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[Chinese] New Year

KillgrimageKillgrimage Registered User regular
edited January 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
So I have a coworker who is Chinese and has been nothing but kind to me. I know Chinese new years is coming up and I want to return the favor by giving her a traditional-ish gift. Thing is my knowledge of Chinese customs is whatever I can gleam from Amy Tan. I know not to give money because I am younger than her, and that this new year is the year of the rabbit. I was thinking of a sort of hommade gift basket with oranges and other lucky symbols with a rabbit theme, any ideas for that? I really want to put thought and effort into this.

Killgrimage on

Posts

  • masc.boxmasc.box Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The gift basket sounds like a good idea. If you're looking for some other things to include:

    Candied lotus root and you get sweets specifically for chinese new year.
    Giant grapefruit.
    Oranges should be satsumas and if you can get them with a stem and some leaves still on then that's good too.

    masc.box on
  • ChenChen Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Oranges should be mandarin oranges, yeah. Tangerines or Clementines are fine. Just make sure they're not sour.

    As for gift ideas, flowers, blooming plants, wine and maybe something involving Chinese calligraphy?

    Whatever you do, don't give her fortune cookies.

    Chen on
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  • melting_dollmelting_doll Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Chinese New Year isn't until February 3rd this year.

    It is also customary to give money (though a card is nice too) in red envelopes as a New Year's gift.

    melting_doll on
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  • KillgrimageKillgrimage Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    melting_doll wrote: »
    Chinese New Year isn't until February 3rd this year.

    I know, I just wanted to get a jump on it because I don't know enough about traditional Chinese customs and I want to do it right.

    melting_doll wrote: »
    It is also customary to give money (though a card is nice too) in red envelopes as a New Year's gift.

    I don't think I can do this because she is technically my superior at work and it would be inappropriate.

    Killgrimage on
  • Aurora BorealisAurora Borealis runs and runs and runs away BrooklynRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I am informed by my Cantonese host Mom that round (spherical and coin-shaped) things in general are good luck. Also sweet things and the color red.
    For chinese new year last year I gave a friend of mine a big bag of Reese's pieces. Because they are coin shaped and sweet. It was a hit.

    Aurora Borealis on
  • DiorinixDiorinix Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The point about giving lucky red pockets to elders or superiors is true - it's a gift from married adults or elders in a family to younger, unmarried members of the family. Giving a red pocket in a reverse situation in some circles is considered rude (you're treating them like a child).

    For those that aren't in the know (I assume the OP is in the know), Chinese New Year also lasts 2 weeks and there's TONS of food to be eaten during this time. The first several days are the most social days and as the holiday winds down to a close it becomes much more family oriented.

    Diorinix on
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  • melting_dollmelting_doll Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Killgrimage wrote: »
    melting_doll wrote: »
    It is also customary to give money (though a card is nice too) in red envelopes as a New Year's gift.

    I don't think I can do this because she is technically my superior at work and it would be inappropriate.

    Ohh, yeah, no don't do that. Hehe

    melting_doll on
    butts
  • UrQuanLord88UrQuanLord88 Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Seems like you are on the right track with the gift basket. A themed card would be good as well.

    I joke with my friends about how chinese traditions are almost always about prosperity, good luck, earning more money and longevity... but it is true. Gifts (Tangerines, coin-shaped snacks) and colors (gold and red) are usually representations/puns of these values.

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  • GutockGutock Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Also put in some apples. They represent peace 平安. 苹果 is apple in Chinese, the first character sounds the same. Also, if you put some fish (dried, fresh, anything basically) it'll be great because of another Chinese saying about fish bringing prosperity.

    I'm sure she'll be grateful just that you remembered her during an important holiday.

    Gutock on
  • agentk13agentk13 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited January 2011
    Gutock wrote: »
    Also put in some apples. They represent peace 平安. 苹果 is apple in Chinese, the first character sounds the same. Also, if you put some fish (dried, fresh, anything basically) it'll be great because of another Chinese saying about fish bringing prosperity.

    I'm sure she'll be grateful just that you remembered her during an important holiday.

    I recommend sable. It has a nice luxuriousness that makes it well suited to such uses.

    Would gelt be appropriate?

    agentk13 on
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