The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals, which take turns exerting influence over each year, always in the same order. The dragon, which holds fifth place in the cycle, is the only fictitious animal—the others, in order, are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, sheep, money, rooster, dog and pig. (In Vietnam, people celebrate the cat instead of the rabbit, and the buffalo instead of the ox.)
In 2024, Chinese New Year—celebrated more widely across East Asian and Southeast Asian communities as Lunar New Year—falls on Saturday, Feb. 10, kicking off two weeks of family gatherings, elaborate feasts, and the giving and receiving of “lucky money” in little red envelopes.
When is lucky money given?
Lucky money envelopes—called lai see in Cantonese and hong bao in Mandarin—are given to children and, in some places, seniors in the first two weeks of the Lunar New Year, up until the first full moon, a day called the Spring Festival or Chinese Lantern Festival (Feb. 24).
Typically, once you get married, it’s your turn to hand out envelopes, and you’ll receive fewer yourself. There are no hard and fast rules, though—unmarried adults might also give lai see to younger relatives and friends’ children, for example. People often give lucky money to their service providers. My parents bring red envelopes for the servers at their regular dim sum spot.
How much money are we talking about?
Before I got married, I received $5 or $10 from each relative and $20 from each parent for Chinese New Year. Generally, the closer your relationship is to the recipient, the more lucky money you give. The amount is less important than the spirit in which the gift is given—in Chinese culture, the colour red symbolizes happiness and good luck.
Lucky money is also given on special occasions like birthdays, weddings, graduations and the birth of a baby. And the envelopes aren’t always red—you can find everything from cartoony rainbow versions to stylish gold ones. Canada’s big banks often give out packs of branded envelopes when customers pick up crisp new bills for Lunar New Year (giving old, wrinkly cash is considered poor etiquette). And in Asia, you can send digital “red packets” via WeChat, AliPay, Tencent QQ and other financial platforms.
What else to gift for Chinese New Year?
When visiting relatives, many Chinese families bring traditional new year’s sweets and snacks. Oranges, clementines, pomelos and kumquats are also popular gifts—they symbolize abundance, happiness and good fortune.
Lunar New Year has become highly commercialized, even in countries outside of Asia. My inbox is crammed with emails from lifestyle and luxury brands promoting Year of the Dragon merchandise—everything from handbags and jewellery to cosmetic kits and Lego sets, and everyone from Walmart to Swarovski is in on the action. Treat yourself or a friend if you like, but don’t feel pressured to buy anything. In my family’s experience, new year’s gifts aren’t part of the tradition.
