About the story of “lì xì” (lucky money in a red envelope), celebrated with money and with words. Hearing the two words “lì xì,” everyone immediately imagines a small red envelope (a quarter of A4 paper size) with some brand-new money inside. What is the origin of “lì xì”? We conducted “an original search” through research, asking people directly, and looking in documents to find out the meaning of these two words, “lì xì” (the money used to celebrate a new age).
According to the Present Dictionary of the Language Institute or the Dictionary Center, “lì xì” is explained as welcoming a new age with money or lucky money given to children on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Lucky money is not limited to the first day but can even be given as late as the 9th or 10th day of the Tết Festival. According to some people’s opinions, the lucky money tradition is still preserved. The Thông Hội researcher said: “It is a part of the morish taste on the Vietnamese Tết holiday, especially for children; it makes them think of Tết as a good moment to starting the new year, as beautiful as a fairy.” The musician Nguyễn Văn Tý, the author of Dư Âm, said: “We should give lucky money to children but avoid providing US dollars to children without being in the right place because it makes them spend money corruptly.” The Cao Sơn researcher explained: “Lì xì,” following the sound of Guǎngdōng Chinese (Quảng đông) means benefit, while the voice of Cháozhōu (Triều Châu) “Lê - i - xị,” i.e., amount of money given, offered on occasions not limited to the Tết Holiday but also the beginning of the new year, opening days, wedding ceremonies, and so forth.
Giving lucky money follows the wish that the receivers will obtain fortune, beauty, and prosperity. Normally, the Chinese put money in red envelopes. Vietnamese people also do the same, a practice which has become popular in Southern Vietnam on the Tết Holiday. In Central Vietnam, grandparents, parents, and the head of the family give children and grandchildren new money, called “the money of a new age,” on the Tết holiday. Not only do the elders welcome a new age for children or grandchildren; in former times, children, and grandchildren welcomed a new age for their grandparents.
On New Year's Eve, early in the morning, children and grandchildren tell one another to go to the temple or church to celebrate Tết and to bow to grandparents and parents, too. Not just bowing down or bowing in several prostrations, but according to the writer Toàn Anh, they prostrate only... two and a half prostrations.
Afterward, the children must know how to demonstrate “filial piety” to their parents by reverently offering fresh biscuits and a pink paper envelope: inside this beautiful and straight paper envelope is money, which is put formally on a tray to offer and called “money to open the first goods.” This money is not intended to be saved for a heavy purse; rather, it is meant to wish the elderly all the best and good luck for the whole year. This traditional custom is still observed. Grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts give money to children and grandchildren, and children also give “lì xì” to their nieces or nephews. Friends and family members who come to wish you Happy New Year also give lucky money to your children. Also, the host may welcome the visitors’ children to greet the new year with lucky money. The main meaning of “lì xì” does not lie in “money” but in “love,” that is, the desire to wish people to have money, eat well, have fun, and study hard, regardless of the amount in the envelope or if there is no money, only words. There may be large, bold handwriting as “a present” to celebrate your age, as the following story shows.
Once upon a time, there were three sons in a certain poor house. For the new year, the father had no money for lucky money. On the afternoon of the 30th, he thought of a way: he took three red envelopes, and their straight, fresh appearance looked as bright as other red envelopes. Inside, he did not place money, but he placed three pieces of paper on which he wrote three beautiful words: Merit, Fortune, Longevity. On the morning of the first day, the father called his three sons to the front of the altar, rubbed their heads, and smiled happily to celebrate their age with three light envelopes, after explaining the meanings of Merit, Fortune, and Longevity. After the Tết ceremony, money came like high tide to his house, and he became rich. December 30th came again quickly.To remember that on the last Tết they were poor and frugal, he intended to recreate the way of “lì-xì” in words so that his three children, “Merit, Fortune, and Longevity,” could never forget that they were now well-dressed but from a poor past. The three sons received the envelopes and opened them, but each of them saw only the “Merit” word, without the two words “Fortune and Longevity.” The father was equally surprised. The four of them were wondering, when suddenly a person appeared and declared, “I am the angel of this land. That merit is given by me. It includes all three, Merit, Fortune, and Longevity, because from this blessing, you can enjoy fortune and long life. Therefore, there is no need to pray for “Fortune and Longevity.” Just ask for “Merit” to celebrate the beginning of the year. It is enough.” After that, he disappeared. Looking again at the red envelopes, the father and children were stunned again because the word “Merit” also vanished, leaving a blank white paper. Then a second angel appeared to tell the father and sons an ancient famous story about a person who prayed for “Merit.” It is a story popular throughout Asia, Tibet, and the Himalayas, along the entire Chinese Yellow River and Yangtze River, and has been imported into Vietnam for a long time. There was a man who prayed to have “Merit.” He became rich but was very stingy. He forgot all the good deeds and generous donations that he had done in his previous life. In this life, he collected gold and silver to put in a jar and bury in a secret place for his own interest. Even his son did not know where his treasure had been hidden. In old age, he fell ill. When he died, his soul attached to the golden jar, returned to his old home, and tried to get into his body. Seeing that, a dog near the home had a premonition to yield its humble body to the rich man and soared into the air.The rich man took over the dog body of the four-legged animal, satisfied to be “living” again. That dog was strange and didn't go anywhere, lying on the porch at a certain place close to the door all day. As soon as the son (now the landlord) chased the dog away, the dog soon returned to his old place, as if it was necessary for life. The Merit that it enjoyed was the golden jar and had now become ignorance tying him to greed. One day, a great monk came by and told his son, “Hey man, do you know who the dog is?” “No, sir.”
“He is your father. Why is he lying all day and night on the land next to that door? It is because he regretted his wealth buried underground. Let's dig it up.”
The son was amazed and tried to dig up the place where the dog usually lay. It became clear that the jar of gold was beneath. Shocked by this, the son was awakened, refused to own the gold, and left home. Following the great master to the mountain, he later became one of the first ancestors of Zen Buddhist history, and he realized that if someone planted good causes to have “Merit” but was blessed and enjoyed Merit without the right wisdom, he would become as foolish and dangerous as the dog (his father). That dog was blessed, but lacking in wisdom, it was only lying on a pile of gold and jewels but still suffering from deprivation and anguish. After finishing this story, the angel said, “That's why I have to erase the word “Merit” in the lucky envelope. It only makes good sense if the sons have “Wisdom.” Otherwise, it is only motivation for endless ups and downs in samsara. Now experience it.”
The father and sons now saw on the lucky envelope the appearance of two words, “Merit and Wisdom.” These two words are used to celebrate the age of all people as the winter passes and a new year comes.
Spring comes on the Tết holiday
Wishing to every home
Prostrate before the Buddha on the New Year
Ancestors and grandparents
A Happy New Year
Abundant health
A delightful year in the home
Good fortune comes
The angel of abundance knocks on the door
Happy New Year
Spring of prosperity!
