Red Packets

The Lunar New Year that is celebrated for fifteen days and during this period, it is customary for married adults or seniors to hand out red packets containing money to young children and unmarried adults.

The value in the red packets is not supposed to matter; giving is a gesture of sharing the giver's blessings of good luck and prosperity. The red packet could contain just a token amount or a fat pay check depending on the generosity of the giver and the relationship with the recipient.

Enterprising children make it a practice to visit as many homes as possible with hopes of receiving these red packets of money. They are not interested in the array of cookies and aerated drinks that are served to guests.

I recall a young school friend of my son who told me that he managed to collect six hundred dollars by making quickie stops at the homes of his neighbours, relatives and classmates! He was extremely proud of himself. All in a day's work!