Sara asked:
Help!!! I’m bringing fruits.. any suggestions on what else? What’s appropriate to give the kids in the chinese envelope? For a 10 yr old and 23 yr old… do i give the parents money too?? Help?
(My husband is currently overseas in the military and I am not ablet to talk to him for another week. I’ve just moved in the same area as his family and this is the first time I celebrate Chinese New Year with his family… )
How about asking your husband for guidance?
Comment by Bill — July 19, 2007 @ 4:51 am
A box of popcorn and a DVD of Forest Gump.
Comment by FUSIONMASTER — July 20, 2007 @ 1:21 am
Something with a pig in it, on it or with it.
Comment by docscholl — July 21, 2007 @ 7:48 am
well i am chiinese myself and we do the money too! we dont give children much because when i was little like 10 or 11 i got about $5-10,but when i was really lucky i got up to 20-50$
and maybe you should bring a chinese pastry like well it is called dawntot it is like egg custard in the middle and like a flakey bread around it
you should give the 23 yr old ….well the chinese always give money so i guess you should give money aybe 34 or 30
sorry if you didnt think any of my suggestions was not good but i tried!:)
Comment by darkembermp — July 23, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
If you can, go to a Vietnamese or Chinese supermarket and buy sweets in boxes (already wrapped in red cellophane) for New Year’s gifts to your mother-in -law. Officially, they are not for her personally but for the household. Also appropriate are the sticky rice cakes with meat fillings called “banh chung” (they are wrapped in green banana leaves and are square in shape about 6″ by 6″ by 2 ” thick).
Do not give adults money. A 23 year old maybe OK if he/she is younger than you. The “li xi” (lee see) money in the red envelops are mostly for children. Depending on what you can afford, a $5, $10 or $ 20 bill in each envelop is appropriate. Use new, crispy bills that you get at the bank. It’s not appropriate to use old bills that you normally use for daily spending.
Good luck and God bless.
Comment by Tom T — July 24, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
the simplest gift might be flowers. vietnamese houses are filled with flowers during Tet (“lunar new year” in vietnamese). because the kids are family, you can probably give the 10 year old like 10-20 dollars. but give the 23 year old more. how much more is up to you. give them the “lucky money” in little red envelopes! i think you can get them at the bank. you definitely do not give the parents money. 23 is already slightly old to still be receiving “lucky money”. when you give them the envelopes, wish them all good things for the new year. be sure to wish your mom-in-law good health and happiness for the new year too. sorry this is a lot of detail, but hey maybe she’ll be impressed by your knowledge!
Comment by HappyE — July 27, 2007 @ 6:02 am
For 10 yr old, you can give him/her $10.
For 23 yr old and the parents, you don’t have to put out anything, just smile at them. But if you want to impress them you can buy gingseng tea or green tea. They are very good for elder people’s healths.
Remember it’s the thought that counts. Asian people are not too picky about the gifts.
Considering of Non-Asian daughter-in-law like you, I think she is very blessed to have you as her daughter-in-law.
Comment by Heart-2-Exist — July 29, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Well, if your mother in law is Vietnamese then shouldn’t you call it Tet instead of Chinese New Year since she is not Chinese?
Well, anyway, I think that you should go to the nearest Asian supermarket and buy her this thing. It is square and it is wrapped with green leaves and it is delicious. I think that the Vietnamese name for it is ” Banh Chung” or something like that.
Remember it is square, evenly square, and it is green on the outside. Buy a couple of those and some traditional tea or whatever and that should do it. Oh, and fruits would be great too.
Vietnamese elders love it when you buy those for them because it shows appreciation and love.
For the 23 year old, it depends on the gender of that person, but usually red envelop will do. Same thing goes with the 10 year old too.
Hopes that helps!
Comment by Sugar & spice & everything nice — August 1, 2007 @ 1:28 am