Red envelope

With cash inside, the red envelope is a present on most traditional or modern festive occasions such as someone's birthday, a family moving into a new home, a wedding, a one month-old newborn's celebration and a student passing the national university entrance examination. While some people seal the red envelope at ease, some do it reluctantly. Lu Xun, a famous writer in the 1930s, once wrote :"People with whom I seldom speak give me a red note printed with 'treacherous hints' such as 'for a sister's wedding' or 'for the wedding of my son', 'we are honored by your presence' or 'we are expecting your grace'. I feel uneasy if don't spend some money on such occasions. But I don't quite like it."
Even though one does not like it, people still get such invitations for various occasions. Bringing red envelope to others' banquets, some people would expect receiving others' red envelopes at their own banquets. This is a red envelope economy in the country. Upon the Spring Festival, the elderly people often give the children red envelopes in the hope of an auspicious new year. But for other times, the exchange of red envelope is done commercially.