The custom of giving lucky money, one of the traditional customs of the Spring Festival, has a rich history and legends. What is the origin and legend of the Spring Festival lucky money? Is it necessary to give red envelopes during the Spring Festival? Let's take a look at the following content together!

What is the origin and legend of the Spring Festival lucky money?

1. Stringed Money
Most of the lucky money is given to children by stringing them with red ropes, "tying coins with colored ropes to form a dragon shape, called the lucky money." Therefore, in some places, giving lucky money to children is called "stringing money."
2. Auspicious Coins
Auspicious coins originated in the Western Han Dynasty and were cast until the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period. They were not circulated in the market. The front side of the coin usually had auspicious words such as "longevity for thousands of years" or "remove evil and ward off disasters," along with auspicious patterns like dragons and phoenixes, tortoises and snakes, and double fish. These are ancient coins used as auspicious items or talismans in Han Chinese folk culture. As an ornament for children, their original meaning mainly included two categories: repelling evil spirits and warding off disasters, and celebrating and praying for good fortune. "Auspicious coins" were also used as "washing coins" when a baby was washed after a month, given to the child, and later evolved into the "lucky money" of the Spring Festival.
3. Suppressing the Demon
There is a legend about an ancient demon named "Sui." Every New Year's Eve, this small demon would come out and touch the foreheads of sleeping children. After being touched, the child would develop a high fever and speak in their sleep. After the fever subsided, they would become "Sui." It is said that a wealthy family, who had a son in their old age, loved him very much. On New Year's Eve, to prevent Sui from coming to their child, they gave the child eight copper coins. While playing with the coins, the child fell asleep. In the middle of the night, a cold wind blew in, and the black, short demon was about to use his white hand to touch the child's head. Suddenly, a golden light flashed from the child's pillow, and the demon screamed and ran away. From then on, Sui dared not come to trouble them anymore. Soon, this story spread widely, and people began to imitate it, placing red paper-wrapped money under the children's pillows on New Year's Eve. Thus, the demon would not dare to trouble them again. Hence, this kind of money was called "Sui money." Since "Sui" and "Sui" (year) have the same pronunciation, over time, it became known as "lucky money."

Is it necessary to give red envelopes during the Spring Festival?

In folk belief, giving lucky money to children means that when evil spirits or the "Nian" monster come to harm the children, the children can use these coins to bribe them and turn danger into safety. Additionally, there is another genuine type of lucky money, which is given by younger generations to the elderly. "Sui" refers to the year or age, and "pressing the year" implies the hope that the elderly will live long.
There are two types of red envelopes. One is made by threading colorful ropes to create a dragon shape and placing it at the foot of the bed, as recorded in "Yan Jing Sui Shi Ji" (Customs of the Capital during the Spring Festival).
The other is the most common one, where parents wrap money in red paper and give it to the children. The lucky money can be given in public after the younger generation pays respects, or it can be secretly placed under the child's pillow when the child is asleep on New Year's Eve.