New Year's lucky money - how Japanese people teach their children about the value of money

On New Year's Day according to the Gregorian calendar, Japanese families have a tradition of sitting together to chat and eat. According toSora News24, children eagerly awaited large bowls filled with fish eggs, black soybeans, Japanese oranges (mikan) and of courseotoshidama -lucky money from parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents

Cash may be considered an inappropriate gift in some countries, but there's no denying that for the average child, having access to money as needed is more meaningful than a specific gift from a relative.

The tradition of giving lucky money is popular in Asian countries like China and Vietnam during the Lunar New Year (Lunar New Year) or in far-flung European countries like Scotland, where children receive a small amount of money on the first Monday of the new year.

Sourceotoshidama

PageLive Japaninformation,otoshidamais said to originate from Japanese folklore. The money given to children is also an offering to Toshigami, a deity who visits each house at the beginning of the new year. According to this hypothesis, Toshigami will protect the children who receive the lucky money.

Previously, according to Shinto rituals (the religion of the Japanese people), worshipers displayed round rice cakeskagami-mochitoThey make an offering to the New Year's deity, then take a portion of the cake. When they return home, they grind the rice cake, wrap it in paper, and share it with their family and servants.

That is the origin ofotoshidama.The word means "spirit of god", because the Japanese believed that the divine spirit resided in the cake.At the beginning of the year, this type of cake is displayed on the altar of every house.

TYesEdo period (1603-1868), cWealthy families and businesses distribute bags of mochi and Japanese oranges to others to spread New Year's happiness. Over the centuries,otoshidamabeginused to refer to a gift given to children when visiting each other's houses during Tet.ricegradually being replaced by cash.

Before Tet, adults prepare many envelopes containing money, calledpochi bukuro.Paper money is more common and is usually carefully folded three times before being inserted. The envelope cover may feature the zodiac animal of the year, a cute cartoon character,Japanese symbols like the Maneki Neko lucky cat or the Daruma lucky doll, are meant to be exciting for children to hold.

According toTaiken Japan,The value of the lucky money depends on the relationship or age of the recipient, with older children receiving more money. However, many people leave the same amount of money in the envelopes to create fairness for siblings in the family when receiving lucky money.For children too young to understand the value of money, one can also substituteotoshidamawith toys or other gifts.

Although it is not required, some people have the habit of writing the amount of lucky money on the inside fold of the envelope opening. Sometimes, the giver has the intention of teasing. For example, one person made social media laugh heartily at the beginning of the year when he shared a photo of a lucky money envelope with 3 million yen (27,000 USD) written on it, inside were 1,000 yen (9 USD) bills cleverly folded three times to "disguise" the missing zero.

Small customs, big lessons

Lucky money is seen as a wish for a year of good health and happiness. Not only that, thisis an opportunity to teach children about courtesy, how to behave when receiving money and thinking carefully about how to spend it.

Money used as lucky money is often brand new, making children feel that they must use it carefully, keep it flat, and not wrinkle it.They usually take it and say loudly “Thank you very much”.

Opening an envelope in front of the giver is considered impolite, so children must learn to wait for the appropriate moment. Etiquette when receiving gifts is highly valued in Japanese culture.

The age for receiving lucky money is from newborns to 20 years old - the legal age of adulthood in Japan. However, many students still receive lucky money from relatives because the cost of studying and renting is very expensive.When they grow up, they change positions and become givers.otoshidamafor childrenIn large families, adultscan spend quite a lot when Tet comes because they not only give lucky money to their children but also to children in their relatives.

According to the Kumon Children's Research Institute in Japan, the average elementary school student in the land of cherry blossoms can receive up to 5,000 yen (45 USD), while middle and high school students pocket double that amount. Therefore, at the end of each New Year season, the total amount of money each child receives is often not small. This is a time of the year that Japanese children look forward to, similar to receiving gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas.The difference is that children are given control over their finances.

If the total amount is quite large, many parents will take half of it and put it in a savings account for their children to use in the future, when they go to university. The rest is used by the children as they wish, usually to buy a long-cherished toy.

The meaning of saving is embedded in tradition.otoshidamaEven if they have money, children should keep some and not spend it all at once. If they spend it all at once, they will not be able to buy the things they want during the year. However, parents often only give advice, let children choose how to spend it and learn from their own experience.