Of Ang Pau and Red Faces

One Chinese New Year tradition eagerly anticipated by young persons is the ang pau. It is a sum of money enclosed in red envelopes which have pretty designs. Many ang pau envelopes are given free by commercial banks to their customers as it is also a form of advertising. Some hypermarkets also give them to customers whose purchases reach a certain amount. Children are very happy to receive these ang pau when they visit their relatives or their parents' friends. It is a tradition that married couples give ang pau to children and to those who are single. New notes of different value go into these ang pau, depending on one's financial means and to whom one is giving the ang pau to. It is the norm to give more to your relatives and a lesser amount to others, especially during open houses when friends of friends bring along many children.

Of late there have been reports in the media that young persons have voiced their dissatisfaction over what they received in their ang pau.

I think this reflects a mercenary streak which is telling of an undesirable trait taking root among the disgruntled young. It tantamounts to looking a gift horse in the mouth. It is usual for a person to give what he can afford. Two Ringgit used to be the norm and still is for many. These days five Ringgit is more common. It's a bonus if you get ten Ringgit, a red note. The very wealthy are able to give as much as they wish.

Tradition it may be but it would be prudent to realise that not every married person is obliged to give you an ang pau, never mind how much it contains. One should be gracious enough to accept it with a "thank you" and to refrain from peeking inside whilst still a guest in a host's home. That is a faux pas which will discredit your parents. The Chinese New Year is an occasion for reconciliation, reunion and bonding. It is a celebration of close ties and friendships.

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Red, the Color of the Chinese Lunar Year

During the Chinese New Year, red is the predominant color. You see it everywhere. The shops are full of red decorative items, red flowers and many of the new year clothing are also red. Red is considered an auspicious color, the color of good luck and fortune. That is why “ang pau” (red packets/envelopes) containing varying sums of money are given to children and the singles. Red is a warm or even a hot color. It arouses feelings. During the Chinese New Year, it makes people happy and eager to celebrate the occasion. Men and women don red clothing to mark the happy occasion and ang pau are aplenty for children who wish their elders Gong Xi Fa Cai which approximately translates to Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Most of the shopping malls are decorated in red. Lanterns are red, the flowers are red and many people are wearing red. Red lanterns are hung across the streets, Chinese temples have red lanterns strung across their courtyards and many homes belonging to the Chinese have red lanterns hanging in their car porches. Fire crackers are red too, so that when they are burnt, the ground is like a red carpet. Stalls set up for this festive season sell items that relate to the New Year. One stall is selling miniature lion heads and there is a large lion head placed at one corner to attract customers. Others sell beautifully cut paper patterns that have auspicious meanings and there are also stalls that sell red knotted decorations. Paintings and embroidered pictures of cranes are also on sale. A crane symbolizes peace and longetivity. Pictures of gold fish are also popular as they signify prosperity. Such gifts are very meaningful for the older generation as they are aware of their significance.

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