Getting ready for Chinese New Year

On Sunday we went out and bought our Laisee or Ang Pow envelopes.

We got a load for me (with my name in Chinese on it ... Mark Cripps = Strong (Supporter) Horse Nation ... 'Horse Nation' is a very popular surname (like Smith) ... means something like 'Patriot') and for Joss (Joss means luck in Chinese so these were easy to find).

Come Chinese New Year, many people at work; people who serve lunch; bus drivers; helpers; security guards etc etc will be expecting their laisee - with money in them.

There's some exotic and unfathomable formula which determines how much one should give to whom. And money should not be given to married folks -- I don't understand it to be honest. But need to gen up on it soon as it'll prove expensive otherwise.

Here's more:

The story of Ang Pow red envelopes.

The story of "ang pow" dates back to the Sung Dynasty in China. A village called Chang-Chieu was at the time terrorised by a huge demon. No one was capable of defeating it, not even their greatest warriors or statesmen. However, a young orphan, armed with a magical sabre inherited from his ancestors, fought the evil demon and eventually killed it. The villagers were triumphant and the elders presented the brave young man with an ang pow filled with money for his courage in saving them. Since then, the ang pow has become a part of traditional Chinese customs.

And how much to give:

The number of coins or notes in the ang pow may take advantage of the Chinese homophones. For instance, you can give a favourable amount ending with eight (8), as it sounds like fortune in Chinese, or nine (9), which sounds like longevity. Four (4) is not a good number to give as it sounds like death. You should always give money in even numbers though as to receive one or three or any other uneven number would be considered unlucky. Although to receive one Chinese i-ching coin in the envelope is considered very lucky.

M