Notes

A long, long time ago a ferocious monster named "Nian". At the end of the year, it would terrorize the villagers. So, every New Year's Eve, the villagers would shut all the windows and doors to protect themselves.
One year, around new years eve, a beggar came into the village. Everyone was hiding in their houses, so there was no one to welcome the old man, except for an elderly woman.
The elderly woman gave the beggar some food and warned the man of the threat of the Nian, telling the man to flee before the monster came.
The beggar said to decorate the walls with red paper and light firecrackers to scare away the monster
The next day, the villagers return, to find the city safe, all thanks to the beggar’s advice
The villagers since have decorated their city in red and made lots of noise every year to scare away the Nian.

The story of the red envelop:
A long, long time ago, there was a monster that roamed the city at night every year.
When it came upon children, it would touch the children's forehead three times and curse the child with illness and fever.
There was an elderly couple who was very lucky to have a child at such age and were very protective of their child.
In order to protect their child from the monster, the parents let their child play with coins every night, and protected him while sleeping.
They put the eight coins into a red envelop and placed it under the child's pillow. It became very late, and the couple fell asleep.
When the monster came, just as he was reaching for the child's forehead, the coins in the envelop blinding the monster and the monster ran away to never be seen again.
Since then, giving coins/money to children to protect them from the monster became a tradition.

The history of the red envelopes:
Token (Han Dynasty)
Medal token held close to the body, given in hopes of prosperity and longevity for the receiver.
Sprinkled Coins (Tang Dynasty)
During festivals, money would be sprinkled around for children.
It became a custom on the 100th birthday of a baby to give the money
Stringed Coins (Ming and Qing Dynasty)
Coins would be strung through a red string and given to children, who could hang it on their bodies and use the money to buy things.
Red Envelop (Today)
Now, people put money into red envelopes to give to others.
There is even the option of giving red envelopes digitally today.

Red Envelop Culture:
1. Not only for new years; can be given for birthdays, weddings, newborns, graduations, new jobs, new houses
2. Given for sympathy: given to people who are sick, injured, or terminally ill
3. Given in gratitude: to give thanks for someone helping you
4. Given for performers (encouragement)
It is a social taboo to give red envelopes in times of mourning. Instead, one should give a WHITE envelope

Red Envelop Etiquette:
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