盡管在過去的一年里，經濟危機肆虐全球，但春節期間孩子們給長輩拜年時，還是收到了不少壓歲錢。

根據中國傳統習俗，在春節期間，晚輩給長輩拜年時，會收到長輩賜予的壓歲錢。“歲”字諧音為“祟”；“壓歲”也稱為“壓祟”，寓意祛邪避禍（protect youngsters from ill luck）。給壓歲錢的習俗從漢代就開始流傳了，壓歲錢通常包在紅紙（信封）中，寄予了長輩對晚輩的愛護和期盼。

“壓歲錢”是農歷新年特有的習俗，常見的譯法有“gift money”或“red envelope money”等；麻煩一點，還可以譯為“lucky money in red envelopes”或“red wrappings of pocket money”。

“壓歲錢”的傳統寓意雖好，卻也有一些弊端。作為給予的一方，不少人覺得過節期間經濟壓力過大，要么成為“節奴”，要么因為手頭緊（tight budget）干脆做了“恐歸族”（為節省春節期間的花銷寧可不回家過年的人）。請看報道：

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，在收錢的一方，這筆不大不小的財富也引起了不少煩惱。家長們既擔心孩子大手大腳，又擔心他們養成攀比之風。請看報道：

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

相關的說法還有：

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