Chinese couple praised for creating passes granting ‘mutual exemption’ from cash wedding gifts

October 13, 2022

A Chinese couple went viral for inventing “no money gift” passes for their wedding guests.

Traditionally, Chinese people hand out red envelopes containing gift money at special occasions such as weddings, funerals and birthday parties. The gift may vary from 50 yuan (approximately $7) to hundreds of dollars depending on one’s income and their relationship with the receiver.

However, the tradition has become controversial amid China’s drive towards frugality. The nation previously launched a frugality campaign to crack down on extravagant celebrations that have been deemed wasteful. The campaign targets the nation’s tradition of lavish rituals, extravagant monetary gifts and the perception that families need to keep up with neighbors and relatives.

As a way to simplify their wedding and decrease the financial burden for their guests, a couple invented “no money gift” passes, which were similarly placed in red envelopes, reported South China Morning Post.

The man, surnamed Chen, and the woman, surnamed Shi, got married last week in Zhejiang province. The pass they designed clears their guests of having to gift them money. In return, the couple may also use the “no money gift” pass when they attend their guests’ weddings in the future.

“In order not to create a burden for each other, my wife proposed the idea of mutual exemption from cash gifts,” Chen said. “We think that we have a perfect wedding. Everybody had fun and we received all their good wishes.”

“With this pass, there’s no need to gift money,” read the passes.

There were also other messages written on the passes, including “Friendship is priceless” and “We have received your good wishes.”

Although older guests insisted on following the nation’s monetary gift tradition, the couple were able to send out the passes to more than 20 friends and relatives of marrying age. Most of their guests praised their idea, with one person calling it “an invention of the 21st century,” according to Chen.

“It’s worth being promoted nationwide,” another guest said.

Featured Image via Samantha Gades

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