A strange red envelope came from the funeral in Chengdu, and a towel, a longevity bowl, a bar of soap and a pack of cigarettes were returned. Why?

Funeral fire in Chengdu is a traditional funeral custom, in which red envelopes are a way to express condolences and blessings. Usually, the accompanying red envelopes should be even, but sometimes they are singular because of local customs or personal habits.

Due to the different identities and status of the recipients, the items returned are usually different. In the funeral fire in Chengdu, the returned items usually include towels, longevity bowls, soap and so on. These are all ways to show respect and blessing. A pack of cigarettes may be because the recipient is a man, and men usually like smoking, so it is a way to express condolences and concern.

It should be noted that these traditional customs may be different in different places and different families, depending on local customs and family traditions.