During this period, it's traditional for mourners to offer money as a donation to the soul of the dead person. The money is offered in white envelopes, and helps the family pay for the funeral. Joss money, or incense paper, may also be burned to help provide for the spirit in the afterlife.
Chinese families will typically give the guests a red envelope with either a coin or a dollar bill in it for good luck and a white envelope that has a piece of candy in it to take away the bitter taste of death.
Giving money is a large part of the Chinese funeral tradition. Those who attend the wake are expected to give money in white envelopes. This is then used for the funeral. The amount given by the guests depends on their relationship with the deceased.
The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture. The amount of money put in the envelope varies depending on the relationship to the deceased but must be in odd numbers. The money is meant to help the family pay for the funeral.
Trimming hair and nails
Generally, this emanates from the belief that nails and hair were given to the children by the deceased as a parent and as such they shouldn't be trimmed during the mourning period and after the burial. At least you should wait for 49 days.
If you have an adult with you at the funeral home, it is ok to touch a dead body, and you will not get in trouble. You are naturally curious, and sometimes when you see and touch a dead body it helps you answer your questions. Remember to be gentle and have an adult help you.
Some cultures believe that you should ritually cleanse yourself after services for the dead, but that is religious/cultural, rather than biological. You should not get anything on you at a funeral that would require bathing right away.
On the eve of Chinese New Year, these eight coins were wrapped in red paper and placed under the child's pillow to ward off the demon. Parents eventually adopted this practice and would give their children money wrapped in red paper, which was termed ya sui qian (money that can suppress the demon).
When you receive a red envelope, you should express thanks and greet the giver with a pleasing, auspicious phrase, such as 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, meaning 'happiness and prosperity'). Click to learn some Chinese New Year popular wishes. 3. Never open your red envelope in front of the person who just gave it to you.
At Lunar New Year, it's tradition to give the gift of a bright, beautiful red envelope (known as 紅包, hóngbāo) to your friends and family. But not just any old envelope. These are filled with money - and symbolize good wishes and luck for the new year ahead.
It is also taboo to wear bright colours such as red or yellow during the mourning period. Immediate family members wear a coarse burlap overcoat, hat and slippers to show that the mourners' care for appearances and personal comfort have given way to grief.
Loved ones will take turns to sit with the body at the family home, temple or funeral parlour, while mourners may bring offerings of things like incense or food. This can last up to seven days. During this period, it's traditional for mourners to offer money as a donation to the soul of the dead person.
In order to ensure that ancestors or ghosts have proper items in the afterlife, their relatives send them paper and papier-mâché presents. The burning of the spirit money and paper objects allows for the object to be transferred to the ancestors and ghosts, materialising in the afterlife and even increase in value.
The top line is the recipient's full name, the second line is the recipient's street address, and the third line is the recipient's city, state, and zip code. The state can be written in full or abbreviated. The stamp: The stamp for a standard 1-ounce letter or card goes on the upper right-hand corner of an envelope.
It is believed that there is nothing to be thankful for in an occasion like death. So family members will let you know that they appreciate the donation without saying 'thank you'. You will often notice a plate of sweets, peanuts, melon seeds, and red thread on the table.
Typical condolences messages like 'I'm sorry for your loss', and 'My thoughts are with you during this time' are quite safe. In Chinese, you can say something like 'jie ai shun bian'. Apart from the actual condolence wishes, you might find yourself having the opportunity to chat with the deceased family members.
It's traditional to leave a red envelope with two tangerines (leaves on, of course) by a child's bedside on New Year's Eve. Given that Chinese New Year isn't celebrated with material gifts, the amount is usually around $20, enough for the child to buy a toy on his or her own.
Red envelopes are given to pass on good fortune to the younger generation. In Taiwan, it is common to give children 200 NT or $600 NT, about $7 and $20 USD respectively. In the U.S. you can give $6 (six $1 bills) or $8 (eight $1 bills). A very generous amount would be $88 for older children or $888 for adults.
When gifting red envelopes, it's considered good luck to put in an amount of money that ends in 8 or 9 like $188 and $199 because “8” represents fortune and “9” symbolizes “long-lasting” in Chinese culture. Since weddings represent two hearts joining together, Chinese wedding gifts should always be in pairs.
Ancient Chinese people believed, as recorded in Tao Shou, that sleeping on a porcelain pillow would assure one's eyes were clear and bright, so that even when old, one could still read books with small characters. The book noted that the porcelain pillow was popular at court.
While today we would be hard-pressed to find a person willing to sleep on a hard porcelain pillow, the Chinese believed that hard materials were beneficial to improve the personality. Soft materials resulted in a loss of energy and vitality.
However the scientific explanation to this is linked to the presence of Sulfur in garlic, which leads to the strong smell and it is believed that this strong smell helps in inducing sleep and leaves a calming effect. Apart from this, keeping a bud of clove under the pillow is believed to improve the quality of sleep.
This means no jeans, shorts, or tank tops. Instead, opt for dark, conservative clothing. Women should avoid wearing anything too revealing or flashy, and men should make sure their clothing is clean and wrinkle-free.
Don't tell friends or family members who are grieving that their loved one has gone to a better place. Never call the death a blessing or speculate that it was that person's time. Avoid saying anything that suggests that the loss of the loved one is a positive thing.
Can you wear jeans to a funeral? The most common answer is that jeans aren't considered appropriate funeral etiquette unless requested by the family. However, dark, unembellished jeans paired with a shirt, tie, and blazer for men or a blouse and a blazer for women can be appropriate for a casual service.