Red packets, a synonym for money in Chinese culture, originally referred to money sent to children on the first day of Lunar New Year. The money is called ya sui qian, or lucky money. In traditional Chinese culture, it was believed that children were vulnerable to evil spirits and children could use money to bribe those spirits to stay safe and live long. So people took giving children money as a blessing.

　　在中國文化中,，紅包和錢是同義詞，起初,，它是指新年第一天送給孩子的錢,。這種錢并稱為“壓歲錢”或者是幸運錢。中國傳統(tǒng)文化認為,，孩子很易受到惡靈的傷害,，孩子可以用這些錢賄賂這些惡靈，以保健康和長壽,。所以人們把給孩子錢當作一種祝福,。

　　The earliest lucky money appeared in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). During that period lucky money was not everyday currency but was made of coins pressed with auspicious characters and animals.

　　最早的幸運錢出現(xiàn)在漢朝。那時的幸運錢不是每天流通的貨幣,，而是由刻有吉祥漢字和動物的銀幣做成的,。

　　In the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), there were two kinds of "red packets". One had coins attached with red strings and was put at the foot of children’s beds. The other was more like modern red packets.

　　明清時期有兩種“紅包”。一種紅包是系有紅線的硬幣,，放在孩子的被窩里,。一種和現(xiàn)代的紅包更為詳細。

　　Later, red packets gradually became a means of giving money that could be sent to anyone, apart from children.

　　隨后,，除了孩子外,，紅包漸漸成為一種可以送給任何人錢的手段。

　　As Confucius’ idea of filial piety is still deeply rooted in Chinese people’s minds, people will also send red packets to their parents during Chinese New Year or on other special festivals and anniversaries.

　　由于孔子孝道的思想仍然深深根植于中國人的思想,。中國人在春節(jié)或者其他特殊節(jié)日和紀念日里,，仍會給父母紅包。(愛語吧)