Do you know why Chinese give red packet during Chinese Lunar New Year?
Now, let me tell you the source of red packet.
During the Spring Festival, the red packet distributed by the elders to the younger generations after 0:00 on the New Year’s Day are called the New Year's Eve. Lunar New Year's money is also known as squeeze money ("Hang" is an unlucky thing. The ancients used this custom to express that no unlucky things should happen in the coming year.). Lunar New Year's money is a traditional Han nationality. Generally, the elders put money in red packet to the younger generations at the countdown to the New Year. The New Year's Eve money has a good meaning, and it is usually thought to exorcise evil spirits and bless peace. [2] It is said that the new year's money can suppress evil spirits, and the juniors can spend their first year safely if they get the new year's money. During the Spring Festival every year, there is a custom of issuing red packet. In some areas, married people send them to unmarried relatives and friends. The habit of giving red packet generally only exists among close relatives and friends. In some areas, the scope of red packet issued during the New Year is relatively wide. For example, the younger generations of neighbors and ordinary colleagues may issue red packet, but the amount in such red packet is often relatively small, and the size of red packet often represents auspicious meaning such as 8 (To send) yuan, 18 (to send) yuan, etc.
In industrially developed areas, the company will issue a "starting red envelope" to all employees during the Spring Festival. In most parts of China, many people are accustomed to using newly printed banknotes to make red packet. In addition to being more elegant, they also mean to welcome the old to the new. Therefore, the cash withdrawal volume of many banks will increase sharply before the Spring Festival each year. Banknote printing houses will also be under pressure to print new banknotes. Environmental experts believe that this habit is not conducive to low-carbon environmental protection.
In a foreign country, some friends of other ethnicities who have contacts with Chinese people follow the custom of China's traditional national culture of red packet. The folks do this, and the communities and companies also follow the same ritual. In addition to the Spring Festival, it is also customary to give red packet on other festive occasions, such as weddings and new store openings. But compared to sending red packet during the Spring Festival, the amount of gift red packet is often expensive!
