Why do we put New Year’s money under our pillows? How long should you keep the New Year’s money under your pillow?

Why do we put New Year’s money under our pillows? How long should you keep the New Year’s money under your pillow?
Why do we put New Year’s money under our pillows? How long should you keep the New Year’s money under your pillow? New Year’s money is one of the customs of the Spring Festival. After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the elders will distribute the New Year’s money prepared in advance to the younger generations. The younger generations can spend a year in peace with the New Year’s money. If you want to know more related content, please search in the 2019 Chinese New Year special topic carefully compiled by Shuimoxiansheng.com!

Why do we put New Year’s money under our pillows?

It is said that this is because lucky money can drive away ghosts and evil spirits. On New Year's Eve, the ghosts from the underworld come to the world of the living to eat soup and rice. In order to prevent children from being disturbed by the ghosts, people put lucky money under their pillows after they go to bed. There is a legend behind this custom. Legend has it that in ancient times there was a little demon called "Suishi", which came out to harm people on New Year's Eve every year. If it touched the head of a sleeping child with its hand, the smart and clever child would turn into a crazy fool. People were afraid that evil spirits would harm their children, so they would light the lights and sit up all night without sleeping, which was called "guarding against evil spirits." There was a couple who had a son in their old age and regarded him as the apple of their eye. On New Year’s Eve, they played with their children for fear that evil spirits would harm them. The child wrapped eight copper coins in red paper, unwrapped and rewrapped them, and played with them until he went to bed. He then placed the eight copper coins next to his pillow. The couple stayed by their child's side all night long. In the middle of the night, a strong wind blew open the door and blew out the lights. When the evil spirit touched the child's head, a bright light suddenly appeared beside the child's pillow. The evil spirit quickly retracted his hand and ran away screaming. The Guan couple told everyone how they scared away the evil spirit by wrapping eight copper coins in red paper. Everyone also learned to wrap eight copper coins in red paper and give them to the children to put next to their pillows after the New Year’s Eve dinner. Sure enough, the evil spirit never dared to harm the children again. Therefore, people call this money "money to ward off evil spirits". "祟" is homophonic with "岁", and as time goes by, it has become called "lucky money".

How long should you keep the New Year’s money under your pillow?

The custom of giving New Year's Eve gifts to children began in the Song Dynasty. By the Qing Dynasty, this custom reached its peak. The custom of giving "lucky money" expresses the elders' blessings to the younger generations and their hopes for their children and grandchildren. Relatives and friends usually give New Year's money to younger generations before New Year's Eve, while the elders in the family give New Year's money to their children and grandchildren after the New Year's Eve dinner. Some give it to children, and some put it under the children's pillows after they fall asleep. The longer the New Year's money stays under your pillow, the better. New Year’s money can not only bless children’s healthy growth, but also has the meaning of making money when placed under the pillow. Although money is something outside of one's body, in today's society, many things cannot be accomplished without money. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep the New Year's money under your pillow to bless yourself with a lot of wealth. Besides, it's not a big deal to spend this little money, and it's good to keep it for festive occasion.

Besides giving out lucky money, what other customs are there during the Spring Festival?

Staying up all night <br /> Staying up all night is the custom of staying up all night on the last night of the old year (i.e. New Year's Eve) to welcome the arrival of the new year. It is also called staying up all night on New Year's Eve, commonly known as "staying up all night". "One night connects two years, and the fifth watch divides two years." People light candles or oil lamps and keep vigil all night, symbolizing the driving away of all evil plagues and diseases, and looking forward to a prosperous new year.
Opening Cannon <br /> In the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, people get up at daybreak. The first thing every household does is to rush to fire the "opening cannon". The gongs are struck at three o'clock in the morning, and the cannons are fired continuously, which means good luck in opening the door and also announces the beginning of the new year. It is said that the louder the firecrackers are, the better the new year will be. The whole city is filled with the sound of firecrackers, symbolizing bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new and bringing in blessings, commonly known as "Jie Nian".
New Year's greetings <br /> It is a traditional custom among Chinese people, a way for people to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and express good wishes to each other. In ancient times, the original meaning of the word "New Year's greetings" was to congratulate the elders on the New Year, including kowtowing to the elders, wishing them a happy New Year, and asking about their well-being. When meeting friends and relatives of the same generation, one should also bow and congratulate them.

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