A Chinese Christmas Gift
I just wanted to share with you an odd little Chinese Christmas (OK, actually Spring Festival) gift I found. As you probably know Chinese people tend to give money in red envelopes as gifts. Well, someone realized that there is no middle man cashing in on this idea, and figured out a way to sell money at a higher cost. They have paired up crisp new RMB 100 bills with special envelopes that are specifically printed to match your money. To emphasize the point it has the serial number of the bill printed inside the letter. You can just take a look below since my description is not that enlightening. I’m not sure what the added value is, but my Chinese friend couldn’t explain it either but nonetheless bought his father one. added cost: 30 kuai.
Lisa responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2007 at 5:01 am →
Hey Josh - I came upon your blog as I was doing some research on teaching in China. I was wondering if one Brooklynite could help another.
There ae just so many organizations and programs to choose from and I don’t know anyone who has participated in any of them so I was wondering if you might be able to recommend a few. Also - what did you think of Chengdu? There was a program that was located there but I don’t know much about any of the other cities in China (besides Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Nanjing..). I’ll be doing my own research, of course, but it would be really helpful to some real insight. Thanks in advance!
Richard responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2007 at 7:20 am →
Brilliant! The Chinese pet rock!
Yuefei responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am →
I ran into these too; the post office in front of Tim’s BBQ in Beijing is selling these. I might be an American, but I think we should take a lesson from the Chinese here and start giving cash for the holidays! If anyone from my family is reading this, please try for RMB notes this year. These are preferable to greenbacks.
Josh responds:
Posted: December 12th, 2007 at 9:20 am →
A reader pointed out that part of the appeal of this gift is giving it to people who were born in the year of the rat, since that’s what 2008 is. I guess it shows you that foreigners still miss obvious aspects of Chinese culture.
Zhongguoist responds:
Posted: January 17th, 2008 at 11:52 am →
Yuefei, for people who I am close to I hate the idea of giving cash for the holidays. I was explaining this to some chinese people on a train how cash is a bit impersonal. If someone gave me cash I might end up saving it while if someone bought me a present that I really wanted but thought was too much to buy for myself, I’d be really happy. It feels a bit almost vulgar giving money as a present. I can’t really explain it properly.
My sister was born Year of the Rat but all my Chinese friends have been saying to me that your birth year is really unlucky for you. It’s a bit weird as you’d think it’d be good luck for you but they sincerely insisted that it’s the worst year for you and you have to give someone red underwear(or Jade on a red string) to improve that person’s luck. And they can’t buy it themself.