Chinese New Year's Eve, it's another year, and these days of the year should be the happiest days for children. Countless delicious, fun, and soft "pressed money".
I remember when I was a child: Chinese New Year's Eve, the elders of the family would always prepare red envelopes, and when we fell asleep, they would secretly stuff them under the children's pillows. On the morning of the first day of the first year, I opened my eyes to touch the happiness of the red packet, and now I think about it.
Growing up, the New Year seems to be less exquisite, and now we no longer click on red envelopes. Even if it is less than Chinese New Year's Eve, many parents will send the prepared red envelopes to their children early. But you know what? Judging from the tradition of the mainland, the payment of old money is also about "timing".
Chinese New Year's Eve give "old money"
The original name of pressed money is actually called "pressed money". Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster named "Qi", who was black and white-handed, and every year on the day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, he would come out to do evil.
It likes to touch sleeping children with its hands, and when the child is frightened, he will have a fever, he will get sick by whispering, and after a few days the fever will subside, but the children who have been touched by it will change from clever and clever to crazy. Adults are afraid of "sneaking" out to hurt children, so they light up the lights and sit together to "keep the vigil".
It is said that "Qi" once went to a family's house and was about to touch the child's head, when a bright light cracked out from the child's pillow, and he hurriedly retracted his hand and screamed and fled. It turned out that in order to prevent the child's parents from harming the child, they wrapped eight copper coins in red paper, placed them on the pillow, and beat them to scare away the "qi" who came to harm people. Later, this habit was retained, and people called this money "pressure money". Because of the harmonic sounds of "祟" and "year", it is called "pressing the old money" with the passage of time.
Many places still retain their former customs. Every time Chinese New Year's Eve, the elders will give the children a pressure money, and those who get the pressure money will spend the first year in peace.
The first year of the first year to give "New Year's money"
Seeing this, you may wonder, Chinese New Year's Eve family reunion, give the old age money is after the child's farewell, their children are fine, can ensure that Chinese New Year's Eve together to send red envelopes. But the children of relatives and friends, Chinese New Year's Eve to give the old age money is obviously unrealistic! Our experience is also that after Chinese New Year's Eve, the relatives will give them money.
In fact, the red envelopes given to children by relatives and friends cannot be regarded as "pressing the old age money" in the traditional sense, but should be called "New Year money" more appropriately, so as long as they are given after the New Year.
"New Year's money" also has its own meaning, it indicates that the younger generation has money to spend every day in the new year, which is another blessing for relatives and friends to the younger generation.
So you see whether it is Chinese New Year's Eve, or the first year of the first year to give the old money, the meaning is not the same everywhere is also very different. Simple summary: If it is a family member who is guarding the age together, it is recommended that the Chinese New Year's Eve give the child money; if it is a child of relatives and friends, it is best to give red envelopes after the new year.
What should I pay attention to when giving pressure money?
"Pressing the old money" means good, but when you are an elder to bless the younger generation, the following points still need to be paid attention to:
Pressing the age of the red envelope is not sealed: with the passage of time, "pressing the age of money" has been given more and more meanings. In addition to suppressing evil spirits, "prosperity in the coming year" has also become another meaning of "pressing old money". Therefore, in general, the red envelope cannot be sealed, after all, who will "seal the wealth"?
Press the old money to the double and do not give the single: many places have the saying that "the double number is happy, and the singular number is sad". Even in the legend, "Qi" was injured by 8 copper coins. In the traditional culture of the mainland, even numbers mean auspicious, so it is recommended that parents must choose double numbers when giving red envelopes to their children in the New Year.
Avoid taboo amounts: Although it is said that the money should be given to even numbers, some taboo numbers should also be avoided.
For example, the number "4" is rarely used in red envelopes. "4" is considered unlucky in some regions because of harmonic problems. Another example is 250, see a netizen asking for help: "A relative of his own baby gave 500 red envelopes, but the relatives have 2 babies, how to give?" Some people have proposed 250 per person, but in many places, the number "250" is actually rich in pejorative meanings and should be avoided as much as possible.
Use the new instead of the old: Whether it is pressing the old money or pressing the red envelope, you must use the new. Because in addition to "pressing the age", the deeper meaning is actually the blessing of the elders to the juniors, the new year and new atmosphere, the resignation of the old and the new, "pressing the age" also means to leave the troubles and difficulties in the past, and look forward to the young people ushering in the New Year's luck. So, "new" is also a blessing.
Pressed old money can not be folded: have you found that the red envelope of pressing the year is generally to let the money flat out of the place into, this is because many places have the rule of "pressing the old money can not be folded". "Pressing the old money" has auspicious meanings such as "wealth" and "good luck" in a certain sense, and when the New Year arrives, these luck naturally cannot be "discounted". Therefore, when preparing red envelopes, try to keep the coins flat.
The Spring Festival should be the most ritualistic festival of the year, the wanderer goes home, the family is reunited, and "pressing the old money" is an indispensable highlight of this festival, about its source, taboo we will talk about this.
Finally, let's talk about how much money you have prepared this year, and when are you ready to give it? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss~