Happy Chinese New Year!
Many who celebrate the holiday today will be presented with an envelope containing crisp, new cash.
The envelope is always red – representing good luck in the Chinese culture – and legend dictates who gives and who receives the envelope as well as stipulating the denominations of cash inside. For example, money should not be divisible by four or contain four in the amount (as four is phonetically connected with the word for death), and when given in celebration, the amount ends in an even number.
The red envelope is steeped in tradition, and some variation of the practice has occurred since coins were tied together with red string in B.C. However, the practice has evolved and now red envelopes are sent electronically through mobile payment apps. It is estimated that 100 billion virtual envelopes were sent for Chinese New Year 2017!
From red string around coins to coins in red bags under pillows to ward off evil spirits to red envelopes and paper money, and now to mobile apps — the sentiment has remained even though the delivery system has been updated. How can your organization take a lesson from the red envelope practice and make adaptations to meet the changing times? Doing so may bestow you with the good fortune needed to have a happy new year.
Source: Wikipedia
