WeChat: A Lifestyle App That Connects You to Chinese Culture
4 min readWeChat is more than a messaging and social media app – it is a lifestyle for over one billion users across the world.
Chat and make calls with friends, share your life’s favorite Moments, enjoy mobile payment features, and much more.
But did you know that WeChat also offers you a glimpse into the rich and diverse Chinese culture?
Here are some ways you can experience and learn about Chinese culture through WeChat.
Red Envelopes: A Symbol of Luck and Respect
One of the most popular features of WeChat is the ability to send and receive red envelopes (hongbao in Mandarin, lai see in Cantonese, and ang pow in Hokkien).
These are virtual packets of money that you can send to your contacts or groups as a way to express your good wishes, gratitude, or congratulations.
Red envelopes are a traditional gift for children or elderly people during Chinese New Year, birthdays, weddings, and other important occasions in China and some other Asian countries.
The color red symbolizes energy, happiness, and good luck in Chinese cultures. Traditional red envelopes are often decorated with beautiful Chinese calligraphy and symbols. Actually, the significance of red envelopes is the red paper, not the money inside. Wrapping lucky money in red envelopes translates to bestowing more happiness and blessings on the receivers.
The Legend
The custom of giving red envelopes originates from some of the oldest stories of Chinese New Year.
As the legend goes, there was a demon named Sui that came out to terrify children while they were asleep. To keep children safe from being harmed by Sui, parents would light candles and stay up for the whole night of Chinese New Year’s Eve.
One New Year’s Eve, a child was given eight coins to play with to keep him awake. The child wrapped the coins in red paper, opened the packet, rewrapped it, and reopened it until he was too tired to continue, and fell asleep. Then his parents placed the packet with eight coins under his pillow. When Sui tried to touch his head, the eight coins emitted a strong light and scared the demon away.
The eight coins turned out to be eight fairies. From then on, giving red envelopes became a way to keep children safe and bring good luck.
Source: Screenshot of WeChat App
With WeChat, you can send red envelopes anytime and anywhere to your friends and family. You can also join in the fun of grabbing red envelopes in group chats, where the sender can set a random amount for each recipient or a fixed amount for everyone. You can also customize your red envelopes with stickers, greetings, or voice messages.
Mini Programs: WeChat as a Gateway to Local Services
Another feature that makes WeChat stand out from other apps is its mini programs. These are small applications that run within WeChat without requiring installation or download. You can access them by scanning QR codes, searching keywords, or browsing categories.
Mini programs offer a variety of services that cater to your daily needs and interests. You can book a taxi, order food delivery, buy movie tickets, play games, shop online, check the weather, learn languages, and much more. Many of these mini programs are related to Chinese culture and offer you a chance to explore and enjoy it.
For example, you can use mini programs to learn about Chinese history, art, literature, music, cuisine, festivals, customs, etc. You can also use them to practice Chinese calligraphy, painting, chess, or martial arts.
You can even use them to experience some aspects of Chinese culture that are not easily accessible in real life, such as visiting famous landmarks, temples, museums, or gardens.
Source: Screenshot of Google Play Store
Channels: WeChat as a Platform for Content Creation
WeChat also has a feature called Channels that allows you to create and share short videos or photos with your followers or the public. You can also browse other users’ channels and discover content that interests you.
Channels is a great way to showcase your creativity and express yourself through various topics and genres. You can also use it to learn from others who share their knowledge and skills on different subjects.
One of the topics that you can find on Channels is Chinese culture. You can watch videos or photos that introduce you to various aspects of Chinese culture such as cuisine, fashion, music, dance, comedy, etc. You can also follow channels that teach you how to speak Chinese or how to do some traditional crafts or activities.
Conclusion
WeChat is not just an app – it is a lifestyle that connects you to Chinese culture. Whether you want to send red envelopes, use mini programs, or watch channels, you can find something that suits your taste and curiosity.
WeChat is a fun and easy way to learn about and appreciate the rich and diverse Chinese culture.
Want to give it a try and see for yourself?
You can download WeChat for free from the App Store or Google Play.
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@cashmeere
