The origin and legend of red envelopes during the Spring Festival

The origin and legend of red envelopes during the Spring Festival

Red envelopes for the Spring Festival, also called lucky money, originated from the court of the Tang Dynasty. People believe that red envelopes can protect children's safety and health, and also make parents and the elderly live longer. So this custom has also been handed down, accompanied by many interesting stories about red envelopes. The following is the origin and legend of the Spring Festival red envelope. Welcome to reading.

The Origin and Legend of the Spring Festival Red Packet 1 The Origin of the Spring Festival Red Packet

Traditional red envelopes, also called lucky money, are money wrapped in red paper by elders for children during the Lunar New Year.

It is said that during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, most lucky money was given to children with red ropes. After the Republic of China, it was wrapped in red paper. Now it generally refers to a red paper bag wrapped with money; It is used to give gifts when celebrating. It also refers to giving bonuses and bribing others' money. In Cantonese-speaking area of China, red envelopes are called "giving profits", which are small gifts made by putting money in red envelopes.

There are two kinds of red envelopes. One is to weave colored ropes into dragons and put them at the foot of the bed. This record can be found in Yanjing year. The other is the most common, that is, parents wrap the money distributed to their children in red paper. Lucky money can be given in public after the younger generation pays New Year's greetings, or it can be quietly put under the child's pillow by parents when the child falls asleep on New Year's Eve.

Folks believe that giving children lucky money, when evil spirits or "Nian" hurt children, children can use the money to bribe them and turn evil into good luck. In addition, there is a veritable lucky money, which is given to the elderly by the younger generation. Years old means years old, years old and years old, and it is intended to expect the elderly to live a long life.

When did the Spring Festival red envelopes originate?

Red envelopes first appeared in the court of the Tang Dynasty, when there was a wind of change in the court. Wang Renyu said in "The Legacy of Kaiyuan Tianbao": Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty "every spring, three or five concubines in the inner palace put money into the show." Wang Jian wrote in "Gong Ci": "There will always be flowers in Zhaoyang before the makeup powder is exhausted tomorrow. People grow white in spring, and money is scattered in the library first. " From "throwing money for fun" in spring to "throwing money" and "giving money to wash children" in Zi Zhi Tong Jian by Sima Guang, when Yang Guifei recognized An Lushan as his adopted son, "Xuanzong personally looked at him and gave him money to wash children" to congratulate him on exorcism. In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, a folk custom was formed. The first day to the fifth day of the first month is called "Spring Festival", which forms the early "lucky money". But there was no currency in circulation at that time, just a special kind of "lucky money".

Legend of red envelopes in Spring Festival

There is a very popular story about lucky money. In ancient times, there was a little demon named Chong. On New Year's Eve, he came out and touched the head of a sleeping child. The child often cried with fear, and then he had a headache and became a fool. Therefore, on this day, every family will turn on the lights and stay up late, which is called "keeping special". There was a couple who had a son in their later years and regarded him as their favorite. On New Year's Eve, they were afraid that "worship" would harm their children, so they took out eight copper coins to play with them. When the child fell asleep playing, they wrapped eight copper coins in red paper and put them under the child's pillow. The couple dare not sleep. In the middle of the night, an evil wind blew the door open and blew out the lights. As soon as Chong reached out to touch the child's head, the pillow flashed all over the floor, scaring Chong away. The next day, the couple told everyone about wrapping eight copper coins in red paper to scare them away. After that, everyone learned, and the children were safe. Another theory originated from the ancient "shocking the world". It is said that there was a fierce beast called Nian in ancient times, which would come out every 365 days to hurt people, animals and crops. Children are afraid, adults use the sound of burning bamboo to drive "Nian" away, and comfort children with food, which is "earthquake suppression". Over the years, it turned into money instead of grain. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "scare of money". According to historical records, Wang Shaozi was carried away by bad people in Nanxun and exclaimed on the way. Unexpectedly, he was saved by the imperial car, and Song Shenzong gave him "golden rhinoceros money". Later, it developed into "lucky money".

How much is a red envelope for the Spring Festival?

1. Cities in different regions

The number of bags varies from place to place. The north likes integers,100,200; In the south, people like to bring lucky numbers with 6 bands, 8 bands and 7 bands. For example, 68, 66, 88, 66.6, 88.8, to express their wishes, is like "benefiting the market". Guangdong Fujian 10 yuan, 20 packs, the supervisor extended to his subordinates to convey a blessing and thanks.

2. Different objects

Chinese New Year's red envelopes are usually divided into red envelopes for younger generations and parents. Other elders generally give gifts instead of choosing red envelopes.

Give red envelopes to parents and elders

Students who are still working hard in the ivory tower do not need to give red envelopes to their parents and elders, but it is essential for those who have worked hard in society for several years to go home and "honor their parents and elders". According to my statistics, the average working class will give their parents a red envelope of 2000-4000 yuan every year when they go home, and the difference for grandparents is about 1000-2000 yuan. In this way, the "red envelope" used to honor the elders is 4000-8000 yuan. Of course, different families will have great differences, depending on the specific situation. I'm just taking the average working class as an example.

Give red envelopes to children's offspring.

