![]() The above piece of advice applies not only to giving and receiving red envelopes but to giving or receiving almost any physical object in China. Unsure where to buy hongbao? You can always make your own with the help of the various instructional videos for making DIY hongbao that can now be found on the Internet. The following is a non-exhaustive list of where and when one can expect to see hongbao: Hongbao often make an appearance during important occasions in China. Usually, although not always, hongbao are given in the following contexts:įrom Old to Young (This is especially the case with children but also applies to the more vague category of “young adults.”) In contemporary China, red envelopes serve much the same function that they did in dynastic China: they maintain, cultivate, and nurture relationships between different members of Chinese society. These factors include the age and status of giver and receiver, acceptable occasions for gifting red envelopes, the condition of the money they contain, acceptable amounts of money and how best to accept an envelope, among other things. Now that we’ve got a firm grasp of the myths and stories surrounding the origins of the hongbao, it’s time to review the practical factors that should be considered when giving or receiving red envelopes. As 岁 suì (meaning “year” or “years”) and 祟 suì (the demon Sui’s name) are homonyms, this phrase is sometimes understood to mean “money for suppressing or deterring the demon Sui.” From that day on, the innocent people of the land used money-filled red envelopes to fend off evil spirits.Įven today, one way of referring to the money inside red envelopes that is given specifically to babies and young children is “yāsuìqián” (压岁钱). The combination of the copper coins and the lucky color red had done the trick (with a little help from the gods). The world’s first hongbao was supposedly used to scare away a demon named Sui. ![]() However, as he approached the boy’s bed, suddenly, from under the pillow, a hazy light began to radiate from the coins.Īs Sui came closer, the glow from the coins grew brighter and brighter until the rays pierced Sui’s eyes like knives! True to form, that night the fiend Sui slipped in under the door-eager to send yet another drowsing victim into a panic. ![]() Hoping this would be sufficient deterrent against Sui’s wiles, the family went to bed. However as the hours dragged on, it became clear that the little boy would not be able to make it through the night.ĭetermined to keep her son safe, the worried mother went to fetch 8 lucky copper coins (in fact, these 8 coins were none other than the gods of Chinese folklore : the 8 Immortals! But that’s a myth for another day.).Īfter slipping them into a red envelope, she slid them under her son’s pillow. To prevent this from occurring, one New Year’s Eve a particularly devoted set of parents determined to keep their beloved son up all night. Awaking with a start, the child would let out a terrorized scream and subsequently be inflicted with a demonic headache. There he would drag his wizened talons across their sleeping foreheads. Once inside, Sui would enter the bedroom of the house’s resident children. On New Year’s Eve, he would emerge from his lair, slipping into the houses of unsuspecting families. This demon preyed exclusively on children. One of the most popular myths surrounding the custom involves a demon named Sui (祟 suì). The origins of the practice of giving red envelopes on festivals and important life milestones is not entirely clear and, as with many elements of traditional Chinese culture, has multiple explanations. Hongbao are an important part of holiday celebrations in China and throughout much of Asia. ![]() Hongbao are frequently associated with Chinese New Year (春节 Chūnjié), China’s most significant holiday, which falls on a date calculated using the lunar calendar. Since at least the 10th century, red envelopes have held a unique place of ritual importance in Chinese culture. The word “hongbao” comes from the Chinese word 红包 (hóngbāo), which literally means “red bag.”įrequently referred to as “red envelopes” or “red packets” in English, these crimson paper pouches filled with money are ubiquitous across China-and even throughout much of Asia! Who gives and receives hongbao in China?.
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