What is the process of distributing lucky money?

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.

Folk believe that giving children lucky money is said to be when evil spirits or "Nian" hurt children, and children can use the money to bribe them and turn evil into good luck. A Qing Wu Manyun's poem "Lucky Money" said: "A hundred yuan long colored thread was collected from the pillow, and the price of firecrackers was discussed, which kept Joule busy all night."