Red packets (hongbao) are cash gifts packed into red envelopes. The act of giving out red packets is an age-old Chinese custom, representing blessings from the giver to the receiver during auspicious occasions such as Chinese New Year, childbirth, birthdays, weddings, and other important life events such as moving house or starting a business.

The Chinese in Singapore have different names for red packets. The most common ones are angbao (sometimes written as angpow) in Hokkien, lai see in Cantonese (lishi in Mandarin), and yasuiqian.

Stall in Chinatown selling Chinese New Year decorations and red packets, 1983. Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.
Float in the shape of firecrackers and red packets at Chingay Parade along Orchard Road, 1986. Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. 

The legend of Sui

The origins of red packets can be traced to the coin-like charms that were used in China since the Han dynasty (202 BCE–220) to ward off evil and bad luck. These charms were either strung together with a red thread or packed in red paper, as red is an auspicious colour for the Chinese. One of the most popular myths about the origin of this custom is the legend of Sui which gave red packets the name yasuiqian.

It was said that a demon named Sui would visit Chinese villages on the night of Chinese New Year’s Eve to prey on sleeping children. Sui would pat the heads of children in unsuspecting families three times, causing them to run a fever. Parents would keep vigil to watch over their children.

An elderly couple by the surname of Guan, who had their child late in their years, was particularly afraid that their son would be harmed by the demon. They gave their son eight copper coins wrapped in red paper to entertain him until he fell asleep with the coins by his side. The couple stayed by their sleeping son’s side when the demon came and tried to harm him. Suddenly, the coins next to their son emitted a bright light which scared Sui off.

The story soon spread, and everyone began wrapping coins in red paper and placing these packets beneath their children’s pillows, after which Sui no longer appeared. These red packets of copper coins became known as yasuiqian (literally, “money to suppress Sui”).

As the word for age in Chinese is also pronounced as sui (岁), the Chinese character for the demon Sui (祟) was eventually replaced with the character for age. Yasuiqian also became synonymous with the money that parents gave their children for blessings and good luck in the new year.

Customs and taboos

Giving and receiving red packets is considered a meaningful tradition during important events such as Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays. The Chinese therefore take care to uphold this tradition in an auspicious manner by observing certain customs and taboos.

Customs and taboos associated with money

  • The value of the money should be in an even denomination as the Chinese believe that good things come in pairs.
  • The value of the money should not have the number four in it as four is homophonous with death in Chinese.
  • Eight is considered an auspicious number as it sounds similar to the word for prosperity in Chinese, so it is a digit often used when packing money for red packets.
  • Although nine is an odd digit, it is accepted as nine is homophonous with longevity in Chinese.

Customs and taboos associated with giving and receiving red packets

  • Although there are no hard and fast rule as to when one should start giving red packets during Chinese New Year, typical milestones would be earning one’s first pay check or after the first year of marriage. Newlyweds in their first year of marriage are often excused from giving red packets during Chinese New Year.
  • Typically, only married people give red packets to children and elders during Chinese New Year. However, some adults with a stable income also give red packets to their parents and grandparents.
  • In a corporate setting, some bosses give red packets to their subordinates as a gesture of goodwill.
  • When giving cash notes, these notes should ideally be fresh from the press, clean and unwrinkled.
  • When giving red packets, the giver and receiver typically exchange words of blessings.
  • The receiver should not open the red packet in front of the giver as this is considered rude.
  • The receiver should receive the red packets with both hands as a form of respect. If the receiver is the child or grandchild of the giver, some families require them to kneel down to receive the red packets as a form of respect.

Other customs and taboos associated with red packets

  • Elders often ask adults of marriageable age, “When can I stop giving you red packets?” or “When can I receive your red packets?”, which is a way of indirectly asking them when they plan to get married.
  • Some people believe that the money in red packets should not be spent too quickly as it would be akin to squandering one’s blessings away.
  • Red packets are also used to ward off or dispel bad luck. For instance, the Cantonese give red packets to family and friends who visit them in hospital.
  • In Singapore, giving out red packets with lottery tickets in them is a widely accepted practice. Receivers who win the lottery should return a token sum to the giver.

 Evolution of red packet designs

The current form of red packets as we know it today can be traced to the Tang dynasty (618–807), where the social elites used small handwoven bags to hold cash gifts, which the general public came to emulate with folded red paper. Using red paper to wrap coins into a packet became the standard of red packets over the years. These red packets usually did not have other designs, but some might choose to write their well wishes in calligraphy on the front.

Red packets with handwritten wishes, 1930. They were used in a Peranakan household in the Sang Jit or “Exchange of Gift” ceremony, which typically took place on an auspicious day before the wedding. Gift of Roberta Pang in memory of her parents Pang Choon Jin and Chew Teck Neo, Peranakan Museum Collection, courtesy of National Heritage Board.
Red packet with gold-dusted print, early 20th century, 1930s. National Museum of Singapore Collection, courtesy of National Heritage Board.

During the turn of the 20th century, breakthroughs in the publishing industry brought the first mass-produced red packets in Singapore. The earliest red packets often featured simple floral prints and auspicious Chinese characters or phrases that were printed in yellow ink and sprinkled with gold dust.

The 1930s ushered in a new era of red packets, as the designs became even more elaborate and attractive. Businesses also started using red packets as marketing materials, and would print them for distribution to their customers. The designs of red packets would feature traditional Chinese motifs and characters signifying blessings and good luck, such as mandarin oranges, peonies, and the character fu (fortune in Chinese).

Red packet with colourful, festive prints, early 20th century. Courtesy of Wong Chiat Wan.

By the 1970s to 1980s, printing and distributing red packets had become a Chinese New Year tradition for many major firms, particularly banks and department stores. With the advancement of printing techniques and introduction of novelty elements such as foil-stamping or scented packets, red packet designs grew even more lavish and ornate. The size of the red packets also grew over the years, as people started to give cash notes instead of coins.

During the 1980s, banks also started producing red packets during the Hari Raya season but replaced the colour with green instead as it was the colour associated with Islam. These green packets would usually feature floral and ethnic motifs as well as calligraphic inscriptions of Quranic verses.

During Deepavali, Indians of the Hindu faith also distribute similar cash gifts in packets which are decorated with images of Hindu deities, peacocks, elephants, and oil lamps.

By the turn of the 21st century, the market for red packets had grown exponentially in Singapore, with banks alone printing and distributing tens of millions of red packets each year. It has since been an indispensable marketing tool for businesses during Chinese New Year and even became an item much sought after by collectors.

Red packets now come in myriad designs, with groundbreaking changes in material, colour, and themes beyond the traditional red paper packets. Technological advancements in the 21st century have further transformed red packets. Today, one can send digital red packets through digital payment platforms or QR codes. However, the local Chinese community generally prefers traditional red packets to digital ones.

Changes in consumer preferences, societal trends and technological advancements have led to the design of red packets evolving from humble folded red paper to the current array of designs available today. However, no matter its shape or form, the significance of giving and receiving red packets remains unchanged. This cherished age-old tradition symbolises one’s well-wishes, appreciation and goodwill to the receiver and will continue to be an integral custom of the Chinese community.

 

Editor’s note : This article, contributed by Amanda Ho (Assistant Curator at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall), is adapted from the River Hongbao 2020 exhibition “Prosperity in Packets: Hongbao in Chinese Culture” curated by the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.