~ 新年包红包 ~

It's the time of the year to "包红包" (Putting new notes in the red packets)! Red Packets (Ang pow in hokkien) is also known as 压岁钱. Giving out Red packets during Chinese New Year is one of the tradition which symbolize Good Luck and Wealth. Generally, children/younger generation (who are still single) will receive Red packets from their parents/grandparents, relatives or married couples. The amount in the Red packets is usually in even numbers and the number 8 is consider lucky as it sound like "发" (wealth).

About 2-3 weeks before the Chinese New Year, you will see long queues at the banks where people are drawing the new dollar notes ($2, $10, $50) to pack in the red packets. There are also many cute and beautiful red packets of various sizes available to choose from for the young and old. ^_^

I have been collecting/keeping the Red packets every year either from my mom or those we got it free from the purchases we made. (NTUC, Banks, Drinks etc). Now, I have a box full of Red packets of different designs. ^_^

The most challenging part for me when I am packing the Red packets is to differentiate them and remembering later which are to be given and to who. (Parents, grandparents, godparents, uncles, children, friends etc). As the value within is quite different (not the standard $4, $8 or $10), I have put post slips to make sure I didn't give out the wrong Angpow! :p So far, it has been effective and make my task so much easier. Hahaha.

We are getting closer and closer to Chinese New Year! 3 more days to go! Yippeee!