Why write 999 on the red envelope?

Ninety-nine represents a long time. Or a hundred, watches have a long life.

Red envelopes; Red paper containing money as gifts, bribes or kickbacks; red envelope; red paper containing money as a gift, bribe or kickback;?red packet

Traditional red envelopes, also called lucky money, are money wrapped in red paper by elders for children during the Lunar New Year. It is said that during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, most lucky money was given to children with red ropes.

After the Republic of China, it was wrapped in red paper. Nowadays, it generally refers to a red paper bag wrapped with money as a gift for celebrations, and also refers to bribing others' money. In Cantonese-speaking area of China, red envelopes are called "giving profits", which are gifts made by putting money in red envelopes.

The origin of red envelopes

The source of red envelopes

During the Spring Festival, the red envelopes given by elders to the younger generation after 0: 00 on New Year's Eve are called lucky money. Lucky money, also known as lucky money, is unlucky. The ancients used this custom to show that nothing unlucky should happen in the coming year. )。

Lucky money is a traditional custom of Han nationality. Generally speaking, during the countdown to the Chinese New Year, the elders put money in red envelopes for the younger generation. Lucky money has a good meaning. It is generally believed that it can ward off evil spirits and keep peace. It is said that lucky money can kill evil spirits, and the younger generation can spend the first year safely when they get lucky money.

Every Spring Festival, there is a custom of giving red envelopes. In some areas, married people will give red envelopes to unmarried relatives and friends. The habit of giving red envelopes generally exists only between close relatives and friends.

In some areas, New Year's red envelopes are widely distributed. For example, younger neighbors and colleagues who have ordinary friendship can distribute red envelopes, but the amount in such red envelopes is often relatively small, and the size of red envelopes often represents auspicious meanings such as 8 yuan, 18 yuan (to be distributed).

In developed industrial areas, the company will issue "red envelopes for starting work" to all employees during the Spring Festival.

In most parts of China, many people are used to making red envelopes with newly printed paper money, which is not only elegant, but also implies going to the old and welcoming the new. Therefore, before the Spring Festival every year, the cash withdrawal of many banks will surge. Banknote printing plants will also be under pressure to print new banknotes. Environmental experts believe that this habit is not conducive to low-carbon environmental protection.

In a foreign country, some friends of other nationalities who have contacts with China people do as the Romans do with the traditional national culture of red envelopes in China, so do ordinary people, communities and companies. Besides the Spring Festival, there are customs of giving red envelopes on other festive occasions, such as weddings and the opening of new stores. However, compared with the red envelopes issued during the Spring Festival, the amount of red envelopes for wedding gifts is often very expensive!

Legend of red envelopes

There are two kinds of red envelopes. One is to weave colored ropes into dragons and put them at the foot of the bed. This record can be found in Yanjing year. The other is the most common, that is, parents wrap the money distributed to their children in red paper. Lucky money can be given in public after the younger generation pays New Year's greetings, or it can be quietly put under the child's pillow by parents when the child falls asleep on New Year's Eve!

Folk believe that giving children lucky money means that when evil spirits or "Nian" hurt children, children can use the money to bribe them and turn evil into good luck. In addition, there is a veritable lucky money, which is given to the elderly by the younger generation. "Years old" means years old, years old and years old, and it is intended to expect the elderly to live a long life.

There is a widely circulated legend about lucky money. In ancient times, there was a little demon named Chong. On New Year's Eve, he came out and touched the head of a sleeping child. The child often cried with fear, and then he had a headache and became a fool. Therefore, on this day, every family will turn on the lights and stay up late, which is called "keeping special".

There was a couple who had a son in their later years and regarded him as their favorite. On New Year's Eve, they were afraid that "worship" would harm their children, so they took out eight copper coins to play with them. The children fell asleep when they were tired of playing, so they wrapped eight coppers in red paper and put them under their pillows. The couple didn't dare to sleep and fell asleep unconsciously.

In the middle of the night, "Chong" turned into an evil wind and blew out the lights. As soon as Chong was ready to reach out and touch the child's head, a generation flashed on the pillow, allowing Chong to run away. The next day, the couple told everyone about wrapping eight copper coins in red paper to scare them away. After that, everyone learned, and the children were safe. ?

Another theory originated from the ancient "shocking the world". It is said that there was a fierce beast called Nian in ancient times, which would come out every 365 days to hurt people, animals and crops. Children are afraid, but adults use the sound of burning bamboo to drive away Nian and comfort children with food. This is "earthquake suppression"!

Over the years, it turned into money instead of grain. In the Song Dynasty, there was a "scare of money". According to historical records, Wang Shaozi was carried away by bad people in Nanxun and exclaimed on the way. Unexpectedly, he was saved by the imperial car, and Song Shenzong gave him "golden rhinoceros money". Only later will it develop into a "lucky money"!

Refer to the above? Baidu encyclopedia-red envelope