Japanese gift giving envelopes 御祝儀袋

In Japan, there is a particular style of envelope that is used to give a gift of money to an individual, couple or family.  There are envelopes for happy occasions, such as the birth of a new child, or for sad occasions, such as funerals (in Japan you give money for a funeral).  “Goshuugifukuro”, 御祝儀袋, refers to the former: an envelope used to present money in times of celebration.   The money is placed inside an envelope that is then wrapped in a decorative “envelope” or piece of paper folded in a certain way around the inner (money bearing) envelope.  The final touch is a bow or decoration wrapped around the outer paper. 

Below is a sample of some of the envelopes our wedding gifts were presented in.

  What’s missing from this envelope is the strip of paper that is normally inserted down the centre with the givers name on it.  Below you can see one with a partial showing of the strip, I had to fold it over to conceal the name of the giver!

  You can just about make out the “happy wedding” at the top of the strip.  The wire or ornate ribbon that goes around the paper is to stop the contents falling out. As mentioned above, the outer layer is not an envelope in the traditional sense, but a piece of paper folded in a certain way.  Therefore, the ribbon or wire serves a purpose as well as looking beautiful.

Any questions, please feel free…

Yours,

Mrs Nobukuni!!