When I first know about red envelope (Hong Bao) is heard from elders such as my grandfather.He told me what is red envelope, “in China during the Qin Dynasty, the elderly would thread coins with a red string. There was a kind of little demon called Sui in ancient times. Whenever it is on New Year's Eve, it will appear quietly, touching the head of a sleeping child. The child who was being touched will be scared and cry, and also will have a headache. Therefore, in order to prevent against the Sui, people in the past did not dare to sleep on New Year's Eve. And there is one tale of the folklore is about an elderly couple with a precious son. On New Year's Eve night, they put their son to sleep after putting a red paper bag with copper coins under the child's pillow. Suddenly, the doors and windows were blown away by a strange wind, and even the candlelight was extinguished. It turned out to be Sui. When Sui wanted to reach out and touch the child's head, the pillow was suddenly illuminated by golden light, and Sui was scared away, so the exorcism effect of "red paper wrapped copper coins" spread in the past in China.” when he finishes the story about red envelope and then he gave me a red envelope to bless me stay away from disease and death. However, when me and my mom moved to U.S. I think this tradition is becoming less and less important to Chinese.This story is important to share is because it is a Chinese tradition and comes from past, Chinese always get the red envelope in new year. Red envelope remind me of Chinese traditions and I am a Chinese.

– Z.L

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