[Borderless New Year's Money] ③ "Given by the person who bows" The reason for giving despite Mongolian opposition

A Junior Gives Money, A Senior Gives a Gift
Greeting with Arms Wrapped Holding a Blue Towel

Among the New Year's money-giving customs remaining in most East Asian countries including Korea, Mongolia has the most unique tradition. Unlike other countries where elders give money to younger people, in Mongolia, the younger person gives money to the elder. The elder, upon receiving the money, gives a gift back to the younger person, creating a culture of mutual exchange.

Mongolia's Lunar New Year, 'Tsagaan Sar' Meaning White Moon... The Biggest Holiday of the Year

The image shows a blue cloth called Khadag, used for greetings during the Tsagaan Sar festival in Mongolia. [Image source=Discover Mongolia Travel]

Mongolia's Lunar New Year, called 'Tsagaan Sar,' literally means 'white moon.' This name reflects how sacred the color white is considered in Mongolia and how important the New Year holiday is. In fact, Tsagaan Sar is known as the biggest holiday of the year in Mongolia.

During the Tsagaan Sar holiday, Mongolian people visit the homes of their elders or other respected adults they know to perform a traditional bow called sebae. The bowing ritual involves holding a blue cloth called 'Khadag.' The younger person holds the lower part of the cloth, the elder holds the upper part, and they hold each other's arms while exchanging kisses on both cheeks as a greeting.

During Tsagaan Sar, a huge tower of sweets is stacked in odd-numbered layers in the center of the home, and whole boiled lamb is placed on top. Visitors are served from these offerings. On top of the odd-layered sweet tower, dairy products called arol and sugar cubes are placed. When guests arrive, the host and guest hold each other's arms up and down to greet, then share pieces of the stacked sweets and lamb.

Younger Person Gives Money, Elder Responds with Gifts

People gathered to celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year festival. They are exchanging snuff bottles by hand, wishing each other good fortune. [Image source=Discover Mongolia Travel]

The most unique part of this sebae process is that the younger person gives New Year's money to the elder. In most Asian countries such as Korea, China, Japan, and Vietnam, elders give New Year's money to younger people after receiving their bows, but in Mongolia, it is the opposite: the younger person first gives money to the elder.

The elder who receives the money does not keep it as is but must give a return gift. Usually, the gifts are more valuable than the money given and can include various household appliances. For children, toys or school supplies are commonly given as return gifts. This custom of the younger person bowing first and giving money to the elder is believed to be related to Confucian values of loyalty and filial piety.

Due to Mongolia's nomadic lifestyle, it was very difficult for distant relatives to gather except during holidays, so a culture of exchanging money and return gifts in the form of New Year's money likely developed. In Korea, New Year's money was originally not exchanged among family and relatives but is thought to have been a kind of travel allowance during the Joseon Dynasty when noblewomen who could not return to their hometowns for holidays sent workers to greet the elders on their behalf.

Concerns over High Prices Also Affect Mongolia... Tsagaan Sar Becomes More Burdensome

The appearance of Mongolian Tsagaan Sar holiday foods. [Image source=Discover Mongolia Travel]

As high prices continue in Mongolia, the once lavish Tsagaan Sar celebrations have become a significant financial burden for households. To celebrate Tsagaan Sar, it is customary to stack the sweet tower 7 to 9 layers high, prepare about 3,000 meat dumplings, and boil at least two whole sheep to welcome guests, all of which require considerable expenses.

The Mongolian government estimates that the average expenditure for the Tsagaan Sar ceremonial table is about 700,000 tugriks (approximately 270,000 KRW), and when including guest hospitality and other costs, the total is expected to exceed 1,500,000 tugriks (about 580,000 KRW). Considering that the average monthly salary for a Mongolian worker last year was around 2,000,000 tugriks (about 780,000 KRW), this means that the entire monthly salary is spent on the holiday.

Especially with prices rising sharply before and after COVID-19, the economic situation has made it difficult for ordinary Mongolians to even celebrate Tsagaan Sar. According to the Mongolian government, the inflation rate rose to 16.1% in June 2022 but dropped to around 7.9% by December last year, showing signs of stabilization. However, this rate is still very high compared to the low economic growth rate of 1-2%, increasing the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.