Amid pandemic, Lunar New Year envelopes go cashless
LOS ANGELES — As he entered Hong Kong Supermarket, Sam Lin scanned text messages from his wife instructing him how many red envelopes to buy.
Three dozen, she wrote — and make them large enough to fit checks rather than folded wads of cash.
Lin’s nephews, nieces and in-laws will not have the thrill of pulling crisp bills out of their red Lunar New Year good luck envelopes when the Year of the Ox begins Friday.
Normally, Lin goes to his credit union weeks ahead of the holiday to preorder new bills — a total of $900 to $1,000 for the kids and elders in his extended family. But with the possibility that the coronavirus could be lurking on $20 or $100 bills, Lin is one of many Asian Americans forgoing traditional cash to ring in the festivities.
The pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 474,000 people in the United States, has altered age-old customs, as it has so much else. Many families will not be getting together over lavish spreads that may include dumplings, sticky rice cakes, whole fish, spring rolls or longevity noodles.
This year, red envelopes, often emblazoned with well wishes in Chinese characters or fortuitous symbols like peaches and fish, may contain checks or candy instead of cash. Some people are sending money through online services to avoid touching anything.
Others are opting for virtual envelopes — a marriage of e-cards and Venmo — which erupt in a riot of colors and New Year’s greetings while allowing the recipient to redeem money.
Family members who receive red envelopes are generally those who need to be taken care of or thanked, including kids, parents and grandparents. Some Asian Americans also give red envelopes to hairdressers, neighbors, mail carriers and mechanics.
“I think we all have to think of ideas this season,” said Lin, a Los Angeles-area businessman in his late 50s who was born in Taiwan.
In Irvine, Kat Nguyen-De Angelis is being ultracareful about the coronavirus. Besides her husband and 4-year-old son, no one else has set foot in her condominium since the pandemic started.
Standing in a long line to ask a bank teller for a large amount of cash, even when double-masked, is not a risk she wants to take.
But doling out money to family members across generations is not optional. The turning of the calendar is a time of generosity, renewal and setting off on the right foot by shying from arguments.
“Of course, the kids prefer seeing — and counting — real money. That’s the highlight,” said Nguyen-De Angelis, 42, a public relations consultant who is Vietnamese American. “But what about all the germs?”
Her solution: tucking fish sauce caramels she discovered on the Internet into shiny red and gold envelopes, along with Lotto scratchers for adults. Youngsters will still get a few bills, to have the excitement of pulling out real money. She will drop some envelopes off in person and mail others.