Giving Red Envelopes Chinese New Year

Here are the most common scenarios for giving red envelopes during chinese new year.

Giving red envelopes chinese new year. Unlike a western greeting card red envelopes given at chinese new year are typically left unsigned. To celebrate the chinese new year people hand out money in red pockets called hóng bāo 红包. Red envelopes also called red packets lucky money or hongbao in chinese are a popular monetary gift given on some important occasions or festivals in china and some other asian countries especially widely seen during the chinese new year spring festival. In practice children can even mean unmarried young adults.

A red envelope at chinese new year takes the place of the christmas bonus common in western workplaces. Learn about these red envelopes chinese new year in this article. Hong bao 红包 packets literally red envelope are the traditional gifts that adults give children during the chinese new year holiday period. Those who receive a red envelope are wished another safe and peaceful year.

In china the red envelope is called yasui qian 压岁钱 yaa sway chyen which means suppressing ghosts money. In northern and southern china red envelopes are typically given by the elders to the younger under 25 30 in most of the three northeastern provinces regardless of marital status. The red packets are usually presented by parents and grandparents to children during chinese new year which is probably one of the most recognized traditions. The chinese new year red envelope is a traditional gift for children during chinese new year.

Click to read the legend of why red envelopes are given. Given the expense of traveling home for the holiday many employers give their employees a red envelope filled with the equivalent of a month s pay at the beginning of the festival along with a smaller token of red when they return to work. The general idea is that adults with income give children with no income hong bao during chinese new year. Elders give out red pockets to children hoping to pass on a year of fortune and blessings.

During the chinese new year in southern china red envelopes are typically given by the married to the unmarried most of whom are children. For birthdays or weddings a short message typically a four character expression and signature are optional. The red symbolizes good luck and the money wishes the recipient good fortune for times to. From parents to their children it s traditional to leave a red envelope with two tangerines leaves on of course by a child s bedside on new year s eve.

The custom of giving red envelopes originates in some of the oldest stories of chinese new year.