Well, none. You learn it by growing up with these festivals that come with the red packet.
I've even searched online for red packet etiquette and do's and don'ts. Found nothing really.
So let me tell you some don'ts regarding the red packet (especially during Chinese New Year)
1. You DO NOT open the packet in front of the giver. It is said to be bad luck and actually it is downright rude. I learnt this while at primary tuition and my teacher ran away when she saw me opening it :P My friend then told me it was bad luck.
2. You don't put in any amount of money where the numbers are bad in chinese. Example 4.
So RM4 or $4 is not good.
3. You don't go around asking for red packets from people you don't know very well, e.g strangers, friend's friends, unfamiliar faces. It's rude. It should be given to you. However it's alright to bug your close relatives or friends for ang pow ;)
This are what I recommend to be Do's
1. Do keep your ang pow nicely (like a bag or pocket) There's money inside you know
2. Try to remember who gave which ang pow. Express gratitude to those who give you big amounts (when you know they are not rich etc) when it comes to their wedding/birthday, possibly by giving back an ang pow with a big amount as well.
3. Give ang pow to people (relatives) whom you know are unmarried. I've heard of people who don't give ang pow to working adults because 'they have income' Now that's bad in my opinion. Ang pow is supposed to be for good luck.
4. As a guide to amount, relatives should get most (the closer relative gets more) followed by friends, then not-so-familiar people
5. The not-so-familiar people whom you can give ang pow to are; rubbish collectors, postman, gardener, maid etc. This is regardless of whether they are married or not, it's just a token. Unless of course you hate their service. If so, you can close all the doors and windows, keep really quiet and pretend nobody's home when they come around during CNY
Happy CNY!
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