Hung Pao

KLue word of the month - Hung Pao.
Noun, during the chinese lunar new year,
a red envelope containing a surprisingly large amount of money;
an unexpectdly prosperous ang pao.

During the Lunar new year,
the twin cultural obsesions of the Chinese - the colour red,
and number of fisal persuasion - manifest in the ang pao,
a crimson pocket containing cash.

The ang pao functions as a measure of prosperity;
One learns to evaluate one's uncles and aunts according to how much they give.
Familial hierarchy is thus re-established every year.

With the economy in the shape it is today, ang pao are unfortunately rare. Still, one lives in hope of a RM1,000 windfall.