Printable Happy Fat Year Envelopes
04 February 2019
The Year of the Pig is here in 2019 and, as always, Chinese New Year is a time of family gatherings with great tasting food, full of colour, traditional lion dances, live music and a whole lot of dragons. I remember when I was a kid, I’d always look forward to receiving lai see (lucky money) off family adults and seeing how much I’d get and feeling excited about getting a new set of clothes to wear on the actual big day.
Lai See envelopes known as ‘red packets’/‘lai see’/‘hongbao’, in Chinese, means to spread good luck and health and to keep the bad spirits away. They’re often given to children and young people during the Lunar New Year to wish them good luck. Chinese people believe the more luck you give to others, the more luck you receive.
Today, I’m sharing an easy DIY piggy lai see envelope tutorial. Print out the design, colour in and construct your envelope and write your own personal greeting on the front, or I’ve included a coloured Missie Cindz version too for you to print out and make up. Use them to gift money, hold a tiny note of good thoughts, or why not fill with chocolate golden coins – the possibilities are endless!
Download the ‘colour in’ envelope template here, print onto good quality paper, cut around the solid lines and fold on the dotted lines. Place double-sided tape where the flaps overlap and press it into place.
Download the coloured envelope template here.
Giving lai see envelopes are a great way to send good wishes and luck and even if you don’t celebrate Chinese New Year, making these envelopes are a great way to learn about Chinese culture.
{First photo by Katrina Tang}
Missie Cindz
