Something on Ang Pow and Chinese New Year
Published by simon on January 23, 2006This coming year of is the year of the golden dog, so I’m told. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of the Chinese Zodiac, there are 12 animals. I’m not too familiar with the correct sequence, but the 12 are rooster, dog, rat, dragon, horse, tiger, goat, boar (the politically correct name), monkey, snake, ox and rabbit.
There are also 5 elementals in the mix – fire, water, gold, wind and metal. This goes together with the 12 animals, a good calendar will tell you which year it is.
I wrote a piece last year on how they decided on which 12 animals made the final cut, you can read it here.
These days, kids don’t really make a big deal about ang pows, I think back when we were smaller, it was a really big deal. Maybe its because kids these days get a big fat allowance every month, back then the red packet was the only source of income for us small kids.
Nowadays, I thinking the minimum going rate is RM2, I doubt you’ll find RM1 packets any more. So it’s RM2 for your friend’s children, RM5 for nephews and nieces (no matter how annoying they are) and RM10 above for your own children and grandchildren. Unmarried children above working age get nothing except a barrage of ‘When are you getting married?” questions.
Some years back an aunt of mine (who was loaded, by the way) used to give RM1.10 inside the pack. Yes I know, freaky. One touch and you can tell it was one ringgit bill and a coin. Who gives coins anymore?! I believe they did in my father’s time, but…
But anyway, I realize its not proper to rag about ang pows and Chinese New Year, its always to thought that counts and money isn’t everything in the world.
That and the fact I don’t qualify for it anymore. Well, at least I don’t get the barrage of ‘When are you getting married?” questions anymore…
Technorati Tags: Chinese Zodiac, ang pows, Chinese New Year
When it comes to ang pows I really feel its the thought that counts. I used to have some old aunties (who have since passed on) who don’t have much but yet still try to give us something every new year.
uncle simon i want ang pau..~~
Eh eh…Ang Pow is still a BIG deal for me k. It’s my only HUGE source of income that comes only once in a year! =P
pat - yep, i still remember my aunt used to give us these really old notes… hard times, man…
jayelle - you’ve been a good girl or not first?
S-kay - i dun suppose there’s many years left before you start giving out ang pow, eh?
Two priests and a rabbi were discussing what portion of the weekly collection they kept for themselves. The first priest explained that he drew a circle on the ground, stepped a few paces back and pitched the money towards the circle. What landed in the circle he kept and what landed outside the circle god kept.
The second priest claimed that his method was almost the same, except that what landed outside the circle went to the priest and the money that landed inside the circle god kept.
The rabbi said, “I’ve got you both beat. I throw the money into the air and what god wants, god takes.”
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