尽管在过去的一年里，经济危机肆虐全球，但春节期间孩子们给长辈拜年时，还是收到了不少压岁钱。

根据中国传统习俗，在春节期间，晚辈给长辈拜年时，会收到长辈赐予的压岁钱。“岁”字谐音为“祟”；“压岁”也称为“压祟”，寓意祛邪避祸（protect youngsters from ill luck）。给压岁钱的习俗从汉代就开始流传了，压岁钱通常包在红纸（信封）中，寄予了长辈对晚辈的爱护和期盼。

“压岁钱”是农历新年特有的习俗，常见的译法有“gift money”或“red envelope money”等；麻烦一点，还可以译为“lucky money in red envelopes”或“red wrappings of pocket money”。

“压岁钱”的传统寓意虽好，却也有一些弊端。作为给予的一方，不少人觉得过节期间经济压力过大，要么成为“节奴”，要么因为手头紧（tight budget）干脆做了“恐归族”（为节省春节期间的花销宁可不回家过年的人）。请看报道：

Due to the economic recession, Song has not made a lot of money recently, with his monthly salary dropping from 5,000 yuan ($732) to 3,000 yuan, squeezing his already tight budget. But according to local tradition, Song has to distribute gift money to children and old people in his big family.

—— Excerpt from Festival reunions too costly for young people

另一方面，在收钱的一方，这笔不大不小的财富也引起了不少烦恼。家长们既担心孩子大手大脚，又担心他们养成攀比之风。请看报道：

The 13-year-old receives a monthly allowance of about 500 yuan from his father. He has his own bank account, and all money he has received in red envelopes since he was 8, has gone into it.

—— Excerpt from Deep pockets

相关的说法还有：

Children enjoy the holiday more than anyone else, largely because they get red wrappings of pocket money from their parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Experts say the custom, at least 1,800 years old, conveys new year greetings and aims to protect youngsters from ill luck.

—— Excerpt from Dos and don'ts for Chinese Lunar New Year

        The ongoing financial crisis gives us an opportunity to educate our children how to rationally use the money given by seniors as gift during Spring Festival, says an article on the website www.jxcn.cn.

—— Excerpt from How kids can use yasuiqian

        The red envelope money, or yasui qian (Lunar New Year money) in Chinese, is an ancient tradition dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD).

It is given to the children and family elders on the Lunar New Year's Eve. Ya means to press or push away and qian means money. Sui conveys different meanings depending on the recipient.

When it is given to children, sui refers to evil deities or ghosts and the money is used to press or push them back to protect the children. It was once said that children could use this money to bribe the demons to stay away.

When it is given to elders, sui indicates age and the money is used to push back the years and aging, carrying the hope for longevity.

—— Excerpt from Red envelopes - the smart money