Hong Bao
Hong Bao , also: Hongbao , ( Chinese 紅包 / 红包 , Pinyin hóngbāo , Hokkien Angpow , Jyutping hung 4 baau 1 - "Red envelope", cant. 利 是 , graphic variant: 利 事、利市 , lìshì , Jyutping lei 6 si 6 , regionally also: 勵 事 / 励 事 , lìshì , Jyutping lai 6 si 6 , Japanese. お 年 玉 / 御 年 玉 , kana お と し だ ま otoshidama, viet. lìxì ) are red envelopes in which money is given for Chinese festivals like the Chinese New Year celebrations or the Chinese wedding .
Red is the color of happiness in Chinese culture. Ornate decorations are often in yellow or gold. The amount of money given is often selected according to Chinese numerology in order to achieve lucky numbers (see Chinese numbers ).
Originally these were made by hand, but the covers that can be purchased are now mainly produced by machine.
New year celebration
For the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) these envelopes are mainly used for monetary gifts to children ("non-adults"), called yāsuì qián ( 壓歲錢 / 压岁钱 ). In Chinese culture , only married people are considered adults, so these New Year gifts are generally given to unmarried people.
In the so-called lion dance , the lion is symbolically appeased through gifts of money presented in the Hong Bao.
wedding
At Chinese weddings, the red envelope is an integral part of traditional customs. At the door of his future wife, the groom has to fight for the way to her or "buy free" access. Among other things, this is done by means of presents ( 開門 禮 / 开门 礼 , kāiménlǐ ) or as a gift of money in a red envelope ( 開門紅 包 / 开门红 包 , kāimén hóngbāo ), which are intended to please the assembled family and bridesmaid.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hagen Bluck: Chinese lion dance in Hung Gar Kung Fu. Retrieved August 19, 2006 .
- ^ Norbert Arnold: Reporter in Shanghai - wedding. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 19, 2008 ; Retrieved August 19, 2006 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
