A [[gift]] of [[money]] given to children on Japanese [[New Year]]'s Day.

Otoshidama tend to be given in white [[envelope]]s bound with a pink or red paper 'ribbon cord' (in [i]mizuhiki[/i] style). Often this "ribbon cord" may just be a pattern printed on the envelope. Money bills are usually folded in threes before being inserted.

The word "お年玉" (otoshidama) may sometimes be printed on the front of the envelope. This unambiguously identifies this as otoshidama (instead of [[hongbao]]). A less common word is "祝".

h4. Examples

* Post #1595291
* Post #1891823
* post #2983502
* post #3218197

h4. See also

* [[New Year]]
* [[hongbao]] [tn]Chinese equivalent. Often red. Almost never white (considered inauspicious).[/tn]
お年玉