【Lucky Golden Dog】Let’s discuss – is it good to give red envelopes like the people in Guangdong do?

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At the turn of the year, the “National Red Envelope Map” went viral on the internet. The map shows that the average amount of New Year’s money in Guangdong is only 50 yuan, which has led netizens to joke that it is \"disliked by children but favored by adults.\" In this wealthy region where the custom of giving red envelopes has been widespread for a long time, the older Cantonese people still adhere to the \"unconventional\" tradition of giving lucky money: emphasis is placed on the symbolic meaning rather than the amount of money. Five, ten, one, two – whatever you want; just decide based on your heart. Giving red envelopes is a long-standing New Year tradition in China. The color red symbolizes the warding off of evil spirits, and the term used for these gifts carries a similar meaning, representing elders’ wishes for the healthy growth of the younger generation during the New Year. However, in recent years, a culture of competition has grown stronger in some areas, and some people refer to the Spring Festival as a \"time of hardship\" due to the burden of gift money. In the economically developed Guangdong region, red envelopes do not reflect corresponding \"economic strength\"; the most common amounts are 5 yuan and 10 yuan, while red envelopes with amounts of 20 yuan or more are quite rare. For many elderly people who are retired or have no income, their ‘li si’ packets contain just two one-yuan notes; they still distribute them happily, and in return receive wishes of health and longevity from the younger generation. People in Guangdong call giving red envelopes \"pai li si\", as it carries the good fortune of \"bringing benefit to business\" and \"bringing success to affairs\"; moreover, two red envelopes must be given, representing the blessings of both spouses. Xie KaiLai, an assistant researcher at the Cultural Industry Research Institute of the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, believes that red envelopes carry both social and cultural meanings. The social aspects include economic value and interpersonal relationships, while the cultural aspects involve symbolic meanings such as blessings; in the Guangdong region, the cultural significance of red envelopes outweighs their social significance. The positive vibes make people in Guangdong feel no pressure in giving red envelopes. Liang Yiming from Guangzhou prepares 100 red envelopes each year; he gives them not only to relatives and friends but also to neighbors and colleagues as a New Year’s greeting. Each envelope contains 5 yuan, so the total amount is 500 yuan – enough for just one meal. Everyone is hoping for good luck, and no one cares about which person gives more or larger red envelopes. ” During the New Year, people like to exchange for new banknotes to give red envelopes, and Cantonese people are no exception; it’s just that everyone rushes to get the new 5-yuan and 10-yuan notes. In Guangdong, there is a tradition of going from office to office at the start of the new year. On the first day back to work, unmarried colleagues will ask those who are already married for \"lai si\" as gifts. The single people go from floor to floor in groups, visiting each office to wish everyone a happy New Year, creating an atmosphere similar to that of children asking for candies on Halloween in the West. In some areas of Guangdong, there is even a custom of \"cutting off a corner\" of the red envelope; cutting off that corner signifies that the blessing has been received, and the envelope is returned intact. Xie Kailai said that not seeking money or benefits through red envelopes is the original intention behind the positive connotations associated with red envelopes in Guangdong.