Indonesia
Ang Pao Etiquette
To bring fortune, even distributing ang pao has rules, Supermom.
There are no written sources that explicitly inform when the tradition of distributing money in red envelope started. Long ago before envelope, people used to give away money in coins, tied up with red strings. Why coins?
Yes, up until the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the nominal banknotes circulated in China was only the big ones. So parents like us we generally gave Weng or Tongbao, the smallest nominal bronze pieces for children. Right on the center of the coin there is a rectangular hole, where people hooked the red rope.
It’s quite different today. The money is always wrapped neatly into a small red envelope known ang pao or angpao. The color is always red because it symbolizes good luck and evil spirits repellent in Chinese myth. Some areas have their own names know for ang pao. For example, in Mandarin it is called hong bao, in Cantonese it is lai see, and in the language of Vietnam they call it li xi.
Tradition goes, we can’t give ang pao to just anyone we like or how much to give. There are rules that are practiced across generations. The purpose is of course to let it brings fortune to us, instead of otherwise.
Here are some etiquette about ang pao we all should know.
Receiver
Just who considered eligible to receive ang pao? Of course the little ones are in the list. Adolescents or adults are also sprayed, as long as they were single. For those who are married, ang pao can only be accepted from parents.
Giver
Married people shall give ang pao on children and parents. What about those unmarried but already established and want to share? Sure, it’s fine. But the money should be given without the red envelope.
Amount
There’s no standard of maximum and minimum amount. Just make up the nominal based economic alone. One this is certain, Superparent, never give amount money that has the number four (4) ok? Because 4 is believed to bring bad omen and resembles death. For example Rp 40,000, Rp 74,000, Rp 400,000 and so on. In addition, the amount of money also must be even, not odd. Number that is identical with luck is eight. So, should the contents of ang pao with eight multiplication numbers.
Message
The writing on the cover ang pao or tuck in it should be about with good things only. For example expectations of happiness, prosperity, luck, health, and long live.
How to Use
Can ang pao money be spent away on the same day it is received by the little ones? Or, should we forbid it and have the money saved in the specified period of time? The ancient tradition says, the money should not be spent because they are given by the God of money, Cai Shen. Instead, the money should be kept well in a purse or pants pocket. But of course we can direct Superkids to spend the money wisely.
Gong xi fat chai!
HAFIDA INDRWATI
PHOTO: 123RF
