Red envelope

Origins and history

The custom traces back to the Han dynasty, when people used special coins inscribed with auspicious phrases to ward off sickness and death. By the Tang dynasty, elders began giving money to children during the spring festival to protect them from harm. Over the Song and Yuan dynasties, this evolved into threading coins with red string. During the Qing dynasty, the term yasui qian emerged for lucky money. In the twentieth century, the practice shifted from coins to banknotes wrapped in red paper, eventually leading to the modern paper envelope we see today.

How it is kept

At weddings, hosts receive red envelopes from guests to help cover banquet costs and express goodwill. The amounts are carefully recorded in ceremonial ledgers for the couple. Guests typically choose amounts ending in even digits, avoiding the number four because its sound resembles the word for death. Married individuals give packets to unmarried relatives and younger generations. Recipients often perform a kowtow to thank their elders. In some regions, like Suzhou, children place the envelopes under their beds to preserve the luck until the holiday ends.

Modern adaptations

In the mid-2010s, digital messaging platforms introduced virtual red envelopes. WeChat Pay popularized e-hongbao during the Lunar New Year, allowing users to send money through mobile wallets. The feature sparked intense competition among tech companies, resulting in billions of digital packets being exchanged annually. Other services, including Venmo, later added similar animated gift-wrapping options for the holiday. These virtual versions maintain the tradition of concealed amounts and festive decoration while adapting the custom for the smartphone era.

Around the world

The practice spread alongside ethnic Chinese diaspora communities throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. In Vietnam, elders give lì xì to wish health and longevity. Cambodian families present ang pav on New Year or at weddings to symbolize luck. In Malaysia and Singapore, Malay Muslims adopted the custom for Eid al-Fitr using green envelopes for charity, while Indian Hindus use purple packets for Deepavali. Japanese and Korean cultures have their own variations, utilizing white or decorated envelopes for New Year monetary gifts to children.

How Red envelope is kept

Married adults and elders prepare cash notes inside red paper sleeves. They hand these packets to unmarried relatives, children, and sometimes service staff during weddings and Lunar New Year gatherings. Guests often select amounts ending in even numbers to avoid bad omens associated with certain digits. Upon receiving a packet, younger recipients may bow or kowtow to show respect. At wedding banquets, the cash helps offset the cost of the meal, and the contributions are logged in a book for the newlyweds to keep.

When and where

It falls during the Lunar New Year and at wedding receptions. The exact date depends on the lunar calendar, usually occurring in late January or February. At weddings, the envelopes are distributed throughout the banquet as guests arrive or sit down.

It originated in China and remains strongest there. The custom is widely observed across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and the Philippines, wherever ethnic Chinese communities reside. Variations also exist in Japan and South Korea.

What Red envelope means

The red color represents good luck and serves to ward off evil spirits. Giving money in a red sleeve transfers blessings and prosperity to the recipient. The practice reinforces family bonds and social harmony by ensuring that wealth is shared with the younger generation and unmarried members of the community during important celebrations.

Who takes part

• Elders and married relatives: Give red envelopes to unmarried guests and children
• Wedding guests: Present cash in red sleeves to help cover banquet costs
• Service staff: Receive small envelopes as a gesture of hospitality during holidays
• Children: Bow or kowtow to thank their elders for the gift

If you are a guest

A guest prepares a monetary gift in advance, choosing new banknotes if possible. They select an amount ending in an even digit to ensure good fortune, strictly avoiding the number four. The cash is placed discreetly inside a red paper envelope before attending the wedding or holiday gathering.

Then and now

The tradition is evolving with technology, as digital red envelopes sent via mobile apps now rival physical cash during major holidays. While some older generations prefer traditional paper packets, younger people frequently use virtual versions. The custom remains deeply embedded in social life, though the method of delivery continues to adapt to modern communication habits.

On the wedding table

Symbols: The colour red Money and envelopes

Questions people ask about Red envelope

See also

Bride priceWealth paid by the groom or his family to the bride or her kin to formalize a union.Bride buyingThe exchange of money or goods for a woman to become a wife.RomvongA circular folk dance across Southeast Asia where couples hold hands and step in time with drums.Baju KurungThe traditional blouse and skirt worn by Malay women for weddings and religious ceremonies

Good reading and sources

• Why this Chinese New Year will be a digital money festBBC, Article
• More e-hongbao gifted in 2024; trend expected to continue this yearThe Straits Times, Article
• Why this Chinese New Year will be a digital money festBBC, Article
• More e-hongbao gifted in 2024; trend expected to continue this yearThe Straits Times, Article

• Red envelope on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.