HOW TO GIVE RED ENVELOPES AT CHINESE NEW YEAR?

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HOW TO GIVE RED ENVELOPES AT CHINESE NEW YEAR?

The red envelope ( 红包)  Hóngbāo custom is all about the reciprocity of giving and receiving and the money inside  Hóngbāo is called 压岁钱 Yāsuì qián.
The character 岁 suì is another Chinese character for 'year'. It has the same sound as 祟 suì, which stands for 'evil spirit' in Chinese culture. So the Chinese expression 压岁(祟) 钱 Yāsuì qián, which describes the money in the red envelope, is a symbol of the wish to suppress/expel all the bad in the coming new year.
It’s a gesture of goodwill, expressed through the exchange of red envelopes, that builds relationships among family and friends. In fact, after all the giving and receiving of red envelopes during Chinese New Year, you’ll probably find that you end up netting even financially. Count the relationships, not RMB!

Here are the most common scenarios for giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year.

1. 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  the  first day of New Year. Given that Chinese New Year isn’t celebrated with material gifts, the amount is usually around 500 RMB.However - the child has to first greet the adults with words '过年好 Guònián hǎo - Happy New Year'.
Grandparents generally give red envelopes in similar amounts to their grandchildren during visits on New Year’s Eve or in the days following New Year’s Day.

2. From Married Adults to (Unmarried) Children in the Family
Giving red envelopes is an important rite of adulthood, as symbolically you’ve become ready to share your riches and blessings with others. If you’re married, prepare to bring red envelopes for any little cousins and unmarried adult children in your extended family as you visit during Chinese New Year. A token amount around 200 RMB is also appropriate.

3. From Adult Children to their Parents
Giving a red envelope to your parents used to be a sign of respect, a gesture pointing back to longstanding notions of filial piety. However, these days adult children buy Traditional Chinese Medicine as a New Year's Gift.

4. When Visiting Family and Friends

The days following New Year’s Day are a procession of visits to the homes of family and friends to wish them good luck in the year ahead. In addition to the red envelopes you may bring for any children in the home (who also should greet you with words '过年好 Guònián hǎo ), you should bring a red envelope with about 100 RMB for your hosts. It is customarily placed in the center of the Togetherness Tray of sweets as you snack together.

5. From Employers to Employees
A red envelope at Chinese New Year takes the place of the Christmas bonus common in Western workplaces. 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. Prepare to do the same if you employ a Chinese nanny or housekeeper in your home.

As you give and receive red envelopes, don’t forget these basic etiquette tips:

#1 Choose new bills, don’t ever include coins and wait to open your red envelopes until after you part company.

# 2 Amounts in even numbers are generally preferred, except for the number 4 because of its resemblance to the word meaning death. And, optional, but denominations including 8s (rhyming with the word for good luck) and 9s (for longevity) carry especially positive symbolic meanings.

Remember that when exchanging red envelopes at Chinese New Year, it’s the relationship that counts most. As with Western gift giving, red envelopes are a way to bring your nearest and dearest closer to you during the most important time of the year.
Lucky money in a Chinese red envelope is the easiest, most traditional gift during Chinese New Year. Pick a design below that conveys the sentiment you wish to send.

Good fortune

These envelopes feature the Chinese character for blessings (福 Fú) to wish a life filled with abundance and prosperity. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.

Happiness

These  red envelopes feature the Chinese character for fullness (满 Mǎn) to wish a life filled with satisfaction and joy. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.

Luck

These  envelopes feature the Chinese character for luck (祥 Xiáng) to wish a life filled with success and achievement. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.

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