Every year around this time there’s a debate in the ayi WeChat groups about whether we should prepare a hongbao for ayi for Chinese New Year (regardless of whether we celebrate it or not) and how much to put in it. Why is it such a hot topic? For most ayis, the CNY hongbao is the equivalent to their annual bonus and something they really look forward to each year.
In the past we’ve given our readers specific examples from longtime Beijing expats, as well as examples from other Asian countries. This year, we went straight to the source – you!
Here’s what the community had to say about just how much to stuff in each person’s hongbao.
Finally, when I was little CNY was THE holiday to rake in a ton of extra spending money. Family members and visiting friends each had hongbao for all the kids, and collecting the different envelopes and planning all the cool things you can buy with your newly found fortune was part of the festive fun. While it’s not mandatory to give every kid you see on the street a hongbao, it’s one of my parents’ CNY hacks that I’ve picked up over the years – always pack a few extra hongbao in your pocket at all times. Very often people will forget to RSVP their kids when attending dinners, especially at homes. It takes a fraction of a minute to pack a few extra hongbao, and it’s definitely worth it not having to witness the sadness in a little kid’s eyes as they wonder why they’re not special enough to receive some holiday cheer.
Images: Pexels, jingkids
