One of the most important and well-known traditions of Chinese New Year is receiving a red envelope/red packet from your boss, parents, or relatives. Red envelopes are given to kids and elders to share the blessing.
If you are the family breadwinner, you will prepare and hand out the red packets for both young and old. It is good to give some lucky money to the elderly so they have something when they go out during New Year celebrations.
Who receives a red packet?
According to tradition, red packets, or lucky money, are for young and unmarried children. The young are always on the lookout for these packets. They can get quite a lot if they have more relatives or visitors during the holidays. The envelopes for children are called “ya shui qian,” which means “giving lucky money to welcome the New Year.”
Usually, parents or grandparents give red packets to their own children, their nieces, nephews, and the children of friends and colleagues. Words of thanks and greetings are a must when getting red packets. The usual greeting is “wishing you more success.”
Employees can also receive red packets when they start working after the New Year. The boss in a company will distribute the red envelopes to employees when they return to work after the Chinese New Year. Those red packets are called “li shi.”
The amount received can usually range from 100 yuan (US$10) to 1,000 yuan (US$150), depending on the family’s wealth.
Relative’s kids: 200 yuan to 1,000 yuan (US$30 to US$150)
Other acquaintances’ children: 50 yuan to 100 yuan (US $10 to US$15)
Employees: 50 yuan to 500 yuan (US$10 to US$100)
Other occasions to give a red envelope
In China, people present a red packet/envelope when attending wedding ceremonies or birthday parties for the elderly. The envelopes are also given when people visit a couple with a newborn baby. The amount received varies according to the individual’s status.
