Meaning of Vietnamese New Year

The festival which best epitomizes Vietnam's cultural identity is Vietnamese New Year or Tet.

“Tet”is the phonetic deformation of "Tiet", a Sino Vietnamese term whichmeans "Joint of a bamboo stern" and in a wider sense, the "beginning ofa period of the year". The passage from one period to the next maycause a meteorological disturbance (heat, rain, mist) that must beexercised by ritual sacrifices and festivities. Thereare many Tets throughout the year (Mid-autumn Vietnamese New Year, ColdFood Vietnamese New Year, etc.). But the most significant of all is"Vietnamese New Year", which marks the Lunar New Year.

VietnameseNew Year occurs somewhere in the last ten days of January or the firsttwenty days of February, nearly halfway between winter solstice andspring equinox. Although the Lunar New Year is observed throughout EastAsia, each country celebrates Vietnamese New Year in its own way inconformity with its own national psyche and cultural conditions.

Forthe Vietnamese people, Vietnamese New Year is like a combination ofWestern Saint Sylvester, New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter andThanksgiving. It is the festival of Purity and Renewal.

Vietnamese New Year Customs

1. Clean and decorate the home

Homesare often cleaned and decorated before New Year's Eve. Children are incharge of sweeping and scrubbing the floor. The kitchen needs to becleaned before the 23rd night of the last month. Usually, the head ofthe household cleans the dust and ashes (from incense) from theancestral altars. It is a common belief that cleaning the house willget rid of the bad fortunes associated with the old year. Some peoplewould paint their house and decorate with festive items.

2. Literally means "getting new clothes"

Thisis often the most exciting part of the Vietnamese New Year amongchildren. Parents usually purchase new clothes and shoes for theirchildren a month prior to the New Year. However, children cannot weartheir new clothes until the first day of the New Year and onward. Thebest outfit is always worn on the first day of the year.

3. Farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Ong Tao)

Sevendays (the 23rd night of the last lunar month) prior to Tet, eachVietnamese family offers a farewell ceremony for Ong Tao to go up toHeaven Palace. His task is to make an annual report to the Jade Emperorof the family's affairs throughout the year.

4. Lunar New Year's Eve

However,in a literal translation, it means "Passage from the Old to the NewYear". It is a common belief among Vietnamese people that there are 12Sacred Animals from the Zodiac taking turn monitoring and controllingthe affairs of the earth. Thus, Giao Thua (New Year's Eve)is the momentof seeing the old chief (Dragon for 2000) end his ruling term and passhis power to the new chief (Snake for 2001). Giao Thua is also the timefor Ong Tao (Kitchen God) to return to earth after making the report tothe Jade Emperor. Every single family should offer an open-air ceremonyto welcome him back to their kitchen.

5. The Aura of the Earth

GiaoThua is the most sacred time of the year. Therefore, the firsthouseguest to offer the first greeting is very important. If thatparticular guest has a good aura (well respected, well educated,successful, famous, etc.), then the family believes that they willreceive luck and good fortune throughout the year. The belief of xongdat still remains nowadays, especially among families with businesses.

6. Apricot flowers and peach flowers

Flower buds and blossomsare the symbols for new beginning. These two distinctive flowers arewidely sold and purchased during Tet. Hoa Mai are the yellow apricotflowers often seen in Southern Viet Nam. Hoa Mai are more adaptable tothe hot weather of southern regions, thus, it is known as the primaryflower in every home. Hoa Dao are the warm pink of the peach blossomsthat match well with the dry, cold weather from the North. Tet is notTet if there is no sight of Hoa Mai (south) or Hoa Dao (north) in everyhome.

7. Giving away red envelopes (filled with lucky money)

Thisis a cultural practice that has been maintained for generations. Thered envelopes symbolize luck and wealth. It is very common to see olderpeople giving away sealed red envelopes to younger people.Reciprocally, the older ones would return good advice and words ofwisdom, encouraging the younger ones to keep up with the schoolwork,live harmoniously with others, and obey their parents.
This greeting ritual and Li Xi is also known as Mung Tuoi, honoring the achievement of another year to one's life.

8. Making offers for the Ancestors

Thisceremony is held on the first day of the New Year before noontime. Thehead of the household should perform the proper ritual (offering food,wine, cakes, fruits, and burn incense) to invite the souls of theancestors to join the celebration with the family. This is the timefamilies honor the souls of their ancestors and present the welfare ofthe family.

Vietnamese New Year Foods

Chung cake

BanhChung is a must among other foods to be placed on the ancestors’ altarsduring Tet holiday. In the old time, one or two days before Tet, everyfamily prepares and cooks the Banh Chung around the warm fire. It isalso the time for parents to tell their children folklore stories.Nowadays, families which live in villages still maitain making BanhChung before New Years but the people in the city does not. They don'thave time and prefer to go to the shop to buy it.