It is a long-standing Chinese tradition during the Lunar New Year to give out red packets, also known as lai see in Cantonese and hong bao in Mandarin.
Usually handed out in pairs and containing money, these paper envelopes are accompanied by greetings such as kung hei fat choi (in Cantonese) or gong1 xi3 fa1 cai2 (in Mandarin) to give everyone an auspicious start to the new year.
The red colour of the packets symbolises good luck and prosperity and the amount of money inside usually ends in an even number, which is considered more auspicious.
Red packets are not just given out during Lunar New Year but also on other special occasions such as weddings and birthdays.
As early as China’s Han dynasty (206BC-AD220), red packets were used to ward off evil spirits. As time progressed, adults used them to offer good wishes to their children and other young people.
