An easy guide to the essentials of Chinese New Year customs for a Hong Kong newcomer
Newcomers to Hong Kong will find the customs a bit strange, but imagine what an outsider would think of a rabbit leaving chocolate eggs in your backyard. Here are the most important ways you can observe the shifting of years in Hong Kong and make someone’s day.
Lai see don’ts, lai see dos
Newcomers must be careful to observe the lai see tradition. It’s a way of giving back to people who regularly provide a service. Maids, doormen, rubbish collectors, regular waiter/waitresses, employees or those under your supervision at work, younger relatives and so on are privy to lai see. Amounts vary, but they’re usually not a lot of money. And the quality of the notes and packet design is important. Banks will exchange old notes for new ones for during Lunar New Year. Here’s a graphical tool to let you know who you should give to, and how much.
Many Hongkongers tend to keep a few lai see packets on them in case they bump into people on the street they need to give to. Under no circumstances give in denominations that include a four. The word in Cantonese sounds like death and a superstitious faux pas in Hong Kong.
Get around the guide:
