ESSAY: LUCKY MONEY

ESSAY: LUCKY MONEY

Red envelopes

Do you like money? If yes, would you like to be given free money? You might think that no one will ever do that, but it's in fact a tradition of the Lunar New Year in many Asian countries. Kids are given red envelopes/packets containing some money as a blessing when they visit other people during the Lunar New Year. However, this custom may differ from country to country.

So what is the giving of red packets? It's very simple. On the gathering of the family, the elderly will go to each child to wish them luck in the next year and give them a red envelope as a blessing. However, in many places, it is customary for people who has started earning money to give red packets as well. Not only that, looking closer at the tradition, you might have noticed that the money is always given in a red envelope. In fact, it is the red paper that is the significance of this lucky money tradition, since red is, according to Asian culture, the color of good luck and happiness. Therefore, the giving of lucky money in Asian countries is very important and meaningful.

Yes, getting money on the New Year occasion is very exciting. However, not everybody knows the stories behind this custom or how it was created. As a custom of the Chinese New Year, it certainly did start in China - the huge influence of many Asian countries (due to its domination, of course). In the old times, the elderly would thread coins with a red string, and give it to the youth as a blessing to protect them from evil spirits (sickness and death). Afterwards, it was replaced by red envelopes, as these envelopes are easier to carry and still bear the meaning of good luck. But still, there may be a lot of similar and different legends and stories behind this in other Asian countries such as North Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.

Today, giving and receiving lucky money remains an important part that cannot be ignored in the Lunar New Year. Kids get excited. Even the adults get excited. Giving and receiving red envelopes is an amazing experience every time. It's a wonderful feeling when you open a packet and see the money inside it, because it is the symbol of the giver's wishes and blessings for you. However, many kids and adults nowadays only care about the money, about how much had been given. Normally, the amount of money given should be based on your income, the average amount should be 3 - 5 USD. Nevertheless, it is true that many people are making use of this tradition: it is a kind of bribery. As a matter of fact, parents are beginning to realize that this custom will become a double-edged knife, because while it has the good meanings, it also spoils their kids.

In the end, the long-waited lucky money has been and will always be an intriguing way of celebrating the Lunar New Year and giving wishes to children. On the other hand, it is necessary that we take in our thoughts about this custom as it might have both positive and unwanted effects on the younger generations.