During the Chinese new year, elders should give new year's money to their children. The original intention is to suppress evil and exorcise evil spirits and protect children's safe new year. So why should they give new year's money during the Spring Festival? What are the legends? Let's look at the stress of issuing lucky money during the Spring Festival.
Why send lucky money during the Spring Festival
When paying New Year's greetings during the Spring Festival, the elders should put the prepared lucky money into the red envelope and give it to the younger generation. It is said that the lucky money can suppress the evil spirit, because 'year' is homonymous with 'evil spirit', and the younger generation can spend a year safely when they get the lucky money. Lucky money is generally distributed by elders to younger generations during the countdown to the new year, indicating lucky new year (pressure). In history, there are two kinds of lucky money, one of which is given to the elderly by the younger generation. The 'year' of this lucky money refers to age, which is intended to look forward to the longevity of the elderly.
There were some popular stories among the people. For example, in ancient times, there was a black handed and white goblin named 'sneak', who came out every new year's Eve to harm children. So people light up the lights and stay up all night, and put the copper money beside the child's pillow to avoid evil spirits. This is' guarding sneakiness' and 'pressing sneakiness', later also known as' guarding the new year' and 'pressing the new year'.
There is a widely spread story about the origin of lucky money. In ancient times, there was a little demon called 'sneaky'. On the evening of new year's Eve, he came out and touched the head of a sleeping child with his hands. The child was often frightened to cry, then had a headache and fever, and became a fool. Therefore, every family sits awake with lights on on this day, which is called 'guarding sneakiness'.
There is a family where the couple have children in their old age and regard them as sweethearts. On New Year's Eve, they were afraid of 'sneaking' to harm the children, so they took out eight copper coins to play with the children. When the child was tired and fell asleep, they wrapped eight copper coins in red paper and put them under the child's pillow. The husband and wife dared not close their eyes. In the middle of the night, a dark wind opened the door and blew out the lights. As soon as she reached out to touch the child's head, there was a flash beside the pillow, which scared her to escape. The next day, the couple told everyone about scaring off 'sneakiness' by wrapping eight copper coins in red paper. After everyone learned to do it, the child would be safe.
It turned out that the eight copper coins were made by eight immortals to protect the children secretly. Because 'sneaky' is homonymous with 'year-old', it gradually evolved into 'lucky money'. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, money was woven into a dragon shape with colored ropes, which was called lucky money. The gift of elders to children is also called "lucky money". So some places call giving children lucky money 'string money'. In modern times, it evolved into a red paper bag of 100 Wen copper coins given to the younger generation, implying 'long life and a hundred years'. For the adult younger generation, a silver dollar is put in the red paper bag, which means' one capital and ten thousand profits'. After the currency is changed into paper money, the elders like to go to the bank to exchange the new banknotes connected with the face number for the children, and wish the children 'continuous promotion'.
Legend of giving lucky money during the Spring Festival I. theory of avoiding evil spirits
Folk believe that the new year's money is distributed to children. When evil spirits or 'Nian' hurt children, children can bribe them with the money to turn evil into good.
As for the role of "lucky money", even the official history of Zizhi Tongjian has also been "proved". Volume 26 of the book says that when Yang Guifei gave birth to a child, it means that "Xuanzong personally saw it and liked to give her gold, silver and money to wash her children". In addition to congratulating Xi, the more important thing here is to give his son an amulet to ward off evil spirits and demons.
From the historical data, from the Han Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, the main purpose of elders to give their younger generation lucky money during the new year is to avoid evil spirits and demons, just like Tang Xuanzong's "happy to give washing money".
Of course, the most powerful is Qin Shihuang. His copper coin 'brother Kong Fang' has been in the forefront for 2000 years. The reason why the copper coin 'brother Kong Fang' is popular is closely related to the shape of its' Tianyuan place ', which is derived from the book of changes& hellip;' Yes. This shows that 'money' has been endowed with 'Divine Charm' color and 'magical' power from the beginning to the evolution. It seems that it is reasonable for people to use this thing to 'ward off evil spirits, diseases and demons'.
Legend of giving lucky money during the Spring Festival
It is said that in ancient times, there was a little demon named 'sneak', with black body and white hands. He came out every new year's Eve night to touch the forehead of a sleeping child. After the child is touched, he will have a high fever and talk in his sleep. After the fever subsides, he will become a dementia and crazy fool. People are afraid of sneaking to hurt children. They stay awake all night, which is called 'guarding sneaking'.
It is said that there is a family surnamed Guan in Jiaxing house. The husband and wife have children in old age and cherish them very much. On New Year's Eve, in order to prevent 'sneaky' from disturbing the children, the children wrapped eight copper coins in red paper, wrapped and disassembled, disassembled and wrapped. After sleeping, the wrapped eight copper coins were placed next to the pillow. In the middle of the night, a dark wind blew. The little black man was about to touch the child's head with his white hand. Suddenly, a golden light burst out from the child's pillow and ran away screaming. So the matter spread, and everyone followed suit. On New Year's Eve, they wrapped money in red paper and gave it to the children, so they didn't dare to invade again. Therefore, people call this kind of money "lucky money". The pronunciation of "lucky money" is the same as that of "year-old". Over time, it is called "lucky money".
Legend of giving lucky money during the Spring Festival
Another theory originated from the ancient 'panic'. It is said that in ancient times, there was a fierce beast called 'Nian', which would come out every 365 days to hurt people, animals and crops. Children are afraid, while adults use firecrackers to drive away Nian and comfort children with food, which is called "calming". Over time, it evolved into the substitution of money for food. In the Song Dynasty, there was "frightening money". According to historical records, Wang Shaozi was rescued by the emperor's car on the way to the South because he was carried away by bad people. Song Shenzong immediately gave him "Jingjin rhinoceros money". Later it developed into 'lucky money'.
What's the stress of sending red envelopes during the Spring Festival
During the Spring Festival, the elders should distribute the prepared lucky money to the younger generation. It is said that the lucky money can suppress the evil spirit. Because 'year' is homonymous with 'evil spirit', the younger generation can spend a year safely when they get the lucky money. There are two kinds of lucky money. One is to weave a dragon shape with colored rope and thread and place it at the foot of the bed. This record can be seen in the records of Yanjing's age; The other is the most common, that is, the money distributed to children by parents wrapped in red paper. New year's money can be given in public after the younger generation pays new year's greetings. It can also be placed under the child's pillow by parents when the child falls asleep on New Year's Eve.
We should cherish the traditional folk customs. However, we must give appropriate and reasonable lucky money to children during the new year. The main thing is to promote relations. After giving children lucky money, parents should also educate their children about the correct concept of money and let their children establish the correct concept of money. Spend money correctly and guide children to establish correct values.
How much is the lucky money? Give children lucky money according to their own economic conditions. Don't compare blindly. You can't give anything like 4003003000. You can't give anything like 748 with homophony. Generally, it is about 500 yuan. For example, my family gives me 1000 yuan and 2000 yuan each year. Generally speaking, it should be decided according to their own economic situation.