Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The celebration of Lunar New Year is always\nsynonymous with various traditions rich in meaning. From cleaning the\nhouse before the turn of the year, serving symbolic dishes, to making\nofferings to ancestors, everything is done to welcome good fortune and\nprosperity.<\/p>\n
However, for many children in Asian families, there is one moment\nthey look forward to the most: receiving an angpao, or red envelope\ncontaining money.<\/p>\n
In Chinese culture, this red envelope is known as h\u00f3ngb\u0101o (Mandarin)\nor lai see (Cantonese). This tradition goes beyond simply giving money\nin attractive packaging. \u201cThe act of giving and receiving red envelopes\ntranscends a mere financial transaction,\u201d said Sarah Coleman, author of\nthe book \u2018Lunar New Year\u2019, as quoted from History on Tuesday, 17\nFebruary 2026.<\/p>\n
The angpao itself carries strong symbolic meaning. The colour red is\nchosen because it is considered the most auspicious colour, bringing\nhappiness and protection from negative energy. Typically, the envelopes\nare adorned with gold lettering and lucky symbols such as dragons,\nphoenixes, and animals representing the zodiac sign of the current\nyear.<\/p>\n
The amount of money inside an angpao is not arbitrary either. Even\nnumbers are considered lucky, except for the number four, as its\npronunciation is similar to the word for \u201cdeath\u201d in Mandarin. Amounts\ncontaining the number six (symbolising smooth progress) and eight (a\nsymbol of prosperity) are believed to bring even greater fortune.<\/p>\n
As an illustration, if someone gives US$100, equivalent to\nRp1,680,000 (at an exchange rate of Rp16,800 per US dollar), that figure\nmay be chosen because it is easily divisible into even denominations.\nRegardless of the amount, the money given must be in new and crisp\ncondition \u2014 it must not be crumpled or dirty.<\/p>\n
History of Angpao<\/p>\n
The history of the angpao during Lunar New Year has deep roots in\nancient China. According to an article written by East Asian studies\nacademic Ming Gao, the fundamental concept of h\u00f3ngb\u0101o can be traced back\nto the Han Dynasty (206 BC\u2013220 AD). During that era, people wore\ncoin-like objects as protective talismans.<\/p>\n
The tradition evolved during the Tang Dynasty (618\u2013907), when coins\nwere scattered and collected during spring festivities. The practice of\ngiving money to children on special occasions became popular during the\nSong and Yuan Dynasties (960\u20131279 and 1279\u20131368). Subsequently, during\nthe Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368\u20131644 and 1644\u20131912), money was tied\nwith red thread before being given to children.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/history-of-lunar-new-year-angpao-a-tradition-spanning-thousands-of-years-that-endures-today-1771302071", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }