Red Envelope
A red envelope or red packet is a gift of money traditional Chinese, made in a red envelope. His name is Cantonese lai si, also transcribed lai see and Ang Pow in Minnan. It is supposed to bring good fortune. The red envelopes are also used for kickbacks policy.
The red envelopes are available during family celebrations such as wedding receptions or during traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year. Red is also the color of wedding dresses and traditional costumes worn by children for the new year. This color symbolizes luck and the amount of money in the package is often more favorable, such as a number made a lot of eight, whose pronunciation in Chinese is similar to the word prosperity.
At Chinese New Year hong bao is typically given by an adult (usually married) children move at their own offspring. The recipient wants a future in favor of donor taking the red envelope.
The amount of donation is very important because according to him that one who receives distinguished the social importance of the donor and the strength of their relationship is a form of social relationship.
Similar customs exist in other Asian countries. Thus, in Vietnam, red envelopes are li xi word similar in pronunciation in Cantonese lai see. In Japan and Korea, the gift of money, called otoshidama made to children by their parents during the New Year takes place in a white envelope on which was marked the name of the recipient. In Malaysia, Muslims give money in packages decorated with green Islamic Eid el-Fitr. Finally, in Thailand, the Thai Chinese give red envelopes called Ang Pow or Tae Ea.
Read also Yi Jing
wikipedia
