Vietnam Tet Holiday

Customs and Traditions of Tet Nguyen Dan

The most important holiday in Vietnamese culture is surely the Tet, the New Year celebrations in Vietnam. This holiday is also called Tet Nguyen Dan, which means the Feast of the Very First Morning of the Year. This festival takes place on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar, which falls somewhere between late January and early February. The purpose of the festival is to leave the mistakes and hardships of the previous year behind and get prepared for a better year to come. Celebrations with family, foreshadowing for the upcoming year, food and friendship are all foundational during this special occasion of the year.

You may wonder what the Vietnamese Tet celebration looks like. Well, first let’s look at how Vietnamese prepare for this holiday.

Preparation

The busy preparations for the holiday can be seen everywhere one to two weeks before it begins. Because so many travel home for the holiday, all people want their houses to be clean, decorated and to have the best foods readily prepared at home for the homecomers.

These days on touring the streets, your eyes are dazzled with red and yellow colors of the many decorations in front of the houses. In the Vietnamese culture, red and yellow are considered lucky colors. Additionally, fruit tree vases are laid in and around the home as symbols of fertility and fruitfulness. The most popular fruit decorations are peach blossoms, kumquat trees and orange trees. Towns are decorated with bright lights and red and yellow banners to welcome the new year and bring future prosperity to stores.

Since the Vietnamese believe that your status on Tet determines your fate for the rest of the year, there are several important goals for Tet. Children get haircuts and new clothes, so that they look their best. People try to pay off all debts from the previous year, so that they are ready to step into prosperity in the coming year.

Most Vietnamese homes have a family altar with a plate of five fruits placed on it year-round. These fruits are placed there because of the Vietnamese proverb ''When taking fruit, you should thank the grower,'' a clear connection to the importance of honoring ancestors. Prior to Tet, the altar is cleaned and the fruits are replaced.

Another important aspect of the preparations involves honoring the three kitchen guardians. A few days before Tet begins, these kitchen guardians return to heaven to give the Jade Emperor a report on how the family did that year. The day before these guardians leave, the family holds a small celebration where they give the kitchen guardians sacrifices to use on their journey.

Food preparation is important to not only to prepare the food for family, but also as an opportunity to talk about the Tet celebration in previous years. Family members take turns staying up all night to keep the fire going and cook food. While doing so, they share stories of past Tet celebrations. Some of the most popular foods include banh chung (sticky rice with beans and pork), canh mang (soup with bamboo shoots and pork) and mut (a type of candy that is put into beautiful boxes).

The Giao Thua (New Year's Eve)

The day before Tet begins, called Giao Thua, all preparations have been completed and most family members have returned home. The Vietnamese believe that there are twelve Highness who rule the earth from heaven and that each one rules for one year before passing the power onto the next Highness. The Giao Thua celebration marks the transfer of power from one Highness to the next. In this celebration, families give offerings to the incoming Highness.

Tet Celebration

On the first day of the Tet celebration, the immediate family gathers in the morning. Children wear new clothes and greet elders with traditional Tet greetings that focus on health, prosperity, wealth and security. In exchange, the elders give them lucky money, typically placed in red envelopes. Some of these traditional Tet greetings are being said and heard

Chook Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Year)

Cung Chuc Tan Xuan (gracious wishes for the new spring)

People believe that the one who first foots the home sets the tone for how the year will go. Because of this, they invite a first footer who is nice and prosperous to ensure a lucky year. During the Tet celebration, you will not be invited into a home if you are mourning the loss of a family member.
Vietnamese believe that they should not sweep in the first days of Tet because they will be sweeping their blessings away. They also smile often and are extremely nice to people they encounter during these celebrations because they believe that this will give them fortune in the coming year.
The second day of Tet celebrations are for visiting friends. The third day of celebrations are for visiting teachers, who are extremely respected in the country. It is also common to go to Buddhist temples on these days to offer money and have your fortune told.

In summary, the Vietnamese believe that the tone for the year is set in the first few days of the lunar year. This is why the Tet celebration is so important to people there. Celebration practices are done to ensure prosperity in the coming year. Customs include honoring ancestors, preparing food, decorating the home and inviting successful visitors to the house. Many Tet celebrations have been practiced for hundreds of years.

