I am concerned about a Chinese New Year advertisement posted at MRT stations.
While the advert has an introduction on the meaning of red packets (ang pow), which is educational, the image on the advert is of a grim-faced celebrity who received $2 in his red packet and of two children mocking him.
Traditionally, the Chinese believed that giving children money in red packets brings them luck and keeps away bad events, since they have a long life ahead of them. From this perspective, giving red packets during Chinese New Year is necessary.
It encourages children to be good in the coming year and teaches them to be respectful to their elders, since they would be given the red packet after wishing their elders. Does the monetary value in the red packet matter?
To some families who can hardly make ends meet, $2 might be all they can afford. Giving a red packet is a kind gesture. Are we encouraging the younger generation to mock the monetary value inside when it does not live up to expectations?
We should perhaps start educating our children to look instead at the number of red packets received. Let us count our blessings.
While the advert has an introduction on the meaning of red packets (ang pow), which is educational, the image on the advert is of a grim-faced celebrity who received $2 in his red packet and of two children mocking him.
Traditionally, the Chinese believed that giving children money in red packets brings them luck and keeps away bad events, since they have a long life ahead of them. From this perspective, giving red packets during Chinese New Year is necessary.
It encourages children to be good in the coming year and teaches them to be respectful to their elders, since they would be given the red packet after wishing their elders. Does the monetary value in the red packet matter?
To some families who can hardly make ends meet, $2 might be all they can afford. Giving a red packet is a kind gesture. Are we encouraging the younger generation to mock the monetary value inside when it does not live up to expectations?
We should perhaps start educating our children to look instead at the number of red packets received. Let us count our blessings.
