In our family, children love red envelopes. They signify special occasions, usually a party, and gifts of money. We have just celebrated the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, with the consumption of amazing amounts of delicious food, mah jong challenges for all ages, and with the giving of red envelopes - lai see ( in Cantonese) and hong bao ( in Mandarin) which contained "lucky" money. Tradition suggests that on auspicious occasions like the lunar new year and weddings, money in the red envelopes means blessings and good luck bestowed on the young by the older generation (the unmarried by the married) and on the bride and groom by the guests. Some employees are also lucky enough to receive red envelopes from their bosses. It is also a happy custom to give red envelopes of money for special services given like Chinese lion dancers in a new year's performance. Always red, the colour of good luck, the lai see (hong bao) are often ...
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