You do not have to follow this custom
if you are not an employer, though you could consider it if you have Chinese friends with children.
I heard some of my students in Nanning
complain that a white man wanting to marry a Chinese girl gave tiny sums of money to her younger siblings at this time - he
musat have thought the gift money was to buy candies or toys.
You should give money in special red
envelopes - they are at department and stationery store all over China.
The money is often held to the mother
and father and put towards educational funds for the young child, which explains why the money should be at a certain level.
You do not give this money to the
parent, or older person - I think that would be very insulting!
You give it to the child in presence
of their older relatives on the evening of the Spring Holiday, the dater of which is determined by the lunar calendar and
subject to change every year.
The money should be fresh new bills,
and I would start at $10 USA and go upwards. Ask Chinese friends for advise.
