As the saying goes, a goose feather sent from thousands of miles away is a present little in size but rich in meaning. Chinese gift-giving is steeped in tradition, rites and rituals. Again, foreign brands make the best impression. Generally, businesses and organizations give funeral flowers. And whenever I’m back in the US, I stock up on high-quality American ginseng for the Chinese holidays. Nothing needs to be said. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning.
But if you’re going to give tea as a gift, be prepared to pay top money for it. Everyone in the family loves fresh fruit, from grandma right down to my five-year-old niece. Gifts of flowers are common at Chinese funerals in the same way that people give food or flowers in a Western funeral. One person will always have more than the other.
See disclaimer. Paper money is folded and burned at the grave site, and paper effigies -- including houses, servants, animals and any number of other replicas of real objects -- are burned during the funeral procession and at the grave site. Wear conservative clothing to the viewing or funeral.
Open the white envelope that the family may have distributed. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. This is the case regardless of whether you may feel unsure about offering your condolences to someone of a different cultural background. The most important thing in presenting a gift is to show intention. It's natural to feel this way. Did you know that China is the world’s fifth-largest wine consumer? Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. Doing so is a sign of respect for the building, the deceased and his or her family. Wearing red to a Chinese funeral is considered extremely poor taste because red is associated with happiness and prosperity. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. ; A little different than the west, Chinese recipients usually won’t open gifts in front giver immediately. Chinese Condolence Gifts 1 Cash. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. 7 Open the white envelope that the family may have distributed. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, Take A Look At Beautiful Photos Of China From Above, An essential daily guide to achieving the good life, Mick Stephenson mixpix 20:28, 2 April 2007 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1883875, Ragesoss - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4184640, Shizhao — CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=250045, cropped from original, China is the world’s fifth-largest wine consumer.
Who hasn’t had a friend or loved one in China return from a trip with a little regional flavor all wrapped in a beautiful package? Traditional Chinese funerals are expensive, lengthy affairs generally lasting at least 49 days.
So if you’re able to bring a nice bottle back from your next trip, it will make for an unforgettable family gift — and meal. By doing a little research before gift-giving, you will help insure your gift will be received in the spirit it was intended. What home in China doesn’t have a top-shelf box of tea (or even two), ready and waiting to entertain guests? But if your country or city has a regional specialty food that’s easy to transport and won’t trip you up at customs, consider sharing a little taste of home with your Chinese family. China Travel: Traditional Etiquette and Taboos. It is also appropriate to express gratitude, for sending-off relatives and friends, and to return a favor.
Odd amounts cannot be divided equally between two people. Black or dark colors are not required but are acceptable. In this way, the gift receiver will …
You could include a verse or poem, either composed by you or copied from another source, along with your note. In both cases, the living often eat the food that is presented. But some of the best wines are still only available outside China. Any gesture of sympathy will be welcomed by your Chinese friends. It really makes one fantastic gift for your family. Be cautious when presenting gifts to friends and family mourning the loss of a loved one. Some families give a small piece of candy in a white envelope to each person at the funeral. Flowers of all types are appropriate as condolence gifts. Once burned, these paper facsimiles are said to join the dead, where they can be used in the afterlife. Plus, everyone in the family loves drinking it. If you give money, never give an even amount.
Food can be given in two ways: as a gift for the living or as an offering to the dead. That’s why I never head home for Chinese New Year without a nice bottle of imported wine. Roses are acceptable but only in white. Flowers of all types are appropriate as condolence gifts.
Nowadays, there’s not a Chinese New Year that doesn’t go by without me handing out vitamin supplements to my family. Among the elders in my family here, nothing says “I love you” quite like … Among the elders in my family here, nothing says “I love you” quite like a little dong quai or American ginseng. When giving monetary gifts, avoid amounts in multiples of four. Plus, you can send the fruit basket to the whole family household, making it the ultimate solution to all your gift shopping woes. And sometimes, it can even be fun – if you know what to buy. When you remove the candy, immediately discard the white envelope, which represents sadness.
Fortunately, after years of experience in buying gifts for my Chinese family, I’ve learned it’s actually a lot easier than I thought.
Fruit baskets are available everywhere in China. Send white or yellow flowers. You do not need to shake hands. The symbolism behind leaving an odd amount of money is that you are wishing the best for the deceased and the family.
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This money is usually spent on something joyful in honor of the dead. The simple bow willl convey your condolences very well.
Yes, those traditional herbal remedies can often be the ideal gift for any health-conscious adults in the family, especially adults 50 and older. Part of HuffPost Travel. The condolence gift might be the trickiest gift to give. So if the Chinese are giving them, why shouldn’t you? Make sure the florist understands not to use any red flowers, a red vase or any red decorations in the arrangement. If you knew the deceased well, it is appropriate to write about a special memory. Make sure the florist understands not to use any red flowers, a red vase or any red decorations in the arrangement. According to most traditions, Chinese culture recognizes them as funeral flowers. Lea is currently perusing her Master of Arts in the history of the decorative arts at the Bard Graduate Center, where she is writing her thesis on ninth-century Arab ceramics. These groups typically send large flower stands with flowing ribbons. An earlier version of this post first appeared on the blog Speaking of China. If you want to buy Chinese regional specialty foods, purchase them on your trips in China or through an online provider that specializes in regional foods, such as Xinjiang nuts and dried fruits. Flowers may be used to decorate the condolence hall,... 3 Paper Objects.
Fruit is one of the most beloved and universal gifts in China. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Presenting the wrong type of gift can be anything from a minor embarrassment to a major social faux-pas. Let me introduce you to your new best friend – the fruit basket. The number four is closely associated with death. Even better, you can purchase many online in China ― including Amway, Centrum and Swanson’s – along with the Chinese-language packaging that ensures your relatives won’t take the wrong dose. Most Chinese can taste the difference between the expensive, high-grade varieties (which are great gifts) versus the cheaper average teas (which you should never buy for anyone but yourself). Now I would have to navigate all of these cultural rules to buy for my family in China, the people I’d be seeing every single year. Still stumped on the perfect gift for your family?
Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. Place poems, calligraphy or a gift of money in or near the casket. Open the white envelope that the family may have distributed. We always give fruit when we’re visiting someone for a special occasion, seeing someone in the hospital, or just want to show we care. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. And depending on the food, they can also be great for people of all ages. See disclaimer. When sending flowers as a gift for the family, be sure to avoid the colors red and white; in Chinese culture, the color white is associated with death, sadness and poverty, while red is a signifier of joy and happiness. From the Bronx, N.Y., Shannon Lea has been writing social science and art history-based articles since 2000, with works featured on various websites. ©2020 Verizon Media. Traditional Herbal Remedies. Years ago, a neighbor in Hangzhou begged me to buy her Amway garlic supplements when I returned to the US. Cheers! The specialty chocolates I once brought back from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio were a huge hit. With China’s growing appetite for fine wines, you’ll find many good deals online in China. Make sure the florist understands not to use any red flowers, a red vase or any red decorations in the arrangement.
Gifts of cash,... 2 Floral. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration. Simple and traditional meals, such as fried rice, can be used to feed masses of mourners, while more exorbitant and sweet foods may be eaten only by the family and are sometimes said to serve as a reminder of the pleasant personality of the deceased. This is to remind people that life has its sweetness among the bitterness. Korean. This honors the deceased. But after moving to China and marrying a Chinese local, it became even more of a headache. One should choose and purchase a gift according to his own economic conditions. Write a note expressing your sadness for the loss of the deceased.