Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

A short video from the Shunde district in Foshan city, South China's Guangdong Province, has recently taken Chinese social media by storm. The video shows a bride in a small wedding hall taking a small act that challenges a deeply ingrained Chinese tradition: As guests hand her red envelopes stuffed with cash, she simply folds one corner and hands them back, smiling warmly.

The simple act of folding the corner of a red envelope, symbolically accepting the goodwill but refusing the cash, has struck a chord with many Chinese netizens who say such a warm move deserves to be promoted nationwide.

This practice represents a growing movement to unshackle Chinese weddings from financial stress and return to what truly matters: genuine human connection.

This "corner-folded red envelope" practice reflects China's broader effort to deal with financial pressures in marriage customs. 

In China, giving red envelopes containing money during weddings and other celebrations, or "hongbao" as they are known in Chinese, is a long-time tradition symbolizing good wishes and shared happiness. 

Similarly, the bride price, or "caili," money or gifts given from the groom's family to the bride's, has long been part of wedding customs.

However, these traditions have warped into sources of significant financial pressure to many people. What was once a symbolic gesture has, in some cases, transformed into a financial benchmark for relationships.

As one Chinese netizen commented online, "In our area, you still have to give red envelope money at weddings," noting that the going rate is "generally at least 200 yuan ($28), and for closer relationships, it can be over 1,000 yuan."

In some rural areas, the problem extends beyond weddings to include endless ceremonial occasions, from children going to college to renovating a house, requiring financial gifts from relatives, neighbors or friends. 

According to the report from China Youth Daily, a 2023 survey involving 1,000 young respondents reveals that 93.2 percent feel pressured by the custom of giving cash gifts. Among them, 51.2 percent report facing both financial and social pressure. 

The folded-corner red envelope solves this dilemma with elegant simplicity. In Shunde, this practice is not new. 

Local officials began promoting "zero-cost rituals" three decades ago, and the custom has since spread to weddings, housewarmings, and baby showers. 

Folding the corner signifies "your blessing is accepted" while returning the money relieves the guest's financial pressure. 

"It combines people's desire for good luck with the joy of avoiding emotional debt," a local resident explained.

This isn't a rejection of tradition, but a renewal. As the bride in the video put it, "The best blessing is everyone gathering happily." The folded envelope preserves the ritual of giving (and receiving) well-wishes while stripping away the material burden. 

The enthusiasm for folded-corner envelopes reflects broader public support for wide push to improve customs. 

At the national level, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has established over 1,800 marriage custom reform pilot zones, with 32 national-level pilots achieving significant results in promoting simple weddings. 

In a recent State Council press conference, Hu Kaihong, deputy chief of China's Central Office of Cultural and Ethical Progress, specifically praised the Shunde couple's practice as a model for rural cultural progress. 

Relevant officials stated that efforts will continue to integrate measures including educational guidance, institutional constraints, and public opinion supervision.

Agricultural authorities are guiding villages to set voluntary standards for gift amounts and banquet scales through village regulations, while policymakers emphasize avoiding "one-size-fits-all" approaches to respect local traditions. 

Local innovations abound. For example, Jinxi county in East China's ­Jiangxi Province took the direct approach of setting a 60,000 yuan cap on bride prices.

Local authorities of Helan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, reward couples who choose the "zero bride price" path with certificates that provide discounts at state-owned tourist attractions.

These efforts draw communities together without the pressure of gift-giving.

The folded-corner red envelope is more than a wedding trick, it is also a symbol of people's quest to balance tradition and modernity. 

For foreign people unfamiliar with Chinese customs, it explains how a country with millennia-old etiquette is adapting age-old practices to reduce financial burdens while preserving social bonds.

Efforts taken by individuals and authorities recognize that true cultural heritage lies in the spirit of rituals, not their price tags. As more regions adopt practices like folded-corner red envelopes, the "emotional debt" weighing on many families is gradually lifting. This could result in purer human connections in which celebrations focus on joy, not expense.

In the end, a simple fold in a red envelope tells a bigger story: How a nation honors its past while building a more inclusive, less materialistic future.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn