Interesting Chinese New Year Tradition #1: What's with the Red Underwear?

We first arrived in Shanghai five years ago this Chinese New Year. It was the Year of the Monkey, and naturally, I was curious about everything. I wandered into department store after department store, browsing during my days of leisure before our shipment arrived, and I was curious about all the red underwear for sale. It seemed weird: lots of red. No other colors.

As it turns out, red underwear is one of those Chinese New Year traditions you'd never know about unless you lived here. Read all about why Chinese people give each other red underwear, and why, if you are an Ox (starting January 26, 2009), you might want to buy yourself a pair.