Here's our top five gift ideas for your family, friends and neighbours during Lunar New Year:
- Red envelopes containing money
- Tea
- Fruits
- Home décor
- Clothing
- ie. scarves and gloves
However, there are also certain presents that you should avoid giving.
These include items in black or white (used for funerals); necklaces (unless it’s for a romantic partner); green hats (associated with infidelity); a clock (related to death); handkerchiefs (insinuates you are bidding farewell forever); umbrellas (the Chinese word sounds like “breaking up”); pears (the Chinese word sounds like “leaving” or “parting”); cut flowers (used for funerals); and mirrors (attracts ghosts).
When in doubt, offer something in red and in pairs, as the Chinese believe things that come in two are lucky.
FUN FACTS ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR
- Feb. 1, 2022, marks the Year of the Tiger.
- If you were born in the Year of the Tiger — that is, in 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950 or 1938 — you have a zodiac sign that is a symbol of strength, bravery and exorcises evils.
- These things bring Tigers good luck: Numbers 1, 3 and 4 (or a combination of them); the 16th and 27th days any Chinese lunar month; the colours blue, grey and orange; the flowers yellow lily and cineraria; and the directions east, north and south.
- These things bring Tigers bad luck: Number 6, 7 and 8 (or a combination of them); the colour brown; and the southwest direction.
- In China, many kids tie a tiger image on their hats and shoes as a sign of good luck.
- The tiger ranks third among the Chinese zodiac animals.
- The 12 zodiac creatures are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
- Each zodiac sign is linked with the element gold (metal); wood; water; fire; or earth. 2022 is the year of the Water Tiger, which is associated with people who have strong self-esteem and learning abilities.
- The luckiest zodiac signs for 2022 are the ox and the goat. Rabbit, dragon, horse and rooster people will also have a smooth year and will make money in 2022.
TEACHING KIDS
If you have little ones and want to educate them about Chinese New Year, the Coquitlam Public Library has a few reading materials in its collection.
Among them
- This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong and pictures by Yangsook Choi
- Long-Long’s New Year: A story about the Chinese spring festival by Catherine Gower and illustrations by He Zhihong
- The Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compenstine and picture by Tungwai Chau
- Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
- Sam and the Luck Money by Karen Chinn, with illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
