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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Packets of fortune
By Lady Ochel C. Espinosa
Eagle's eye view
HAVE you ever wondered why you receive money in red envelopes during special occasions? Ang pao, a tradition of giving small red packets that contain money, is one of the most common rituals among the Chinese. It curiously invites so much anticipation and following among both the young and the young at heart, not only during the highly coveted yuletide season, but also during birthdays, weddings, and new years.
All about Super Powers
At some point during the Sung Dynasty, a young orphan boy from the village of Chang Chieu in Mainland China was believed to have been given the very first ang pao. Story has it that an evil dragon threatened the villagers but no one was daring enough to slay it. Only this young boy, who "inherited a super saber power from his ancestors," courageously stepped up and killed the malevolent dragon. He was able to set the village free from the constant insecurities and anxieties brought about by the fire-breathing creature. The villagers, in deep gratitude to the boy for saving their lives, gave him an ang pao.
The tradition is still alive, even centuries later, not only in that modest village, but also in countries almost half a world away from it. The giving and receiving of ang paos during special occasions have become a part of many people's lives.
Registered pharmacist and student of medicine, Pong Bartolome, whose maternal grandmother, Moret Ong-Antay is from Mainland China cannot exactly remember when he first received an ang pao. His parents, grandparents, and other relatives have been giving him and his siblings ang paos ever since they were little, usually during birthdays, Christmas, and most especially Chinese New Year. He can neither count how many ang paos he already received but his sister, Imee Rose, a pharmacy major, has been saving those with unique and beautiful designs.
Gold and Red Sketches
Without a doubt, the gold designs of ang pao add to its exquisiteness. Its intricate illustrations of fishes, animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and even cartoon characters make the ang pao more meaningful to both the giver and the receiver.
The fish, which is yu in Mandarin, literally means "profusion" or "abundance". The carp, on the other hand, is particularly renowned because it stands for "longevity". The dog, rabbit, pig, tiger, horse, snake, rat, dragon, ram, monkey, rooster and ox that comprise the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac are also favorites for the designs used in ang paos.
The Chinese God of Wealth, Chai Shen, is also depicted in these red packets, as this is literally translated to "may more money and wealth come your way in the new year". Recently, the trend with popular cartoon characters like Hello Kitty, Pokemon, and Mickey Mouse has become a hit, as this increases the popularity of adults among children. The designs in ang pao multiplied so much in the past years that collecting it in various shapes and sizes has already become a wholesome hobby for some.
Aside from the gold designs, another distinguishing feature of the ang pao is the red base color. It is however, not only by some random lottery that the ang pao is colored as such. Ang literally translates to "red" in Fookien while pao means "packet." Red symbolizes not only good luck for the Chinese, but both long life and happiness as well. When one gives something wholeheartedly and sincerely to a friend, one could not seem to wish enough blessings and good luck for them.
Why it's so Fashionable
Aside from the million well wishes that an ang pao could communicate without words, there are other reasons why it is a perfect gift for everything. Its practicality and convenience make it popular not only for the receiver, but also for the giver, who doesn't have to worry about shopping for material gifts.
"It's not only available during the Chinese New Year, but all year round. It never runs out of stock and does not require so much of your time," relates Moret Ong-Antay, a Chinese mother who migrated to the Philippines, leaving her brother in the Mainland during the time of the World War II, and they have never seen each other ever since. "It's also resting in the knowledge that the receiver will truly enjoy the present, even if most of the time, their parents save money for them" says Moret's daughter Merle Antay-Bartolome, whose Chinese blood strongly influenced her inclination to the dynamics of business and is now the proprietor of local pharmacy chain, Erle Pharmacy.
Let's talk Money
There is no limit as to how much or how little one can put in an ang pao. The popular belief, though, is that the amount should be even, as odd numbers are considered unlucky for the Chinese. This is especially popular in weddings. Furthermore, the number eight is considered a lucky number and a symbol for prosperity. So the more there are eight's in the amount of money, the luckier the ang pao is believed to be.
Another custom followed is that older children are usually given more money as they have more expensive needs than younger ones.
Finally, to perfect the gift of ang pao, crispy bills are often placed inside. Aside from being more attractive, crispy bills also have this effect on people that makes them not want to spend the money. However, this is not a prerequisite. After all, crispy or not, money is still money, no matter what.
To Spend or Not to Spend
A common belief that surrounds the ang pao is that it should never be spent in order to keep the luck associated with it. Therefore, traditionally, the money is kept to maintain good fortune and well-wishes.
Imee Rose shares that she saves her ang paos in the bank. Those that she has not yet deposited are safely kept inside her drawer. She truly believes that ang paos bring luck, especially in her studies.
This belief, however, has evolved through the years. Some people are now open to the thought of spending the ang pao - at least as a last resort. Pong says that he does not want to spend the money, especially the crispy bills. Nonetheless, he is willing to use them when the need arises.
Traditions in the Mainland
An age-old tradition that seems unique to the Mainland Chinese even today is the hanging of ang paos on the branches on plants each New Year. This, for them, symbolizes welcoming the New Year with good luck.
Merle shares, "It has already become a part of our lives. We do it every year. But the ang paos do not have to contain money. As long as they are hanging, that is already enough."
A variation of this tradition involves married couples visiting their close friends' houses to distribute ang paos to the kids and to wish them good luck in the coming year by saying what would be the equivalent of "let bygones be bygones."
Ordinarily Extraordinary
"The joy reflected in the eyes of kids is enough," Moret shares. " Sometimes, even after all these years, it still amazes me how such a small thing as an ang pao could possibly make so many people, Chinese or not, happy."
After all these years, even if all ang paos come in no other color than red and with nothing but money in them, and even if it lacks the element of surprise since everyone already knows what it contains, the tradition still manages to remain special and inimitable.
Maybe it is because money is still very important after all these years. Or maybe, it is because for the Chinese, the thought matters so much more than the actual amount inside the red packet. It is the thought that someone remembered and someone cared enough to wish you good luck on occasions such as Chinese New Year's Eve. And sometimes, these well wishes are all that is needed to light the Chinese New year's Eve skies with colorful fireworks that signal the start of a wonderful year ahead./LOE
(March 22, 2006 issue)
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