One of the most anticipated and cherished traditions during Chinese New Year involves the giving and receiving of ang pows. Married couples, parents and others are expected to cheerfully give these money-filled red packets to children, the elderly, and/or single people, who love receiving them equally cheerfully in turn.

Still, there are also certain rules that should be followed when it comes to this beloved time-honoured practice. Take note of these dos and don’ts or risk offending your elders!

1. Do: Use new banknotes

As per tradition, Chinese New Year is the time for people to welcome new things and say “out with the old”.

In the same vein as buying new clothes, using new banknotes in your ang pows indicates new beginnings and the dispelling of all bad luck from the previous year.

2. Do: Increase the ang pow amount each year for your elders

This is an unspoken rule: aim to increase the amount of money given to one’s parents or grandparents, if it’s within one’s financial means.

Doing this signifies more well wishes than the last year, in addition to praying for them to live a longer life. So, even if you can’t afford to increase the amount, it’s prudent not to decrease it.

3. Do: Receive your ang pow with both hands and say ‘thank you’

One should never forget one’s manners, especially during this time of year when extended family and distant relatives converge.

While it is tempting to just grab your ang pow and hide in the bathroom to peer at the amount inside, always look your family members in the eye, receive the red packet with both hands, and say a polite “thank you”.

Additional well wishes such as “I wish you good health and a long life” will be music to a relative’s ears, especially the elderly, and put you in their good books.

4. Don’t: Give money in odd numbers

As per tradition, the Chinese try to steer clear of odd numbers in their ang pows. The reason behind this can be attributed to the saying “hao shi cheng shuang”, meaning “good things come in pairs”.

As such, the money you give should end with “lucky” even numbers such as six and eight. (Do try to avoid the number four, though. Die, wor.)

5. Don’t: Use old packets

Using old red packets suggests that your well wishes and the fortune that comes with them are past their expiration dates, which just might be frowned upon during this season of good luck and prosperity.

To avoid this, give your loved ones new blessings in pristine, unused red packets instead. This isn’t particularly hard, given that new red packets are widely available and are often given free with other goods and services.

6. Don’t: Seal the envelopes

Here’s one final no-no: sealing your red packets with glue. It’s frowned upon because it means you are preventing the smooth flow of the receiver’s finances – and, in fact, are halting it.

Fortunately, there is an easy way around this: most ang pows have a small slit for you to insert the flap of the envelope into, thereby securing the precious contents within.

Alternatively, do the simple but effective trick of tucking the flap into the envelope itself. No glue stick required!