1. It's a tradition to put crisp, new bills inside a Chinese New Year red envelope. Giving dirty or wrinkled bills is in bad taste. In the week leading up to Chinese New Year, many people stand in long queues at banks to exchange old bills for new ones. 2. You're supposed to avoid putting coins in the envelopes. 3. [See more: Chinese New Year: 3 auspicious dishes to welcome the Year of the Dragon] 6. There’s a 15-day window for giving. The time for handing out red envelopes is from the first to the fifteenth day of each Lunar New Year, and because it’s the lunar calendar, the calendar dates will vary from year to year. Whether you’re new to Singapore or want to budget ahead of time, check out our handy 2025 CNY ang bao rates chart below! Ang Bao – Ang Pao – Hongbao – Lai See – Red Packet – Lucky Money. It is a Chinese custom to hand out ang bao (or ang pao) during Chinese New Year. These little envelopes are usually red (for luck) and contain money. A red envelope, or ang pao, is a traditional gift during Chinese New Year. Relationships and occasions matter. Feng shui expert Jean Chua told PhilSTAR L!fe that the amount depends on the relationship between the giver and the receiver. 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. New Year Red Packet Taboos. Always use a new red packet envelope; do not reuse last year’s or previously used ones. Do not give red packets with odd numbers (100, 300, 500) and avoid amounts with the number “4”. Do not give an empty red packet. The money inside the red packet should not be folded. 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. Every year around this time, I always find myself checking in with others about how much to put in the envelopes. Red pocket, red packet, red envelope. What is this magical red thing? Regardless what term you use, 红包 (hóng bāo) are great because they contain money. The money in red envelopes is also known as 压岁钱 (yā suì qián), literally meaning “money to anchor the year(s).” It is also known as “lucky money” or “New Year’s money.” 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). It is a Chinese New Year gift with money stuffed into red paper to kids. It’s expected that you’ll give red envelopes to your own children ($20 is common), to any unmarried children among your family and friends ($5-$10 is common), to your parents ($50-$100 is common) and to any friends or family you visit ($20 is common) during the Chinese New Year holiday. However, unlike the red envelopes used in Chinese culture, the money in Korea can be presented in white envelopes, as whiteness in Korean culture symbolises purity and new beginnings. How Much To Put In A Red Envelope? There are no set answers to this question and individuals decide according to their financial status. The amount also varies between close and distant relationships. Here are the most common scenarios for giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year. Relative's kids: RMB 200 - 1,000 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.” The red envelopes (red pockets or red packets), lucky money, hong bao in Mandarin, or lai see in Cantonese, are commonly used as a monetary gift during the Chinese New Year. service@chinatravel.com 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply) Chinese Red Envelope Tradition – A Foreigners’ Guide. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), red envelopes became popular during Chinese New Year. Families would give children red envelopes with money to wish them good fortune for the coming year. This tradition spread across China and became an integral part of Chinese celebrations. Since at least the 10th century, red envelopes have held a unique place of ritual importance in Chinese culture. 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. The red envelop (红包, hóngbāo in mandarin and lai see in Cantonese) is also called red packet or lucky money. It is the money wrapped with red paper and given to kids by the elder during the Chinese New Year. Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese New Year red envelope Q. Who should receive the Chinese New Year red envelope? A. Traditionally, red envelopes are given to children, unmarried adults, and sometimes to elders as a sign of respect. It’s a gesture to pass on luck and good fortune to the younger and elder family members. Q. 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 In my culture (Taishanese Chinese), only married couples give out envelopes. Usually it's the wife giving out both the husband and the wife's envelopes to the kids. Adults will continue receiving envelopes if they are unmarried. Widows and widowers will give out 1 envelope each.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.