It is common for chinese people to give out money in red envelopes

I think they believe it's good luck to give money in those red envelopes, I know I've received a number of red envelopes through the years. Not only on the Chinese New Year, but also on Christmas or Birthdays.

Giving red packets or 'angpows' is their tradition which is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. I don't see it as bad as the more one give the more one receive. Though I am not a chinese but I do give red packets instead of presents to newly wed couples and birthdays. It is more meaningful than giving gifts.

If they do that I think it is a good custom, it would makes some kids happy, I remember going to our casino during Chinese New year a few years ago and they gave out little red envelopes but they had like a goodluck wish card in them, I liked that idea too...

i am in canada and there is a large Chinese population in the bigger cities here also, i have two nieces that were adopted from China and they do that too. i think it is a nice custom.

I think it's common/tradition if it's a good one I don't know. I don't know the age of the children, I also don't know anything about the idea behind it. Is the idea to save the money for later? Or can kids buy as much candies as they like? Are parents in need using it to pay school fee or do the weekly shoppings? To some it might be hard to fill that red envelope but on the other hand isn't that the same with all celebrations all over the world? The chrismas presents, St Nicolaas presents, birthday presents, birthday parties etc etc. It all cost money. The only good thing about it is that we know when it is so we have a year to save or?

Nowadays, it's not the only Chinese who follow this custom - Filipinos (and I bet a lot of other cultures too) also do so! I'm at the age where my parents give me money as a gift instead of presents, and they always put the money in a red envelope or ampao. I don't think there's anything wrong with this custom. Relatives usually give their kin, especially those younger than them, money, right? So why not enclose this money in an envelope? ;)

hi yanzalong I am an American and an interesed in learning about the red envelpes and the money given out to their children t o celebrate Chinese New Year. here in little Saigon in garden grove a we are kept awake the last two evenigns with the pop pop pop of fireworks going off to celebrat I guess Chinese New Year, oddly they were using the backyard of the lare Fietnamese Grocery store to set off their fire works. Its the Year of the dragon I am told. I lover their customs . on my lot I learn something new each day.

thats called angpao.. iam not chinnese so i dont know about that tradition..

im not a chinese but we also give money with red envelops or ampaw during new year so i didnt see any problem with it. even during christening or other occasion if we give money we normally put it in ampaw as its more formal than just give the money directly. i wouldnt say its a good nor bad custom giving money during new year as its their way of sharing what they earned for the year its also like a bad luck to them in the coming year. though for me not only chinese are doing it.

i am not chinese people, but i have heard if now if chinese celebration so we have holiday. i am have heard if on celebration people have give out money to children in red envelopes or ampau.in my city that celebration have ceblebrate on alun-alun

Hi there Yanzalong I don't think there is something wrong with that. They are just used to this kind of custom that's why they tend to do it on special occasions. I have my colleagues which isn't chinese who also do this kind of custom. Last December, my friend asked me to buy this red envelope so that she can give it to her nieces and nephews as a Christmas gift (I was at the mall that time). And it got me thinking that it's not just Chinese whose doing it but other culture as well...I think it's because people believes that it will bring good luck. Anyways, have a nice day. And happy Chinese New Year.

Chinese culture is one of the most riches in the world and part of that culture is giving Red Money Envelopes (popularly known as Ang Paw here in the Philippines) which they believe would bring good luck to the receiver. I don't see anything wrong with the centuries-old-tradition of Chinese. If that is what they believe in, then I do not have anything against them. In fact, we Filipinos have somehow adapted that tradition of theirs. We occasionally give Ang Paw to our relatives during Christmas or New Year. My father is full-blooded Chinese and he told me before that you could also use Ang Paw for your wish to be granted. Just write your wish in a red paper and put it in an Ang Paw then don't open it again until your wish have been granted. I'm not sure if this works though. Haven't tried it myself. :D