Family spring festival and "red bag"

It is December again. American people are excited about the coming Charismas after the thanksgiving break. I was influenced by the happiness and feel in love with the beautiful ornament, and to decorate my room as much as I can. After I finished all the work, I suddenly felt lonely. I was thinking about my parents in China and missing the new year holiday which we celebrated every year. I want to see my grandparent, aunts and sisters.

Then I though the spring festival. It is the most important festival every year in my life. I want to eat dumpling, stay with my big family, look at the videos and eat until another year begin (with moon calendar). When the peal of temple bell start, we do firework together with all the family members. At that time, the sky turns white in every second because all the families in the same district do firework at the same time. They are lovely days.

For me, one of the most important things are getting “red bag” from eldership. It is a red paper bag contain some of the money from elder family member to young members who are lower than 18. As a young child in the family, “red bag” is the main source to get pocket money of a whole year.

The origin of this tradition has many legends. There is one of the interesting story which is wildly spread: long time ago, in ancient times, there was a sprite called “sui”, its body was black and the hands were white. Every new year’s Eve, it came out and harmed small kids. When the kid’s head were touched by its hand for three times, the kids were horrified and would scream and cry. At the second day, they got sick. The kids would finally cured after several days, however, they became fool. Elders were afraid of this condition, therefore, they turned on the light for a whole night and sit next to the kid to avoid “sui” went to touch their kids.

One of a family used to protect their kids by using the “red bag”, which also called “ya sui qian”. The name means the money used to suppress “sui”. In order to avoid “sui”, they asked their kid to play during the night. They gave her 8 copper coins and a red bag, and then the kid put the coins into the bag and got them out for the night. After the kid was tired, the parents put the coin next to the pillow when she was sleeping and sit on the bed without sleepy. At the mid night, “sui” came in and wants to touch the kid. Nevertheless, at the time it touched the head; blazing light came out next to the pillow. “Sui” was horrified and then run away. These parents told other family what happened in the previous day, then every family knew how to protect kids and “sui” never came again. People believed, the eight coins were changed by the Eight Immortals. When “sui” came out, they protected kids. Therefore, people called these coins as “ya sui qian”, which to suppress “sui”. Nowadays, “ya sui qian” is also called “red bag”, it contains the blessing of children from the elder.