🧧 Lunar New Year Red Envelopes (Hongbao)
Asal Usul: East Asia
Red envelopes (hongbao in Mandarin, laisee in Cantonese) containing cash are given by married adults to unmarried relatives and children during Chinese New Year to transfer good luck for the coming year. The red colour repels evil spirits, while the monetary gift represents blessings for health and prosperity. Digital hongbao sent via WeChat Pay and Alipay have modernised the tradition; over 46 billion digital red packets were sent in 2023 during the holiday season.