09/02/2011
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08:33:58
Money giving - a nice New Year custom
Giving money on the occasion of New Year, with desires that better
things will happen in future, has become an indispensable custom of the
Vietnamese during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
On New Year
festival, the elderly normally congratulate kids on becoming a year
older by presenting them with very nice and small red paper envelopes
which symbolise luck and good fortune.
According to the custom,
the money given on the advancement in ages is new brand and low face
value, but bears wishes for growth and successful study.
Over
time, Hang Ma street in the Hanoi ancient quarter remains a
place to sell things to store children’s money, mainly in shapes of
pigs, rats and buffalo made of clay or metal. However, the animal that
is sold most is the ones symbolising the lunar calendar for that year.
An,
a seller for long time in Hang Ma Street , said she stored hundreds
of clay cats because the year 2011 is the Year of the Cat, so the demand
on clay cats will surely increase.
According to the seller,
parents will teach children how to save and spend the present money in
meaningful ways, such as the purchase of books, school aids or help for
friends in difficulties.
Nowadays, people’s living conditions
have been improving. The money giving custom is sometimes
commercialised, but it basically keeps humanity significant, that means
bringing joy and luck for all people./.