There are many rituals and cultural practices after New Year’s Eve, but not everyone understands and does it correctly.

Happy age (Lunar lucky money)

After the New Year’s Eve, the first thing many families do is celebrate the age of their grandparents and parents; grandparents, parents (ra) bless their children and grandchildren with good wishes and wishes for the new year. Welcome money is contained in red envelopes symbolizing good luck and good fortune.

Children and grandchildren wish grandparents and parents one more year of health and longevity. Grandparents and parents give (his) fortune to their children and grandchildren, implying fortune, protection of peace, growth and development.

The same activity “celebrates the age” (formerly known as pre-pregnancy, victory or death) but the meaning and connotation of the congratulation are different. It is not a matter of money and how much or how little money. Grandparents and parents expect their children to grow up fast, have fun, and study well. Children and grandchildren wish grandparents and parents more years of health to be able to be with their children and grandchildren for a long time.

Giving lucky money is giving money to children to show good luck and good fortune when the new year comes. Photo: Hoang Ha

In the southern regions, celebrating the birthday is called “lucky money”, which is believed to have originated from the pronunciation of Chinese characters in the Southeast regions of China. Specifically, the reading sound of the word “loi Thi” or “benefit” (Mandarin sound reads lishi, Quang sound reads lucky money, mud). The original meaning of this word is an item or money that brings profit, good fortune, good fortune. Giving lucky money is giving money to a child to show good luck and good fortune. When receiving lucky money, children will laugh, and their laughter can drive away bad things. Therefore, celebrating the new year also means praying for good luck and blessings in the new year.

Subordinates give lucky money to their superiors called happy life, adding one year of age means adding longevity – one of the “Five blessings of life” – the longer the lifespan, the greater the blessing. The superiors give lucky money to the underlings, also called “an year” – the money (out) of fortune at the beginning of the year with the wish that the child will have peace, luck, fortune in business and also enjoy happiness and longevity.

Lucky draw

The first person who comes to wish his family New Year’s Eve after New Year’s Eve or on the first day of the new year is called the person who breaks into the land (bombs the house), in the past called “longevity”, bringing good luck (good fortune). Therefore, there is a custom to choose a good date and time, people with good fortune and age come to break into the house.

According to cultural and feng shui researcher Pham Dinh Hai, breaking into the ground at the time of New Year’s Eve (from 11:30 p.m. before 2:00 a.m. on the first day of January) is the most beautiful time frame of any year, that is, no need to choose a time. . Because New Year’s Eve is the time when “yin and yang communicate” (heaven and earth harmonize) the three talents (heaven and earth and all things) are happy and prosperous.

With that meaning, after breaking into the land, the departure and going to pick the first fruit of the year should also be done right after the New Year’s Eve. Picking fortune at the beginning of the year can be considered as an indispensable activity in the Vietnamese custom of celebrating New Year’s Eve with the concept that picking fortunes will bring good luck “Tong ex-retirement”.

According to “Vietnamese custom books” by Hien Vien Doan Trien, in the past, people used to choose a small tree branch on the way to pick buds and bring it home, called loc branch. However, according to Mr. Pham Dinh Hai, breaking tree branches to bring home to pray for good luck is contrary to the Buddhist concept. The word “pick” in the Sino-Vietnamese pronunciation of “picking” is pronounced “Thai” (meaning selection, collection, collection) homophones and in many cases is used as the word “Thai” in “shades”. goodness, congratulations, welcome, rainbow color.” Therefore, the word “Luc” in this case should be understood as the good fortune of heaven and earth in harmony, the praise, congratulation to each other. each other on the first day of the new year. “Going to spring to pick buds with the meaning that it is the new fortune, is not breaking the shoots and breaking the branches but breaking the Buddhist precepts” – Mr. Hai emphasized.

According to Mr. Hai, at the beginning of the year, try to keep a calm mind to listen to the prosperity of heaven and earth, the universe permeates you. Places that are too noisy, boisterous, and chaotic are not places to go to pick the first fruit of the year.