Chinese Knot is often considered a Spring Festival Mascot. It is a pretty symbol of China known by the world. It is also a very old and traditional knot-work. According to historical records, the Chinese began to tie knots to keeping a record of events in remote antiquity. Big knots for big events while small knots for small ones. It became a sort of decorative art in the Tang or Song Dynasty. Later in the Ming or Qing Dynasty, people named the knots and attached different meanings to them. For example, Ruyi (如意) Knot stands for good luck, and Double-fish Knot stands for prosperity, and True-lover Knot symbolizes true love. Chinese Knot is special and unique because each Chinese knot is made of a single unbroken string. Chinese Knot varies in color, style, and meaning. Red knots are the commonest while auspiciousness is the essential theme. Nowadays, Chinese Knot has become an important element of modern fashion. Today it has developed its own industry, which includes two major series: hanging decorations and dress decorations.

Then why was it renamed Ya Sui Qian ? It was because the character “岁”, which means “year”, pronounces the same with the character “祟”, which means “evil spirit”. The ancient Chinese believed children were generally weaker than adults and as a result easier to get hurt by the evil spirits. Ya Sui Qian symbolized an amulet that could hold down the evil spirits. People gave Lucky Money to children in Spring Festival, the beginning of a Chinese New Year, hoping that the kids could pass the year and grew up safely. However, nowadays, the superstitious meaning of Lucky Money weakens and it is merely a gift to delight the youngsters.

Lucky Money (压岁钱, Ya Sui Qian) is an essential ingredient in China's Spring Festival. Lucky Money has a long history. Its origination can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. It was originally called Ya Sheng Qian. Ya Sheng Qian was not the coin in circulation. It was just shaped as coins. People at that time wore it and took it as a lucky talisman. In the Tang Dynasty, it was a convention prevailing at imperial court to give out money as a gift for one’s relatives, friends in Spring Festival. Later in Song and Yuan Dynasty, the convention became popular among the civilians and some changes took place. People began to give money as a gift to children. Therefore precisely speaking, Lucky Money came into being in the Song or Yuan Dynasty.