Thursday, May 29, 2025
29.3 C
Singapore

Totally unacceptable: Asian university students given ang paos with hell money for CNY

- Advertisement -

Toronto – A university in Ontario, Canada, received online backlash after ang paos containing fake banknotes were distributed to the students and residents for the Chinese New Year.

“Giving hell money to a living person is a horrible act because you are conveying to the person that ‘you are dead to me’ or worse, ‘I wish you are dead,’” wrote Redditor Historical-Morning18, who posted a photo of the ang pao on the platform.

The photo included a red envelope with two fake banknotes of different numeration.

Photo: Taken from Reddit

It was reported that the university in question is the University of Toronto which has over 15,000 students from China, according to its website.

- Advertisement -

Such a mistake is totally unacceptable, said the original poster.

“Judging by the Grad(uate) House website, they have several Asian-looking staff members on the team and numerous Asian students living in Grad House,” the netizen explained.

“It is very clear that not only none of the students or staff from the Asian cultural community was consulted in preparation for this event, but also none of their staff cared enough to look at the things they put in the red envelopes (it literally says HELL BANK NOTE!).”

The University of Toronto has since apologised for the incident, noting that the incorrect banknotes were unintentionally placed into the ang paos.

See also  People still flocking to Chinatown to prepare for CNY in spite of new safety measures

“Members of the University of Toronto Graduate House Team prepared a display to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” said a university representative to The Star on Friday (Feb 4).

“Unfortunately, incorrect banknotes were unintentionally placed into the red envelopes.”

- Advertisement -

The representative said that by the time they saw the mistake, all of the envelopes were already taken.

“The University of Toronto deeply regrets this error,” the university spokesperson added.

It is tradition to give out red envelopes or ang paos filled with real money during the lunar new year to wish the recipient good fortune in the coming year.

On the other hand, hell notes or joss paper are meant to be burnt in offering to deceased ancestors and deities.

- Advertisement -

When the students opened the red envelopes, they quickly informed the Graduate House staff that it was offensive.

A student also told The Star that it was difficult to find joss paper in Toronto, bringing the question to the motives behind the incident.

See also  CNY surcharge? Man asked to pay an additional $1 after ordering one more piece of tau kwa

Meanwhile, netizens found the mistake to be unacceptable.

“I don’t understand how such ‘mistake’ could be made, even if they don’t know the real Asian currencies, it literally says HELL MONEY NOTE on the top,” commented a Redditor.

Another netizen said, “Is no one gonna mention that if they didn’t want to give real money, they could have just given chocolate loonies? That’s all the effort they needed to put in.”/TISG

Grad House staff gives Asian students HELL MONEY inside the red envelope from UofT

Read related: No gambling here: S’pore families enjoy getting the scoop during CNY

No gambling here: S’pore families enjoy getting the scoop during CNY

- Advertisement -

Hot this week

Temasek Shophouse restoration and expansion works cross 60%; set to re-open by Q4 2025

SINGAPORE: Restoration and expansion works of all four units...

Most number of teams ever: 94 join the 2025 Singlife National League

The Singlife National League 2025 has now started, and...

Tariffs trouble Singapore, but Trump has his reasons

The 19th-century British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston once said:...

Singapore is the 2nd most expensive city in the world for students

SINGAPORE: A recent study from the international remittance service...

Popular Categories