In Vietnam, there are many meaningful and long-standing customs. As a Vietnamese citizen, I am extremely proud of our custom called "asking for handwriting", which is one of Vietnamese nice cultural traits and worthy to be adopted by other countries. Firstly, the custom shows desires or particular concepts and personal identities of people who want pictures of handwriting in the first days of a lunar new year. No difference between the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the local and the foreign is made in this customs. For example, the middle-aged asks for the handwriting of "Soul" or "Patience", the youth needs "Fame", "Love", "Loyalty", "Faithfulness" or "Will". A present for parents is "Peace" or "Safeness", one for the old is "Longevity". In addition, these words are often written in papers of red, pink or yellow colors, which symbolize luck. Secondly, the custom dignifies Vietnamese fondness of learning. The scholars, who give pictures of handwriting, always explain the far-reaching significance of each word written and the inquirers largely seem excited about this. Besides, many scholars are very young. Despite this, a lot of parents choose them as writers because they hope their children can learn from the youth's studiousness. In conclusion, the sincerity of both inquirers and givers of handwriting helps this custom be preserved with spiritual senses. Our foreign friends might apply it to their countries so as to remind them to love their mother languages and promote national fondness of learning.
