by Anne Gader

Created on: January 25, 2010

The Chinese can be very superstitious, and here are some tips on what to do if you are invited to a Chinese family's house party.

1. Do not wear black and white colors.

The colors black and white are associated with funerals, and your host may feel offended if you were to turn up at their door dressed head to toe in black. Black is worse than white, so in the event you really have to choose between the two, choose to wear white.

2. Favorite "Spring" Colors.

Chinese New Year celebrates the new spring, and you would do well if you came dressed in "spring" colors such as red, pink, yellow, green, lilac. Wear anything rosy, and you'll be fine. For gentlemen who would rather die than wear red or pink, consider a baby blue, or an olive green hue. Even beige, or brown is better than black.

3. Avoid White Flowers.

The Chinese associate white flowers with funerals and inauspicious occasions, so avoid bringing a bunch of white flowers. Chrysanthemums are also associated with funerals, and it is preferable that one does not bring a bouquet of chrysanthemums to the host.

4. Avoid Giving Books.

If your host is a gambler, or intends to punt at the tables this Chinese New Year, please do not return him a book he lent you previously, or worse, buy him a book during the festive period. This is because "book" in Mandarin sounds like "lose".

5. Zip Your Potty Mouth

Generally, as in other ethnic groups, avoid cursing and swearing, during the festive season.

6. Lucky Numbers - "8" and "3"

The number eight sounds like "prosperity", while the number three sounds like "growth" or "rise", and so these numbers are generally welcomed during the Chinese New Year.

7. Avoid Numbers - "4"

The number 4 sounds like "death" in mandarin, and most Chinese avoid it, unless it goes together with the number eight, making it a "48" which phonetically sounds like "damned prosperous".

8. Bring a pair of Mandarin Oranges.

When you visit a Chinese family, it is a general practice to bring some mandarin oranges in pairs. These oranges are to be presented to the owners, or elderly, and wishing them health, wealth and happiness as you gift the oranges with both hands. If in doubt, a simple "Happy New Year" will also suffice. The host would return another pair of oranges to you, wishing you the same.

9. Decor Items.

If you happen to be buying presents for a Chinese family, you could bring sweets, chocolates, bird's nest, abalone, or an orange plant. For the orange plant, it would be preferred to bring them to the family before the festivities.

10. Red Packets.

It is a custom for married couples to give red packs filled with money for the kids, the unmarried, and the elderly. If you are merely a visitor, you could just give a small red packet with money in pairs such as $2, $8, $10 for the children.

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