Countdown to CNY: 'Lai See' for blessings and prosperity

With less than a month until the Chinese New Year, The Standard’s “Countdown to CNY” series will bring you the Spring Festival traditions and even the Chinese zodiac forecast.

Lai See, or red envelopes, are a Chinese New Year tradition symbolizing blessings and prosperity. During the festivities, children and unmarried individuals receive these packets from parents, elders, and married couples to convey goodwill and share fortune.

The custom dates back to the Han Dynasty, when elders threaded coins with red string to protect children from Sui, a mythical demon said to haunt them on New Year’s Eve and bring illness. Over time, these protective charms evolved from silk pouches to paper envelopes – transforming into the modern Lai See we know today.

In Chinese culture, red represents happiness, vitality, and good luck, while the act of gifting Lai See wards off misfortune and strengthens social bonds. The banknotes enclosed – usually in even denominations such as HK$20, HK$50, or HK$100 – symbolize fresh beginnings and abundance for the year ahead. In Hong Kong, it’s even considered polite to give brand-new bills, reflecting a wish for renewal and prosperity.