Tet Holiday in Vietnam: Vietnamese New Year
Tet Nguyen Dan , or simply Tet, is the Vietnamese New Year, the country's main holiday and is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. The holiday begins in late January or early February and lasts several days, during which Vietnamese celebrate the new year with family and friends, honor ancestors, and express wishes for happiness and good fortune.
Features of Tet Festival
- Preparation for the holiday Preparations for Tet take several weeks. Vietnamese clean their homes to “banish” the old year and welcome the new one with clean spaces and new energies. They buy special decorations, flowers such as peach and apricot branches, and prepare traditional dishes.
- Traditional dishes of Theta The main festive dishes of Tet include: banh chung и ban tet — These are square and cylindrical cakes made of sticky rice with a filling of pork and green beans, wrapped in banana leaves. Sweets and candied fruits, which symbolize good luck and prosperity, are also popular.
- Visiting temples and praying Vietnamese people often visit temples during the first days of Tet to pray for happiness and prosperity in the new year. They light incense and make offerings to the spirits of their ancestors.
- Giving money in red envelopes The custom of giving lyasi — red envelopes with money — are a symbol of luck and prosperity. Older family members usually give them to younger ones, wishing them success in their studies and work.
Holiday Traditions and Entertainment
- Fireworks and shows Vietnamese cities decorate themselves with lights and fireworks on New Year's Eve. There are colorful street parades, and lion and dragon dances are among the most exciting parts of the celebration.
- The Tradition of the "First Guest" The first person to enter the house after midnight is considered a harbinger of good or bad luck for the entire year. Therefore, many families invite a “lucky” guest who symbolically brings good luck.
- Travel and Leisure In recent years, more and more Vietnamese people have chosen to travel during Tet, and many popular tourist spots in Vietnam and beyond are filled with local tourists.
When is Tet celebrated?
Tet falls on the first day of the lunar year, and its dates change each year depending on the lunar calendar. The official celebration of Tet lasts for 3 days, but the festive atmosphere is felt throughout the country for about a week. During this period, many shops and offices are closed, as most of the population goes to their relatives to celebrate the new year together.
Conclusion
Tet in Vietnam is a time when the country comes to a standstill to celebrate the most important event of the year. It is not only a celebration of the beginning of a new year, but also a time of renewal, unity and celebration of tradition.