AN EXCERPT ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE "TET NGUYEN DAN"

Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet Am Lich, or just Tet holiday is the biggest event of the year in Vietnam. It marks the arrival of Spring and the beginning of the lunar New Year at the same time. The holiday usually falls in late January or early February,

During Tet, houses should be sparkling clean and full of flowers. New clothing and presents are in great demand. The common items to shop are clothing, food, candles, incense sticks, and flowers. It is necessary for every household to present a prosperous and well-to-do look, so people buy food and fruit in abundance, not only to eat but to place on the altar for their ancestors. Downtown streets are a riot of colors with flowers and decorations at each store, including temporary ones, set up on the sidewalk.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve comes a ceremony called Giao Thua, marking the solemn moment when the New Year officially sets in. An outdoor altar is set up then, on which a sacrifice for the spirits is laid, with brightly-lit candles and incense sticks. After this, some family members may go to the Pagoda to pray for the prosperity of the new year. On leaving the pagoda, they will pick a new bud from a plant or tree to bring home. This symbolizes bringing potential profit into home.

On the afternoon before Tet, A New Year’s Eve party is held, at which a sacrifice is offered to the deceased relatives. They are invited to come back for a few days and share the festivities with the living members of the family.

The next morning, the family arise early and dress in their new clothes. Everyone offers each other New Year wishes, and the children are given lucky red envelopes containing money. Tradition attaches great importance to the first visitor from outside the home on the New Year. He is believed to influence the happiness or well-being of the family during the rest of the year. A man with a good name is often chosen for this occasion, such as Phuoc which means “happiness” is preferable to one named Thiệt, “failure.” 

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Roles of the Animals in the Lunar New Year

As you all know, the Vietnamese Tet Nguyen Dan marks the very first day of the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year is based on a lunar calendar and begins on the darkest day of the first month of the lunar cycle, or the first new moon after January 20.

In Western cultures, the New Year is celebrated by saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new. Similarly, the Chinese New Year focuses on starting the year fresh and clean. Commonly called the Spring Festival, this name keeps the holiday distinct from Western celebrations on December 31.

In oriental cultures, animals play a significent symbolic role in the transition from one year to the next. The dragon, lion, and Nian celebrate new beginnings during the Spring Festival. Each Lunar New Year is celebrated with symbolic animals. Every year is designated by an animal in the Chinese zodiac. The celebration dates are tied to beliefs in the Chinese zodiac and change each year. Regardless of the starting date, though, the festivities last 15 days, or until the first full moon of the year. The traditions ensure a successful year.
The twelve animals of the zodiac represent the passage of time, and the cycle of years. Folklore tells of how the Jade Emperor named each year for an animal after they raced across a river. Each animal's personality was revealed during the race, and it is said that people share traits with the animal of their lunar birth year.

Fireworks and Fiends

According to legend, the celebration of the Chinese New Year began as a religious ceremony thousands of years ago after villagers defeated a mythical beast called the Nian. When the Nian woke on the night before the New Year, villagers confronted the monster with loud noises, fire and red banners that scared it away. Because of this, the New Year is celebrated with red decorations and loud fireworks to keep the Nian at bay. In Mandarin, the word Nian means year and fireworks welcome a year of good luck.

New Year's Parade

Loud noises also accompany the mythical dancing dragon, a centerpiece of the traditional New Year's parade. Unlike the threatening creatures in Western tradition, Chinese dragons are helpful, credited for the harmony of the seasons, rain, and healthy crops. During the parade firecrackers are thrown to wake the dragon from hibernation at the advent of spring. The dragon costume is carried on long poles over the heads of a long team of dancers. As they weave along the parade route, the dragon displays its dignity as poles are raised and lowered.

The dragon is followed by lion dancers that look very different from their real-life counterparts. Lions are not indigenous to China, so early representations were based on stories told by travelers. It is oversized, and represents happiness by mimicking traditional New Year's festivities such as eating special foods. Chinese parade lions are portrayed by two costumed performers who use martial arts to demonstrate the character's power as it moves along the parade route.

