The office of Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC), which issues birth certificates in San Diego County, is proud to announce that a free red envelope is available with birth certificates throughout the entire 2024 Lunar New Year, which is designated as the Year of the Dragon.

The Lunar New Year, based on the lunar calendar, takes place on a different date each year. The current Lunar New Year, celebrated by Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian and Asian-American communities, began on Feb. 10, 2024, and will run through Feb. 9, 2025.

The ARCC office said the color red represents good luck, joy and prosperity in Asian cultures. In some families, red envelopes are given to children by their parents or elderly family members wishing them prosperity and good luck in the coming year. The red envelopes, known as hong bao or lai see, sometimes have money enclosed and are believed to bring happiness and luck to the recipients.

Each year of the 12-year, Lunar Year cycle is represented by a different Chinese zodiac animal. Personality characteristics are associated with each zodiac animal. And, it’s believed that a child born during a Lunar Year will reflect the personality of one of the corresponding Chinese zodiac animal.

For example, a child born during the Year of the Dragon indicates that he-or-she will have powerful, dragon-like character traits throughout their lifetime, including charismatic, ambitious, adventurous, and fearless. Other personality traits for the Year of the Dragon include greatness, luck, intelligence, charisma, optimism, success, and strong health, as well as endless energy and full of vitality, goal-oriented, idealistic, and romantic and a visionary leader.

“The dragon is the most desired zodiac system and dragon years are the most auspicious years to have a child,” said Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC).

The ARCC’s red envelope for birth certificates features a celebratory design commemorating the Year of the Dragon. “It also has a culturally-inclusive explanation of the good fortune from being a dragon baby for all to enjoy,” Marks said. “My office is here to serve San Diego County residents for all of life’s most important moments.”

The ARCC office has partnered with the Asian Business Association San Diego (ABASD) and its member UC San Diego Health to provide red envelopes for birth certificates.

The San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC) Office, with more than 450 employees, operates five offices in San Diego County. The ARCC office is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, birth, and death certificates, as well as registering business names and recording all legal real estate documents. Marks, who serves as San Diego County ARCC, was elected to a four-year term in November 2022. For more information, visit www.sdarcc.gov.