【小知识】春节习俗5——压岁钱和红包 (Yāsuìqián hé hóngbāo) Lucky Money and Red Packet

要说为什么中国的孩子们喜欢春节?

Why do Chinese children like Chinese Festival?

其一是,中国的春节一般在一月或二月,和学校的寒假正好重合了。寒假一般有一个多月,所以很多孩子会和家人在春节期间旅游。

One of the reasons is, Chinese Festival usually coincide with the winter holiday of schools, which is in January and February. The winter holiday usually lasts for more than one month, hence many children will go for vacation during Chinese Festival.

不过再长的假期,也比不过拿压岁钱的兴奋!

No matter how long the holiday is, it cannot exceed the excitement of getting the Lucky Money (Ya Sui Qian)!

大年初一,华人会探亲访友去拜年。如果你还没有成年,甚至是还没有结婚的年轻人,只要你对年长者说几句真情实意的吉祥话,你就很可能拿到压岁钱。

On Chinese New Year’s day, Chinese will visit relatives and friend to send greetings. If you have not reached 18 years old, even for young people who have not gotten married, as long as you send some sincere and fortunate greetings to elder people, it is likely for you to get the Lucky Money.

“岁”,谐音“祟”,象征着鬼怪带来的灾祸。把灾祸“压”住,代表着希望来年平平安安的愿望。

Sui and sui sound the same, which represent the misfortune brought by evil spirits. Pressing down the misfortune represents the hope of a safe and peaceful year ahead.

压岁钱会被放在象征喜庆的红包里。如果你所在的地区有发红包的习俗,一天下来,你有可能能拿到二、三十个红包,满载而归。

The Lucky Money is put in prosperous red packets. If the place you are at has the custom of giving out red packets, you may be able to get 20 or 30 of them at the end of the day. So fruitful!