Red phoenix over Beijing

Citizens line up before a jewelry store in Zhenzhou, Central China's Henan province, to exchange two apples for a mini gold bar, on Dec 23. [Photo/CFP]

Have a couple of apples? You could be rich!

More than 200 citizens, each holding two apples, queued up before a jewelry store in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan province, to exchange them for a mini gold bar, on Dec 23.

Chinese have the practice of giving apples as gifts to friends and relatives on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is called "Pinganye" in Chinese, translated to a safe and sound night, and apple is "Pingguo" in Chinese, so the first character of both words has the same pronunciation. Presenting apples is seen as a gesture of blessing.

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A woman holds a mini gold bar embedded in a red envelop in her right hand and two apples in her left hand. [Photo/CFP]