From the red packets to forging new traditions with your significant other, celebrating your first Chinese New Year can get overwhelming at times. Here, the things to remember.
While newly-weds in their first year will still receive red packets from their elders, you’ll still have to prepare your own for your younger relatives. If you’re unsure about the amount to put in, look online for angpow guides, or ask your parents for a gauge.
Even if you’re not giving them out this year, don’t forget to give angpows to both your parents, as well as grandparents, as a gesture of good luck and well wishes.
Now that you’re married, you have to decide which relatives on which side to visit on both days, as well as reunion dinner schedules. Ask both your parents to see if they’ve any preferences.
Traditionally, you should be visiting your husband’s side of the family on the first day, and yours on the second day. But again, it depends on your preference.
By that I mean your husband’s relatives. Now that you’re married, it’s not proper to be calling everyone “aunty” or “uncle”. It should be “second aunt”, “eldest uncle”, and so on to you. The same rule applies to your husband, too.
If you’ve moved out and are living on your own, don’t forget that mum and dad won’t be around to help you with chores such as spring cleaning, buying new year goodies, and so on now.
Now that you’ve tied the knot, the next thing all your relatives will be asking, is when you’ll be having children. If you’re not ready to answer that, ask them to look to your husband for an answer, or counter the question with another question (preferably one your relative will be happy answering).
Text: Felicia Tan/HerWorld Brides