Popular Culture Review
Although most Chinese live in a modem world which focuses on rational
and technological thinking, very seldom do people break the custom of presenting
red packets at the New Year. This is because the tradition directly symbolizes the
hope for luck in the coming year. In Hong Kong during the 1950s and 1960s, even
though the living standard was not high, parents still presented red packets to their
children, even if the amount put inside was minimal. In fact, particularly the poorest
Chinese are not willing to risk neglecting the tradition in order to test the “truth” of
their beliefs (Fan & Shang, 1988).
Wishes and Blessings of Senior Family Members
Seniors presenting red packets to younger family members, and married
couples presenting red packets to unmarried ones, are standard practices that have
not changed among the Chinese. Yang points out that “this presentation consists of
the meaning of the wishes and blessings of the senior family members” (1992:
142). Younger members, however, never give red packets to their elders, even at
the beginning of the New Year. If they should do so, their action would be interpreted
negatively, as impolite and disrespectful. Even at a birthday banquet for a senior
family member, while a junior family member might submit a gift to the elder, it
could not be red packet.
Traditionally, the red packet reflected status differentiation and rank
identification. It was presented from the top/high level to the down/low level within
a family (Yang, 1992). In the southern part of China, a man could present a red
packet to his wife, but never the other way. When presenting red packets to children
in a house, the sequence of recipients should also follow the family hierarchy:
from the children of the first wife to the children of other wives; from the eldest
son to the youngest son, and sometimes the adopted sons, and then the grandsons;
and from the sons to the daughters.
The time sequence of giving was also structured. Within a family, the
eldest family member should have the right to present red packets first. The male
members also presented in the first priority. For example, a grandfather (if he is the
eldest member) should present red packets to his sons, and then the sons could
present them to their own sons.
Since red packets were presented and received from the higher level within
the family hierarchy to the lower level, their significance was more one of “granting”
than of “submission”. Because of this meaning of granting — without compulsion
- the tradition of giving red packets implied appreciation and kindness more than
a symbol of thanks.