About Hong Bao . . . .

"Hong Bao" or Red Packet is a little red envelopes with cash inside as 'good luck' money. These are handed out to children during Lunar New Year. Unmarried adults are entitled to receive too. In the old days, parents could not afford to lavish on children. Whatever cash parents gave out to their children in red packets was supposed to last them for the entire year.

The custom of giving hongbao to the young (by Chinese definition only those who are married are considered adults), signifies the transmission of good wishes and good fortune. The money inserted in the hongbao is intended only to give a little joy to the young recipient; more important is the expression of good fortune represented by the red paper. It is therefore considered rude for the recipients to open their hongbao in front of the givers.