Happy New Year! For children, there is almost no hope for the New Year, not only can you set off firecrackers, but also wear new clothes, and the happiest thing is that you can collect the New Year's money!
For adults, it is necessary to prepare gifts for the Chinese New Year at the same time, and one of the most popular gifts during the Chinese New Year in China is the red envelope.
However, there are also many particulars about giving red envelopes during the Chinese New Year, especially about the details of the distribution of red envelopes, and sometimes a careless may violate some taboos in traditional culture, affecting people's mood and luck.
When you give people red envelopes, you must pay attention!
The meaning of the red envelope: festive and peaceful
The custom of giving out red envelopes during the Chinese New Year can be traced back to ancient times. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a custom called "New Year's money", which was believed to ward off evil spirits and keep children and grandchildren safe.
At that time, it was believed that red was the color to ward off evil spirits and diseases, so during the Spring Festival, the elders would pack some copper coins in red paper packets and give them to the younger generations to wish them a safe and peaceful year.
The red envelope, in addition to inheriting the ancient ritual of dispelling illness and driving away evil spirits, has become a symbol of joy and peace.
Red is the color of auspiciousness and good luck in traditional Chinese culture, and giving red envelopes is seen as a way to send happiness and wishes.
On the occasion of reunion and celebration during the Spring Festival, people express their deep wishes to their relatives and friends by giving out red envelopes, hoping that they will be happy and healthy in the new year.
As the saying goes, if you don't send a red envelope three times, it will be difficult to send it well, what does it refer to?
1. Do not send red envelopes with odd amounts or related to four:
In traditional Chinese culture, singular numbers and the number four are often considered unlucky numbers. The singular is considered to have the meaning of fragmentation and isolation, which is not conducive to people's auspiciousness and happiness;
The number four is considered a bad omen because it is homophonic with "death".
Therefore, when handing out red envelopes, it is recommended not to give out red envelopes with such a number as much as possible, which may be regarded as unlucky and affect the mood and fortune of the person receiving the red envelope.
2. Red envelopes that do not be sealed:
When giving out red envelopes, we generally put the money into the red envelopes first, but I don't know if you pay attention to one detail, that is, the red envelopes are almost not sealed.
In fact, there is a saying that the traditional belief is that when sending red envelopes, the mouth of the red envelope is sealed, and it is easy to seal the fortune, so it is generally not recommended to seal the red envelope with glue.
Therefore, giving out a sealed red envelope may be perceived as not having a good meaning, which may cause misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.
3. Broken red envelopes cannot be sent:
Red envelopes have a special meaning in Chinese culture, representing auspiciousness and blessings.
Therefore, giving out a broken red envelope can be considered unlucky, may bring bad omens to people, and may even be considered disrespectful to the person receiving the red envelope.
Therefore, when giving red envelopes, we should pay special attention to the state and image of the red envelopes, and try to choose patterns that meet our hearts, such as sending red envelopes that imply smart and clever people, and sending red envelopes that imply longevity and 100 years old to the elderly, so as to express respect and blessings to the recipients.
Conclusion
When giving red envelopes during the Chinese New Year, people should pay special attention to these rules of "three no-red envelopes", so as not to accidentally violate the taboos in traditional culture and affect the mood and fortune of themselves and others.
At the same time, we should also keep in mind the etiquette in traditional culture, send red envelopes with sincerity and blessings, and believe that we will be able to harvest each other's thanks and blessings, and spend a happy and peaceful Spring Festival together.