In a few days time, it will be Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is the most important festival of the chinese. Chinese New Year will start on the 1st day of the 1st chinese lunar month and last till the 15th day of the 1st chinese lunar month. This year the 1st day of 1st chinese lunar month falls on 3rd February 2011.
On this day, those who are married will give ang pows or red packets which contained some money inside. I have collected some red packets from the banks and some are given to me by my friends. It is best to have ang pows with different designs so we can differentiate the different amount of money we put inside the packets.
The amount of money or gifts will be more if you are closer to the giver. Amount of gifts can amount to few hundreds for parents or senior family members while the younger gets around $8 or $12 or more. The minimum amount depending on how generous one can be.
As hubby is cantonese, I have to give two red packets to each person (i.e. $8 x 2 or $12 x 2). Two packets represents husband and wife. Every year giving out ang pows could easily costs us a few hundred dollars not including gifts of ang pows to parents. As hubby and me have no generation above us anymore, we are considered the elders in our family. (Now I sound so old...lol)
It is also important to change new notes to put inside the ang pows. Will be embrassing to give old notes.
Now let's get ready to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.
