For nearly 40 years, Panda Express has invited customers to celebrate the Lunar New Year with good food and good fortune. To continue the tradition, the Chinese restaurant chain is handing out more than one million red envelopes in 2022.

good wishes and luck These are filled with money - and symbolize good wishes and luck for the new year ahead. The importance of the hóngbāo isn't the cash held inside; it's actually the envelope itself. The red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity in Chinese (and other East Asian) cultures.

Red envelopes, more commonly known as Hong Bao (in Mandarin) or Lai See (in Cantonese), are gifts presented at social and family gatherings such as weddings or holidays such as Chinese New Year. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is a symbol to ward off evil spirits.

People usually use different red envelopes for different occasions. For Chinese New Year, use red envelopes featuring Chinese characters such as福 (fú, meaning 'good luck and blessings'), 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, meaning 'happiness and prosperity'), and 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián kuàilè, meaning 'happy New Year').

Traditionally, giant pandas have represented peace and friendship and match flawlessly with Chinese values and worldview.

2000. The Zoo's second pair of giant pandas, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN), arrived in Washington, D.C. Dec. 6. An agreement reached with the Chinese government stipulated the pair would live at the Zoo for 10 years in exchange for $10 million.

The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture. The amount of money put in the envelope varies depending on the relationship to the deceased but must be in odd numbers. The money is meant to help the family pay for the funeral.

Typically, only married folks give out red envelopes, though unmarried people can also do so if they are feeling particularly generous. The amount of money in a red envelope can vary from as little as $2 to hundreds of dollars.

Technically, all unmarried children get hong paos during Chinese New Year. The red envelopes are given by grandma, grandpa, uncles, aunts, mom and dad of course. Also it is not uncommon for close friends and neighbors to give red envelopes to children during the festivities.

In China, red is auspicious - associated with life-generating energy (the sun, blood, and fire) - and is the color of celebrations and prosperity.

The panda is a national emblem of China. They are endangered. A national campaign seeks to save the endearing animals and is represented by the... Beijing Panda House.

It was said that originally pandas were all white. Then one day a shepherdess was out with her sheep when she saw a panda being attacked by a tiger. She grabbed a stick and attacked the tiger, which allowed the panda to escape from its jaws. Unfortunately the beautiful shepherdess was then killed by the tiger.