One of the most endearing moments during my visit with family back in Hong Kong last month was when I stepped into my bedroom, opened the one drawer loaded with cards and keys, and spotted two little Chinese red envelopes (红包).
“Lai See!” (利是) I burst out in disbelief.
I gently squeezed these slighted stuffed envelopes, trying to feel if they contained what I secretly hoped they do.
“Yes!”
I stuck my fingers inside one of them, and pulled on a $100 (HK dollar) bill. The other envelope? Another $100 (HK dollar) note inside.
“Wow,” I murmured – I was instantly touched. “Who gave me these ‘lai-see’? It must be the aunties,” I mumbled to myself.
These red envelopes, or “red packets” (红包), containing what’s popularly known as “lucky money,” are usually bestowed upon young children or singles by the married members of the family during Chinese New Year. They’re meant as goodwill gifts from friends and family for those who have yet to grow up or get married.
It’s traditional Chinese customary practice for family members who are married (the adults) – to wish the unmarried (the kids) well with such “lucky money.” The unspoken wish behind such a gift seems to be “good luck, get married! So next year – you’d be giving lucky money yourself!” Actually, I have heard such greetings spoken directly to my face, and they’re usually uttered with good cheer and gusto!
When I was young, these red packets made me feel the pressure to grow up, get married, make money to become a financially independent woman. Now that I’ve not only grown up, gone abroad, but also have come back regularly to visit my loved ones, I somehow get a very different message this time – it reads “Welcome home, you’re still part of the family.”
上个月，当我回到香港与家人团聚，最让我欣喜的是，当我步入我的卧室，打开那个装着卡片和钥匙的抽屉，我看到了两个小的中国红包。
“利是！”我惊讶地叫出声来（利是在广东话中是幸运钱的意思）。
我用手轻轻拿捏着这些装着很少东西的信封，想要感觉它们是不是装着我暗暗期望的物品。
“是！”
我把手指伸进其中一个，然后抽出了一张100元的港币。另一个红包？另一张100元港币。
“呀，”我嘟囔道，我一下子就被感动了。“谁给了我这些利是？一定是阿姨们，”我低声对自己说。
这些红包装着大家公认的幸运钱，通常是在中国春节的时候，由已婚的家庭成员赠给孩子们或家庭里的未婚成员。它们是一份来自朋友或家庭、表示友好的礼物，给那些成长中或期待婚姻的人。
这是一个中国传统习俗，家庭里已婚的成年人用这些幸运钱来向未婚的孩子们表示祝福。这个礼物背后的含义似乎是“祝你好运，希望你结婚！而明年，你就是送红包的那个人！”事实上，我听人当面跟我说过这些祝愿的话，通常伴着欢呼和热情！
小的时候，这些红包使我感到一种压力去成长、结婚、赚钱而成为一个经济独立的女人。现在我不仅已经长大、出了国，还经常回来看望我爱的家人，不知为何，这次我从中得到一个不同的信息：“欢迎回家，你永远是家庭的一员。”