In Taiwan, the Lunar New Year festival is associated with all sorts of traditions that are full of symbolic meaning. While some of these customs are relatively minor or neglected, others such as giving children bright red envelopes filled with money are carried out earnestly and with enthusiasm.
Such money is conventionally given by parents, elders, near relatives, and close friends to the younger generation on the eve of the New Year in a show of care. Traditionally, the present signals the family’s ongoing obligations to ensure a balanced exchange relationship among themselves.
In ancient times, the red envelope and lucky money also signaled the dispelling of disease and calamity. This is because the gift, known as ya sui qian, contains the characters ya (壓) for “press” and sui (歲), which is phonetically identical with sui (祟), meaning “evil spirits”. Thus, ya sui translates as driving out illness-causing demons.
For thousands of years, gift money took the form of round coins perforated with a square hole in the middle. Today, however, imperial coins have been replaced with crisp new bills, checks, credit cards, and electronic currencies.
These transactions can have various denominations, but are usually evenly valued, with the exception of four. Whatever the form and amount, and regardless of whether it is given online or in paper, the money is an auspicious sign and symbol of the family’s future success.