When will it be better to give lai see?

[carang]

i believe that the tradition is 15 days of the new year.

hubby says that the reason there is a huge exodus of people at CNY is so that people can get out of paying lai see.... it costs them about the same to go away as it would if they stayed!

[clarence_kwan_h]

Kung Hai Fat Choy!! Sun Lin Ho!!

1. The tradition "lai see" period is the first 15 days.
For close relatives, the above period is not applied, as in Chinese tradition, you will visit all close relatvies and friends during CNY. If you can't make the visit, give him/her later.

2. "Lai See" symbols fortune. We are happy to sending out fortune. Fortune is sent to the junior from senior.
Who is senior?
Home - Your son, grandson, nephew.....etc.
Younger brother sister.......etc.
(No matter he or she is married or not)

Society - Your friends (same social level), colleagues(same or below),
(Only unmarried)

Office - If you r boss, you usually issue "lai see" you all ur subordinates

1 or 2??
Depends on whether your wife knows him/her. For boss to subordinates, usually 1, for relatives always 2. If divorced, 1 only...



I will prepare different kinds of "lai see" pocket, different size, color to represent different "value"...

For some situation, you may want to send a big "lai see" so some which is closer to you. But at the same time, you will also send "lai see" to other ppl. It's too obvious to send a different color "lai see" to that "special one". I always prepared some "ordinary" pocket which a tiny corner is folded for self identification.

[muse07]

I have some relatives here (aunties and uncles) but since I grew up overseas I am not so familiar with the traditions here. Should I visit them all (bai lin) after CNY? If so what should I bring?? I guess I could expect to receive red packet hehe

[M Khan]

Traditions surrounding 'lai see' or 'hong bao' differ from region to region. I remember when I lived on the mainland the tradition in the south (especially in Guangdong) was to give the lai see after the new year (though I would receive them sporadically throughout the holiday). Further north, the tradition is to give them before the new year.

Bosses give them to juniors, and older members of a family give them to the younger, unmarried members. Babies in their first Spring Festival traditionally receive lai see in multiples of 200 yuan from any and all visiting relatives.

Outside of Hong Kong and Guangdong I am not aware of any tradition in China of married people giving lai see to younger, unmarried people OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY. I was surprised and somewhat dubious when I first came across this, however it does indeed seem to be the norm in these parts.

As for the precise date, well I think anyone who gets lai see from me this year should just be grateful for it and not quibble over the timing.