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The Chinese language zodiac has 12 animals, which take turns exerting affect over annually, all the time in the identical order. The dragon, which holds fifth place within the cycle, is the one fictitious animal—the others, so as, are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, sheep, cash, rooster, canine and pig. (In Vietnam, folks have a good time the cat as a substitute of the rabbit, and the buffalo as a substitute of the ox.)
In 2024, Chinese language New 12 months—celebrated extra broadly throughout East Asian and Southeast Asian communities as Lunar New 12 months—falls on Saturday, Feb. 10, kicking off two weeks of household gatherings, elaborate feasts, and the giving and receiving of “fortunate cash” in little purple envelopes.
When is fortunate cash given?
Fortunate cash envelopes—referred to as lai see in Cantonese and hong bao in Mandarin—are given to youngsters and, in some locations, seniors within the first two weeks of the Lunar New 12 months, up till the primary full moon, a day referred to as the Spring Pageant or Chinese language Lantern Pageant (Feb. 24).
Sometimes, when you get married, it’s your flip handy out envelopes, and also you’ll obtain fewer your self. There aren’t any exhausting and quick guidelines, although—single adults may additionally give and obtain lai see to youthful kin and buddies’ youngsters, for instance. Folks usually give fortunate cash to their service suppliers. My mother and father, for instance, carry purple envelopes for the servers at their common dim sum spot.
How a lot cash are we speaking about?
Earlier than I bought married, I obtained $5 or $10 from every relative and $20 from every dad or mum for Chinese language New 12 months. Typically, the nearer your relationship is to the recipient, the extra fortunate cash you give. The quantity is much less essential than the spirit by which the reward is given—in Chinese language tradition, the color purple symbolizes happiness and good luck.
Fortunate cash can be given on particular events like birthdays, weddings, graduations and the delivery of a child. And the envelopes aren’t all the time purple—you will discover every little thing from cartoony rainbow variations to trendy gold ones. Canada’s massive banks usually give out packs of branded envelopes when clients decide up crisp new payments for Lunar New 12 months (giving outdated, wrinkly money is taken into account poor etiquette). And in Asia, you may ship digital “purple packets” by way of WeChat, AliPay, Tencent QQ and different monetary platforms.
What else to reward for Chinese language New 12 months?
When visiting kin, many Chinese language households carry conventional new 12 months’s sweets and snacks. Oranges, clementines, pomelos and kumquats are additionally fashionable items—they symbolize abundance, happiness and success.
Lunar New 12 months has turn out to be extremely commercialized, even in nations exterior of Asia. My inbox is full of emails from way of life and luxurious manufacturers selling 12 months of the Dragon merchandise—every little thing from purses and jewelry to beauty kits and Lego units, and everybody from Walmart to Swarovski is in on the motion. Deal with your self or a buddy if you happen to like, however don’t really feel pressured to purchase something. In my household’s expertise, new 12 months’s items aren’t a part of the custom.
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