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Red envelopes, also called red packets or ‘Lai see’ in Cantonese, and are one of the most popular Chinese New Year gifts. Do you know why give red envelopes, how much money goes inside? The customary Lunar New Year gift of lucky money – handed out in distinctive red envelopes – is delightful for recipients but can be an etiquette nightmare for givers. Who gives? How much do you give? Chinese New Year is a time for giving; whether in the form of the popular, traditional red packet filled with money (红包 hóngbāo); or in the form of other, material goods. But beware, even the most generous offering can be tainted if you show bad etiquette when giving a gift. Here are six simple rules of Chinese New Year gift giving etiquette. In this article, I’ll walk through the etiquette for giving and receiving the red envelopes filled with lucky money that are an iconic symbol of Chinese New Year. We’ll get to the details in a moment, but I’ll start by highlighting that the red envelope custom is all about the reciprocity of giving and receiving. To avoid the embarrassment caused by cultural difference, one need to know the basic Chinese New Year gift giving etiquette, which is of great help in selecting proper gifts for your Chinese friends or inviters, enhancing the feeling of the receivers, and improving the relationship. A traditional gift for children during Chinese New Year, red pockets (hong bao in Mandarin), are small red envelopes filled with lucky money. Chinese new year red envelopes, aka hongbao, are lucky money wrapped in red packet given to kids and elders during Chinese New Year, or given on weddings and birthday parties. A red envelope (red packet or red pocket), lucky money, hong bao in Mandarin, or lai see in Cantonese, is commonly used as a monetary gift during holidays or special occasions in China, especially during the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year and Red Envelopes: The Meaning Behind Ang Pao Giving. Have you ever wondered why red envelopes, or “ang pao,” are such a cherished part of Chinese New Year celebrations? Think about it—why would a simple red envelope filled with money carry so much meaning? The answer lies in its rich cultural history and the values it This year’s Chinese New Year falls on Feb 10. One of the things that everyone associates with Chinese New Year is hongbao ( 红包) — money-filled red packets given to family, friends, colleagues, and employees. This is seen as an early version of the red envelope. By the Tang Dynasty, the practice of giving money to children during Chinese New Year had become the familiar tradition of giving red envelopes. Why Must Red Envelopes Be Red? Red is a color cherished during Chinese New Year, symbolizing celebration, prosperity, and happiness. When giving money, new bills are favored over old bills. It is common to see long bank queues before Chinese New Year holding people waiting to acquire new bills how much money to give on chinese new year the dog in chinese new year. Red envelopes, also called red packets or ‘Lai see’ in Cantonese, and are one of the most popular Chinese New Year gifts. Do you know why give red envelopes, how much money goes inside? In Korea, during the Lunar New Year (Seollal), elders give money to young or unmarried adults after receiving their New Year’s bow (sebae). One legend suggests the Korean tradition originates The Chinese New Year tradition of giving red packets (lai see in Cantonese) dates back centuries, and was meant to ward off evil spirits. (206BC to AD220), the giving of money-filled ornate 1 The custom of giving red envelopes originates in some of the oldest stories of Chinese New Year. As the legend goes, a demon known as 'Sui' terrorized children while they slept on New Year’s Eve, and parents would try to keep their children awake all night to protect them. With the festival fast approaching on January 29, 2025, if you want to get involved but are not sure of the etiquette, here’s everything you need to know.The most basic things to remember are to give and receive lai see with two hands and wish everyone the essential Lunar New Year greeting, “Gong hey fat choy,” roughly meaning “Best wishes for prosperity in the new year.” In fact, robust data shows that the custom remains nearly universal today: 91% of Chinese people still gift red envelopes at Lunar New Year; 75% say it‘s important for maintaining cultural heritage 1. Chinese New Year. When visiting family and friends during the Chinese New Year holiday, be prepared with a fistful of red packets to hand out in every household in which you encounter children, e.g. unmarried, young dependents, typically teenagers and younger. Embrace this opportunity to connect with loved ones through thoughtful gifts of lucky money—traditional or digital—as you welcome a new year full of possibilities. Giving "lucky money" during the Lunar New Year is a custom with deep cultural and symbolic meanings, representing wishes for prosperity, health, and happiness in the coming year.
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