This year, the Year of the Rooster begins on Saturday January 28th and lasts until February 15th, 2018. The festivities usually start the day before the New Year – which means on Friday, when people will leave their job early – and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.
What are the days off of your helper ?
Chinese New Year 2017 will take place from January 28 to February 11 and the statutory holidays are :
- Lunar New Year’s Day (28 January)
- The third day of Lunar New Year (30 January)
- The fourth day of Lunar New Year (31 January)
According to the Employment Ordinance, when either Lunar New Year’s Day, the second day of the Lunar New Year or the third day of the Lunar New Year falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year is designated as a statutory holiday in substitution.
Few tips you should know about Chinese superstitions during those festivities
- Don’t say anything unlucky, for example: the Chinese word ‘death’, ‘unfortunate’, ‘lose’ and so on.
- Don’t break anything.
- Don’t sweep your house and throw trash away.
- Don’t finish your fish dish.
- Do not wash clothes on the first and second day
- Do not wash your hair on the first day of the lunar year as you may wash your fortune away
- Open the windows to let in good luck.
- Arrange your home to get good “Feng Shui,” it will have a positive effect on health, wealth, and personal relationships.
- Stay up late on the Eve to welcome the New Year, and then to let off firecrackers and fireworks to scare off inauspicious spirits.
- Etc…
How much in the red envelope for your helper ?
Chinese people love the color red, and regard red as the symbol of energy, happiness and good luck. Sending red envelopes is a way to send good wishes and luck.
What about your helper ? You might consider that you are not Chinese and your helper is not, or that you prefer to give nice bonus at Christmas time instead or you may want to embrace this tradition and give a red envelope to your helper. Its really up to you, and it depends on your individual circumstance. There is no fixed amount to be given but between 100hkd and 500hkd is a good guide.
You don’t have to give lai see to everyone you know, but keep in mind that there is a chance you may forget somebody. People usually bring a pile of red envelopes with them whenever they go out, just in case they might bump into someone accidentally (and since this is Hong Kong, you probably will). It’s best to keep ready a stack of red envelopes with $20 in them for services you frequently use or go to, such as your waiter, bus driver, dry cleaner, or doorman…
Also, never let children give out lai sees to older folk or service staff – this is considered insulting.
Whatever your choice, we hope you enjoy the celebrations and we wish you
Gong hei fat choy!
and may the Year of the Rooster attract all the good wishes this year, for you, your family and your helper !
