Legend of New Year present-giving

Giving money on the occasion of New Year or festivals is a popular custom in East Asian countries. This custom has also been much popular in Vietnam for generations on the occasion of lunar new year which is named "lì xì" custom.

On New Year festival, the elderly normally give kids a small amount of money put in a very nice and small red paper bag which symbolizes for luck, good fortune, named "tiền mừng tuổi" (money given on the advancement in ages).

Vermilion "lì xì" bags

It is told by Chinese folk stories that there had a giant peach tree in Dong Hai (Đông Hải) which was the residence of various ogres such as succubus, mice, old wolf, etc. They always wanted to escape from their residence to harm the world. Unfortunately, there always had gods on earth to keep eyes on them. Therefore, no ogre could be able to escape for their purpose. But on New Year's Eve, when all gods had to return to Heaven to be reassigned, ogres got good chance to be free. There had an ogre called Tuy who usually turned up on New Year's Eve to rub kids' heads during their sleep that made them startle, and then burst into loud wails, and consequently they caught high fever or became silly. Consequently, families with kids had to stay awake overnight to keep an eye on their kids to make sure that the ogre Tuy could not do any harm to theirs.

Another legend has it that, money-giving on advancement in years originates from royal palace of Tang dynasty in China. That year, Duong Quy Phi (Dương Quý Phi) gave birth to a prince. Tang King personally visited and granted Duong Quy Phi some gold and silver wrapped in red paper. Duong Quy Phi considered this as both congratulation money and an amulet given by the King to their prince to drive away evils. This story started spreading fast outside the palace. As a result, many people imitated this story with implications eliminating evils as well as bringing about muck luck to kids.

Once, some gods passed by a home, and they metamorphosed into coins standing next to the kids. Kids' parents wrapped these coins into red cloth. When Tuy came, these coins were sparkling. Tuy was so scared that it ran away. This miracle spread and whenever Tet festival comes, people put coins into red cloth bag to give to kids. These coins are named "tiền mừng tuổi" (money given as congratulation on advancement in years.

According to other studies, custom of congratulation on advancement in years in China was born in Tan (Tần) dynasty. At that time, a thread was used to make a dragon-shaped or a sword-shaped chain, which is put next to bed legs or next to kids' pillow. That money chain is called "Áp Tuế" money which is similar to the way Chinese people call nowadays. This means the money to give kids as congratulation on advancement in years with wishes for them to have money and good fortunes to overcome that age with good and lucky things.

	Lì xì - a beautiful cultural trait of Tet festival in Vietnam

The term "lì xì" which is popularly used in the South of Vietnam originates from China. This term was born due to the variant of pronunciation of the words "lợi thị" or "lợi sự" (which is "li shi" according to Mandarin and "li shi" or "lei shi" according to Cantonese. These words mean a thing or money that may bring a lot of luck, good fortune. "lì xì" giving is to present good and lucky things to kids. Nowadays, this present additionally symbolizes for good health, success, happiness by means of wishes on the bags such as "Hòa gia bình an", "Kim ngọc mãn đường", "Vạn sự như ý"...

In Vietnam, in some certain areas, it is a custom that the younger be not allowed to "lì xì" the older since it may both malfunction this custom and be rude to the older. Nevertheless, this custom has been more open especially to married youth with income; they may give some money as New Year present to their parents, grandparents to wish for luck, health, and peace.

Source Youth Newspaper