The origin of lucky money

Lucky money (called "gift giving" in Guangdong) is one of the customs of Chinese New Year. Its true origin is unknown, and the legend is to suppress evil spirits. After the New Year's Eve, the elders should give the younger generation lucky money and wish them a safe New Year.

Lucky money is the most anticipated gift for children in the New Year. Legend has it that lucky money originated earlier, but it really became popular throughout the country in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are two kinds of lucky money in ancient times: special money and general money. The special lucky money is an imitation. Its material is copper or iron, and its shape is square or long. Generally, money is engraved with "good luck", "happy life" and "long life".

Some lucky money is given directly to the younger generation, and some are put at the foot of the bed or beside the pillow after the younger generation sleeps. Lucky money originally means blessing. Lucky money has the meaning of exorcising evil spirits and keeping peace in folk culture. The original intention of lucky money is to suppress evil and drive away evil, because people think that children are easy to sneak around, so they use lucky money to suppress evil.

The custom change of lucky money

The early lucky money was not for real money, but for symbolic things like money, hoping to play a deterrent role. But later, people gradually strengthened the practical significance of lucky money, so it became a real money.

With the emergence of the situation that elders give their children an ocean during the Spring Festival, the meaning of lucky money has changed a lot. Since then, the function of "avoiding evil spirits" of lucky money has gradually come to an end, and its new "inspirational" functions such as "making profits", "expanding financial resources" and "rising step by step" have emerged as the times require.

The custom of elders giving lucky money to younger generations is still popular in modern times. Most of these lucky money are used by children to buy books, school supplies and daily necessities, and are taken away by their parents or deposited in the bank. The new fashion has given new content to the lucky money.

Refer to the above? Baidu encyclopedia-lucky money