Ang Pows
I used to love Chinese New Year – apart from the cookies, the other main attraction is the receiving/ giving of ang pows. I used to collect them and faithfully hand it over to my mum for her safe keeping. We would count the amount on the 15th day of CNY and then bank it in days after that. I also used to shamelessly collect on behalf of my brother when he is not by my side when relatives/ friends hand out ang pows. And, no, I will not just keep it, I do hand it to him.
Now that I am much older, and married, it is my turn to hand out the lovely ang pows to friends and relatives. Ang pows, or red packets, have traditionally been handed out during special occasions such as CNY and weddings. It is supposed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
As opposed to before I was married, handing out money does present its own joy and satisfaction. While receiving it means that you will have more spare cash to spend, giving money to me means that there is joy in sharing the special celebration. After all, do we know anyone who does not like to receive money? Anybody who receives money will surely smile to us, it is like the good fortune smiling upon us. That itself gives me joy – to see the smile on someone’s face. It is true what they say – there is indeed joy in giving. The content will differ though - family receives the most of course followed by relations and close friends to acquaintances.
This year, with the addition to the family, my little girl will also receive her very own ang pows. Come the 15th day of the lunar month, I will go open a savings account for her and deposit all the ang pows collected into it. The savings account may not provide great interest rates, but it is more like an accumulation account till the amount is significant enough for other investments. It is also a good experience for the child (once he/ she is old enough) to see the money deposited. I believe it will help them understand more about money and what it does.
So what would you do with the extra money from the ang pows?
