What is the origin and significance of Chinese New Year red envelopes?

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. Lucky money has the meaning of "driving away evil spirits and keeping peace", because lucky money can suppress "evil spirits", so the younger generation who get lucky money can spend the first year safely.

It is a custom of China people to give out "red envelopes" during the Spring Festival. China people like red because it symbolizes vitality, happiness and good luck. Giving a red envelope to a minor mistress means bringing them blessings 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.

What does the Spring Festival red envelope symbolize?

It is a custom of China people to give out "red envelopes" during the Spring Festival. China people like red because it symbolizes vitality, happiness and good luck. Giving a red envelope to a minor mistress means bringing them blessings 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.