Not only Vietnam, many places in Asia including mainland China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, etc. also celebrate Lunar New Year. This is an opportunity for people from all over the world to gather with family and perform many traditional activities to welcome a new year filled with joy.
In particular, the ritual of giving lucky money has been maintained for a long time by people in many places, seeing this as an act of expressing care, love and wishing that all good things will come to the recipient.
Sharing the same meaning, each place’s lucky money custom contains unique features related to the culture, lifestyle and personality of the people there.
Mainland China: Legend of the demon named Sui
Lucky money in China is called hongbao (红包), meaning “red bag”.
Since the 10th century, red envelopes used to hold money have held an important position in Chinese cultural rituals, especially during the annual Lunar New Year. According to belief, bright red symbolizes luck and protects people from evil spirits.
A popular myth surrounding this custom involves a demon named Sui (祟). It specializes in “hunting” children on New Year’s Eve by sneaking into homes without the homeowner knowing, then causing terror to the children.
Red envelopes containing money are a way for Chinese people to ward off evil spirits. Photo: Freepik.
A couple wanted to protect their child from evil, so they put 8 lucky coins in a red envelope and stuffed it under their son’s pillow. Just as Sui was regarding to take over the boy, the light from the coin pierced Sui’s eyes like a blade, causing the demon to immediately run away.
Since then, people started using red envelopes filled with money to ward off evil spirits. On Lunar New Year, grandparents, parents, siblings all give red envelopes to younger family members for that reason.
Chinese people set certain rules when giving and receiving lucky money. For example, the money used in the envelope must be new, clean and flat paper money. The total amount is not fixed, but it is guaranteed that there are no odd numbers or 4 (pronounced “four” is similar to “death”), instead there are two lucky even numbers like 6 and 8.
Regarding how to receive, children will kneel and raise both hands to receive red envelopes and absolutely will not open them in front of adults.
Korea: Bow before receiving lucky money
Normally, children who receive lucky money from adults just need to receive it with both hands and say thank you. Particularly in Korea, people need to perform an additional ritual called place – bowing ceremony to elders before receiving lucky money.
Korean children must say “saehae bok manhi badeuseyo”, which means “may many blessings come to you” and slowly bow. Children bow to their grandparents and parents to show respect and gratitude for nurturing them both physically and mentally. Foreigners who first set foot in Korea will be quite surprised by this ritual.
Korean sebae ritual. Photo: Korea.net.
Besides modern red envelopes, Korea also has a unique type of “envelope” that is much more unique than other countries. They are often made of fabric with typical colors of Asian culture such as blue, pink, yellow, red and white, and also have a drawstring tied at the top to keep the gifts from falling.
Koreans call these bags by name bokjumeoni, which translates as “lucky bag”. Although most people no longer put money into it bokjumeonithis item is still a long-standing traditional beauty of the land of cherry blossoms.
Besides, money is not the only thing people exchange during Lunar New Year in Korea. Depending on each family’s condition, the gift will be different. People even receive gold, pearls, gemstones, etc. symbolizing New Year’s blessings.
Taiwan: Set a “limit” for lucky money
Like mainland China, Taiwan also uses red envelopes with money inside as gifts on the occasion of Lunar New Year.
What’s interesting is that Taiwanese people set a specific “limit” for each recipient of lucky money, according to information from a 2017 survey by Daily View.
The Taiwanese people set specific “limits” for each recipient of lucky money. Photo: Freepik.
For example, lucky money for parents ranges from 3,600 New Taiwan Dollars (approx 116 USD) to 6,600 New Taiwan Dollars (equivalent 213 USD); If grandparents are the recipients, the amount will be from 1,000 New Taiwan Dollars (equivalent 32 USD) to 2,000 New Taiwan Dollars (equivalent 64 USD).
For siblings, the appropriate limit is from NT$600 (equivalent 19 USD) to 2,000 New Taiwan Dollars. If it is lucky money for children, the maximum amount will be 800 New Taiwan Dollars (approx 26 USD).
The basis for these “limits” is the ideology of valuing parents – the main breadwinners in the family with the responsibility of raising and taking care of children. Next, grandparents are also an important part, but because children and grandchildren all give lucky money to their grandparents, each person can give a little less. The remaining generations will receive lucky money depending on specific circumstances. family traditions and relationships between siblings.
In addition, Taiwanese people are also very hesitant to use odd numbers or number 4 when celebrating new years, because they contain elements related to death and funerals.
Thailand: “Privilege” of receiving lucky money from unmarried people
Lunar New Year is not a public holiday in Thailand, but people across the country – not just the Chinese community – still celebrate enthusiastically and happily.
From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, temples are decorated with red lanterns and crowded with people praying for the new year, while the streets are filled with parades or dragon dance performances.
This is because regarding 15% of the Thai population is believed to be descendants of people who migrated from China to Thailand in the early 19th century. Therefore, many long-standing Chinese rituals have permeated the culture. Land of the Golden Temple.
On New Year’s Day, many families will exchange red envelopes called lucky money angpao hay hongbao. Inside these special envelopes is an amount of money symbolizing wishes for good luck, happiness and prosperity. Traditionally, parents often give lucky money to their unmarried children.
In addition to lucky money, most people also exchange citrus fruits when visiting relatives during Tet. Chinese culture believes that those two fruits symbolize a good year ahead, because their pronunciation is similar to the words “luck” and “success”.
Vietnam: Do not seal lucky money envelopes
Lucky money in Vietnamese is called lixi – noun comes from there (利市) with the meaning “lucky”.
Traditionally, lucky money is a small amount of money contained in a red envelope, given to children as a wish for good luck and health to come to them on the occasion of the beginning of the new year. This Vietnamese custom is deeply influenced by ancient Chinese traditions.
Lucky money is a long-standing custom in Vietnam with the implication of giving good luck. Photo: Unsplash.
Therefore, Vietnamese people also have taboos when giving and receiving lucky money. Like the Chinese, Vietnamese people usually do not give lucky money in odd numbers, do not use old money and envelopes, and do not receive lucky money with one hand and then open it right in front of an adult’s eyes.
In addition, Vietnamese people also pay attention to small details such as avoiding sealing lucky money envelopes so that the recipient can easily open them, like a lucky and peaceful way to start the new year. For families with many children and grandchildren, the amount of money given to each child must be equal to avoid rivalry and loss of harmony during Tet.
