Appropriate CNY gifts to take to house.

[CNYCNY]

Hi

We have been invited over to a colleagues house on Tues of next week as part of the CNY celebrations. The household is just adults, no kids. I'd like to take over appropraite CNY gifts. My budget is about S$100.

Can you please recommend some nice, appropriate things for me to buy and take.

thanks

[Kafka]

Hi

We have been invited over to a colleagues house on Tues of next week as part of the CNY celebrations. The household is just adults, no kids. I'd like to take over appropraite CNY gifts. My budget is about S$100.

Can you please recommend some nice, appropriate things for me to buy and take.

thanks

The only CNY-related gift I know of are ang bao (cash)... CNY is mostly a family thing, reunion dinner on CNY eve (this Sunday) then on Monday people would go around Singapore to visit the elder members of the family.
So, from a colleague, it's quite nice to be invited to their home... I would treat it as any invite to someone's home, maybe flowers for the hostess and/or wine. If you are not from region, you should not be ashamed to ask the host what the tradition is or what would please him... (hopefully he won't ask for an iPad

[orangeyouglad]

 Don't forget two oranges!

[cindy lee]

if you go to any department store you will see the gifts you can buy on display and there are many things for the house or to eat wrapped up in boxes.

not sure wine is that appropriate in chinese tradition.
if you are buying flowers buy the chinese type

[Kafka]

Don't forget two oranges!

Indeed that's a good one ! Every year I end up having a bunch of oranges rotting on my desk at work after CNY

[have fun]

Indeed that's a good one ! Every year I end up having a bunch of oranges rotting on my desk at work after CNY

Kafka, hy don't you just eat them? They're mandarins - and it's a symbolism of luck to you.

OP, if you want to give a plant - but NOT white.
A pot of kam-quat oranges (those tiny lime-like things) or red flowers. You get the drift - red, orange and gold is good for the season ... white and black - no.

4 is not good either. In Cantonese, the sound rhymes with death so some Chinese have preferred not to use this number. Then again, I think the Teochews, Hakkas and Hokkiens etc don't really mind.

General rule - even numbers good ... odd numbers - no.

[Kafka]

Indeed that's a good one ! Every year I end up having a bunch of oranges rotting on my desk at work after CNY

Kafka, hy don't you just eat them? They're mandarins - and it's a symbolism of luck to you.

OP, if you want to give a plant - but NOT white.
A pot of kam-quat oranges (those tiny lime-like things) or red flowers. You get the drift - red, orange and gold is good for the season ... white and black - no.

4 is not good either. In Cantonese, the sound rhymes with death so some Chinese have preferred not to use this number. Then again, I think the Teochews, Hakkas and Hokkiens etc don't really mind.

General rule - even numbers good ... odd numbers - no.

PP, I eat some, but not all when I have 30 at home and office

OP, talking about customs, don't forget to take your shoes off when entering your guest's home.

[name]

Indeed that's a good one ! Every year I end up having a bunch of oranges rotting on my desk at work after CNY

Kafka, hy don't you just eat them? They're mandarins - and it's a symbolism of luck to you.

2 reasons not to:

1. they'll be grown in China
2. they're tasteless

[Give angpao]

if you are Chinese and married only

The red packets are to be given only to singles ..

Just bring oranges. It's enough.