It is one of the happiest things for children to receive red envelopes. During the Spring Festival, when you enter the house, you can open your hands and ask for a red envelope, and you can't refuse. However, this is the privilege of children. Now that we are independent of society, we no longer enjoy the happiness of society. Instead, we must give out red envelopes from our own pockets. However, the "meaning" of red envelopes to children's descendants is generally greater than the "quota", and tens of dollars is enough. Even hundreds of them are relatively large red envelopes, and the money given to relatives' children is generally greater than that of friends' children. Together, you need to send more than 10 red envelopes. In this way, the amount of red envelopes for children's offspring is around 300-500 yuan.

3. Your own economic strength

Finally, I still want to remind you that it is best to decide how many red envelopes to send according to your actual situation. If it is really difficult, try to avoid some unnecessary feelings. If the economic conditions are relatively loose, you can be willful.

The origin and legend of red envelopes in the Spring Festival 2. Why do you want to give red envelopes in the Spring Festival?

In Jiaxing, there is a family named Guan, and the husband and wife have a son in their later years, which is regarded as the apple of their eye. On New Year's Eve, I forced them to play for fear that they would harm the children. The child wrapped eight copper coins in red paper, opened them, opened them again, and played until he fell asleep. Eight wrapped copper coins are placed on the pillow. The couple didn't dare to close their eyes and stayed with their children all night. In the middle of the night, a strong wind blew the door open and blew out the lights. When the little black boy touched the child's head with his bare hands, a light broke into the child's pillow. Chong hurriedly withdrew his hand and ran away screaming. Mr. and Mrs. Guan told everyone that wrapping eight copper coins in red paper was to scare away those special people. Everyone is studying. After New Year's Eve, wrap eight coppers in red paper and give them to the children to put on pillows. Sure enough, I never dare to hurt children again.

The development of New Year's red envelopes.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, most lucky money was given to children with red ropes. After the Republic of China, it evolved into wrapping 100 copper coins in red paper, which means "long life" and giving lucky money to adult generations. Red paper is wrapped in an ocean, symbolizing "abundant financial resources" and "millions of profits".

There is a reason for giving "red envelopes", which is the custom of Chinese New Year. China people like red because it symbolizes vitality, happiness and good luck.

Giving red envelopes to underage children (according to the concept of China, married people are considered adults) means bringing them wishes and good luck. The money in a red envelope is just to make children happy. Its main meaning is in red paper, because it symbolizes good luck. Therefore, it is impolite to open red envelopes in front of the elders who issued them.

When visiting the New Year during the Spring Festival, the elders should distribute the lucky money prepared in advance to the younger generation. It is said that lucky money can kill evil spirits, because "old" and "expensive" are homophonic, and the younger generation can spend a year safely with lucky money. There are two kinds of lucky money, one is to put colored rope in the shape of Jackie Chan at the foot of the bed, which was recorded in Yanjing year; The other is the most common, that is, parents wrap the money distributed to their children in red paper. Lucky money can be given in public after the younger generation pays New Year's greetings, or it can be put under the child's pillow by parents when the child is asleep on New Year's Eve.

Folks believe that giving children lucky money, when evil spirits or "Nian" hurt children, children can use the money to bribe them and turn evil into good luck. A Qing Wu Manyun's poem "Lucky Money" said: "One hundred yuan grows in the colored thread, and then it is collected from the pillow to discuss the price of firecrackers, which makes Joule busy all night." From this point of view, lucky money is tied in children's hearts, and children's lucky money is mainly used to buy firecrackers, toys and candy and other things needed for holidays.

The Present Situation of China New Year Red Packet

At present, the custom of elders giving lucky money to younger generations is still prevalent, and the amount ranges from tens to hundreds. Most of these lucky money are used by children to buy books and school supplies, and the new fashion has given new content to the lucky money.

Red envelope etiquette

The happiest thing for children during the Chinese New Year is to get red envelopes, but you should know that getting red envelopes is also about etiquette. It is skillful to receive and open red envelopes. Mastering these small etiquette can better reflect the children's clever and sensible, and parents have more face.

Quick method of red envelope etiquette:

Point one: Thank you for receiving the red envelope.

The elders give red envelopes, and the baby should take them with both hands and say thank you to the elders. Babies hope that if the baby is too young to do it, mom and dad can hold the baby's hand, take the red envelope with both hands and say "thank you" with the baby.

The second point: don't open the red envelope face to face.

Children under 2 don't know what a red envelope is. Just tell him to say thank you when someone gives it to him, and then put it in his pocket or give it to his mother. When the baby is a little sensible, you should tell them in advance that you should take the red envelope and never open it in front of the guests. The best way is to put the red envelope in mom and dad's bag or the baby's own bag at once.

language

When giving lucky money to children, you can't just say, come to your children and give you lucky money. You need to say something festive and wish your children, such as healthy growth, happy study and improved grades. If it is aimed at the elderly, it should be said that it is health, safety and longevity.

The custom of giving out red envelopes during the Spring Festival has a long history. It represents a good blessing from the elders to the younger generation. It is an amulet given by elders to children, wishing them good health and good luck in the new year.

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