When is the best time to open Lunar New Year red packets in the Year of the Horse 2026?

Name: The rules of giving and receiving Lunar New Year red envelopes
Uploaded: 2026-02-18T00:15:07.000Z
Duration: 2 min 26 s
Description: The rules of giving and receiving Lunar New Year red envelopes

It is considered rude to open lai see in front of the giver but don’t leave the red packets unopened for more than a couple of months

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Giving red packets (also called lai see or hong bao) is a Lunar New Year tradition, but when should you open them? Photo: Getty Images

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Published: 8:15am, 18 Feb 2026

Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse.

The 15th day of the first lunar month falls on March 3 this year. In Chinese culture, not only is the day known as the Lantern Festival, it is also the last day to give out red packets. Then on and after the 16th day, you can finally count the money you collected over the Lunar New Year.

According to Chinese tradition, opening these red envelopes – hong bao in Mandarin or lai see in Cantonese – before the festival officially ends on its 15th day, tempting as it may be, may ruin a perfect cycle of celebration, as symbolised by the first full moon of the new year.

The exception to this rule is the seventh day, which marks “everyone’s birthday”. On this day – February 23 this year – it is OK to celebrate by opening your lai see to acknowledge the well wishes you received from friends and relatives.

However, the best and most auspicious day to open your red packets in the Year of the Horse is actually March 4, or the 16th day of the new lunar year, according to Hong Kong fortune-tellers.

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The rules of giving and receiving Lunar New Year red envelopes

It is worth noting that it is good practice – and etiquette – to not open lai see immediately after you receive them and in front of the giver. On the other hand, it is also inauspicious to leave red packets unopened so be sure to remove the cash within the next couple of months.

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When is the best time to open Lunar New Year red packets in the Year of the Horse 2026?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}It is considered rude to open lai see in front of the giver but don’t leave the red packets unopened for more than a couple of months

It is considered rude to open lai see in front of the giver but don’t leave the red packets unopened for more than a couple of months