It also helps if you're Chinese
We say Gong Hai Fat Choi, Um Pow Twa Twa Lai (phonetically correct but not sure about spelling)
The first part translates to Happy New Year, & get this, the second part says - Red Packet Big Big Give
We Chinese or even bananas (yellow on the outside, white on the inside) are not shy about demanding $$$ from family & friends.
However, many of my CBC (Chinese-born Canadians) cousins try to get away with just saying Happy New Year, but that don't cut it.
If I'm giving them my hard earned $$ then they're going to have to say the magic words, just like I did when I was single.
Anthony
Gung Hai Fat Choi everybody.