Red Envelopes is hóngbāo 紅包 | 红包 in Mandarin. This is one of the most exciting gifts for Chinese children during the fifteen days of the Lunar New Year celebration. They are always red and that is because it is the lucky color in Chinese culture.
WHAT ARE RED ENVELOPES
Red envelopes or red packets, hóngbāo 紅包|红包 are special designed red gift envelopes contain money inside for the Lunar New Year and special life events, such as the birth of a baby, college graduation, wedding, parents’ and grandparents’ birthdays, just to name a few.
This gifting practice is common not only in the Chinese community but also in Southeast Asian countries.
WHAT’S INSIDE OF RED ENVELOPES
Cash. Brand new crisp dollar bills in even numbers.
The best numbers for the dollar amount are the increments of 10, 100, 1000,… Number ten has an indication of perfection in the Chinese language and culture. The Chinese expression of shí quán shí měi 十全十美 which literally means “Ten All Ten Beautiful,” that is total perfection.
However, remember there should not have any association with number four, that means, no 4, 14, 40 dollars, 400 dollars, or 4000 dollars…etc. The reason is the word, “four sì” has a very close pronunciation of “death sǐ” in Mandarin. You might have noticed that the only difference in these two Chinese words is the tone.
Is there a super “super lucky” number? Yes! What is it? Do you want to take a guess? Have you ever seen any license plate with the same number? The owners of these plates are usually Chinese business owners. The luckiest number for them is 8. “eight ba” in Mandarin is “baat” in Cantonese and it sounds similar to “fā” which means to have prosperity, to thrive, and grow.” So, there more the number eight the merrier. Once, a Chinese businessman paid over USD$120,000 for an “88888” license plate in China. Well, people don’t really use 88,888 in the red envelopes but you may find 800 in it.
WHO IS GIVING THE RED ENVELOPS
Adults. Parents will give red envelops to their kids. Grandparents will give them to their young grandchildren. Married aunties and uncles would give red packets to their nephews and nieces.
It is important to note that giving back to the family and giving thanks to one’s parents is an important virtue in Chinese culture. Therefore, you will see when the children are grown up and independent then it becomes their turn to give red envelopes to their parents during the Lunar New Year. You will see how proud the young adult children are when they give their parents red envelopes when they first start working or when they are doing well in their careers.
Other than the families, employers would give red envelopes to their employees before the Lunar New Year or after their team resumes work after the Lunar New Year holidays to show appreciation to their dedicated staff.
WHEN DO FAMILY GIVE RED ENVELOPES
It usually starts at home after the Lunar New Year Eve’s family reunion dinner.
After the family dinner, it is time to say lucky phrases to grandparents, parents, adult relatives. In return, they will award children with red envelopes. Some families still keep the traditional Chinese style. And, you will see young kids kneel down in front of their parents or grandparents and bow to them and say auspicious wishes for them in the New Year. However, modern practice in families is to let kids stand up in front of the parents and use a special hand gesture to say the luckiest wishes to their parents and relatives.
Some of the common lucky expressions are –
Happy New Year Xīn nián kuài lè 新年快樂 | 新年快乐
Good Health Shēn tǐ jiàn kāng 身體健康 | 身体健康
May everything goes as you wish Wàn shì rú yì 萬事如意 | 万事如意
Congratulations and prosperity Going xǐ fā cái 恭喜發財 | 恭喜发财
WHERE DO KIDS PUT THE RED ENVELOPES
The money inside of the red envelope is called yā suì qián 壓歲錢|压岁钱, which literally means “push down age money. ” So, instead of spending the cash right away the tradition is to put the red envelopes under one’s pillow so they will keep you young and healthy.
For the year 2020, the Lunar New Year celebration is from January 25 to February 8. The Year of the Gold MOUSE starts on January 25! When is the next Gold MOUSE year after this one? It will be 60 years away!
Has your child ever received a Chinese Lunar New Year red envelope? Add Lunar New Year cultural activities during the 15 days of the Lunar New Year celebration and share the joy of learning Mandarin Chinese and culture with your children and their friends!
If you are looking for engagement-based Lunar New Year projects you can consider Cultural Craft Playbook and 15 Days of Lunar New Year Celebration playbook. Do you have a mouse baby (a child who was born in the year of the mouse) in the family?
Image by Mae Mu
Red Envelopes Hóngbāo and Cash – Lunar New Year Celebration