For example, I once held a Lunar New Year presentation at work. None of my colleagues are Chinese, but I learned about this holiday through photos of past celebrations and sampling the foods that symbolize this holiday. such as gyoza It represents spring rolls that are good luck ingots and gold bars.
After the presentation, my co-workers told me how much fun they had connecting this holiday with Thanksgiving, which is centered around family gatherings. It’s an election year in the United States, and there’s nothing wrong with elevating the great aspects of our culture. The more we share, the more we can understand our respective histories and celebrate each other’s uniqueness and similarities.
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Chinese festive red packets are more than just a tradition
Chinese festive red packets are more than just a tradition
I have happily received many red envelopes over the years. I received them from my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who were older than me during the years I lived and worked in Hong Kong and mainland China. As part of the tradition, you will be given an envelope For children and single people.
Colleagues at work were handing them out freely for good luck, and I saw them being handed out to restaurant workers, doormen, and other service workers.Contains many logos of Businesses and banking institutions. I collected each envelope for a while. Each one had a unique and often surprising design, and we enjoyed the crisp banknotes that came with it.
In preparing for an upcoming workshop, we were challenged to find a do-it-yourself (DIY) process. red envelope. I scoured YouTube and surprisingly found some helpful videos. More importantly, the trip gave me the perfect excuse to dig deeper into my roots.of hongbao It was a window into learning more about my own family.
I remembered that my father was looking forward to receiving it. Ya Sui ChenFrom his grandparents during his childhood in Shanghai, or “keep the money of age”. In the 1950s, China’s economy was in decline, and the Lunar New Year was celebrated with hearty meals and auspicious red envelopes.Following tradition, children Binian That is, wish the elders a happy new year. Before accepting the red envelope, please pay your respects.
“With that money, we used to buy snacks throughout the year. It didn’t work out very well because we didn’t have much money,” said my father, who was always a generous donor. I did. red envelope In the same way. Growing up, I remember receiving many birthday presents. hongbao. Come to think of it, my father uses it almost all the time. hongbao for his gift.
“It’s light and easy to carry, it’s a good symbol, it reminds us of the roots of Chinese culture, and it’s very practical,” he said. “If you have money, you can do anything you want. That really symbolized Chinese culture. I enjoy that part of Chinese culture because it’s my roots.”
traditions have changed However, times have changed, and over the years. I learned that children who grow up and have good jobs sometimes give their parents red envelopes.
In addition to collecting envelopes, for their design But as a reminder of their loved ones and the thought and care that went into them. Suan Qian, a teacher at the Mid-Hudson Chinese Center, has collected more than 30 envelopes over the years, calling each one a “representative token” containing a wish.
My fiancé and I recently spent a rainy weekend mastering the art of folding red envelopes. The good news is they turned out pretty well. As I was preparing for the workshop, I realized that I couldn’t imagine making a handmade lucky bag. Origami enthusiasts practice this art form, and DIY envelopes are for craft enthusiasts. In any case, handmade items feel more heartfelt and thoughtful.
Finally, there is a sense of security in preserving tradition. I recently received a reminder from my aunt. Her aunt is single and has been receiving lucky red envelopes for years. She handed me an envelope from Chase Bank and said, “You’re not married, so there’s no need to give me the red envelope.” I will remain a happy recipient for at least another year.
Amy Wu is a Chinese-American journalist based in New York and California who writes about cross-cultural issues.