The Great Race of the Zodiac Animals

Each New Year is named for one of twelve creatures. There are many adaptations of how the years were named, but nearly all revolve around a race. One tale recounts how the supreme heavenly Jade Emperor decided to designate each year with the name of an animal. To determine the order of the animals, he called for the animals to race across a river. Twelve animals completed the race, and each competitor's actions during the race revealed an important aspect of their personality.

The clever rat convinced the powerful and deliberate ox to let it ride on its back, knowing that the ox would arrive first. Upon reaching the far shore, the rat leapt from the ox's head and landed ahead of it. After the ox, came the showy tiger, who was a powerful swimmer.
The lithe and strategic rabbit hopped across on rocks, but was caught on a log. The dragon back on the starting shore puffed a great gust of wind to blow the rabbit across to the other side. Although easily as powerful as the other animals, and capable of flight, the dragon landed in fifth place because it stayed behind to provide rain for crops.

The Chinese zodiac, or circle of animals, is based on the order in which the animals reached the far shore. In China, age and time is based on 12-year cycles. To reference an animal is the same as citing a year in the past. For example, anyone born in lunar year 2016 is born in the Year of the Monkey, as were those who were born 12 years before that, and so on.

It is believed that those born within each year take on the traits of its honored animal, much like how horoscopes are said to predict outcomes based on birth months. Like the monkey on the river, babies born in lunar year 2016 will likely be sharp-witted, agile, and apt to play pranks on others.

Chinese Zodiac
Every year, people across China and the world enjoy the Chinese New Year, a 15-day-long celebration. The Chinese New Year includes many different symbols that carry various meanings. The Chinese zodiac features 12 different animals that represent different years on a 12-year cycle, and people are believed to reflect the qualities associated with the animal of the year they were born. Other important symbols include lights and lanterns, the color red, dragons, and plum blossoms.

Western cultures are familiar with the Greek zodiac, 12 different symbols that represent 12 different parts of the year. Just like the Greeks, the Chinese have a zodiac of their own. Instead of representing a 12-month cycle like the Greeks, however, the Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle. Each year in the cycle is represented by a different animal, and each animal symbolizes different personality traits. The Chinese believe there is a connection between these animal traits and the characteristics of the people born during that animal's year.

Rat (Zi)

Considered to be go-getters, rats are generally associated with generosity and the ability to adapt easily to new situations. At the same time, they're very aware and can be sneaky. Past Years of the Rat include 1984, 1996, 2008.

Ox (Chon)

The ox is a very large, strong beast known for its leadership abilities, honesty, and devotion. Past Years of the Ox include 1985, 1997, and 2009.

Tiger (Yin)

The tiger is a very courageous animal known for its directness and honesty. Considered to be great leaders, tigers are also very sympathetic to the people around them. Past Years of the Tiger include 1986, 1998, and 2010.

Rabbit (Mao)

Have you ever seen a rabbit hopping around outside? If so, then you know that they're very gentle and peaceful creatures. According to Chinese tradition, the rabbit is also considered to be both capable and loving. Past Years of the Rabbit include 1987, 1999, and 2011.

Dragon (Chen)

According to the Chinese, the dragon is a strong, passionate, and smart creature. It also has a very fiery personality! Past Years of the Dragon include 1988, 2000, and 2012.

Snake (Si)

Snakes are wise, clever, and quiet creatures but they can also be very sneaky! Past Years of the Snake include 1989, 2001, and 2013.

Horse (Wu)

Horses are attractive, popular animals. Their warmth draws others to them, but they're not so good at keeping secrets. Past Years of the Horse include 1990, 2002, and 2014.

Sheep (Wei)

The sheep is associated with privacy and gentleness. Past Years of the Sheep include 1991, 2003, and 2015.

Monkey (Shen)

The monkey is considered to be a very social and friendly creature. In addition to being outgoing, it's also very self-centered. Past Years of the Monkey include 1992 and 2004 and 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.

Rooster (You)

The rooster is very capable and does well on its own. It's also associated with intelligence and impatience. Past Years of the Rooster include 1993 and 2005 and 2017 will be the Year of the Rooster.

Dog (Xu)

When you think of a dog, the phrase 'man's best friend' may come to mind. Just like in the United States, the dog is associated with loyalty in China. Past Years of the Dog include 1994, 2006 and 2018.

Pig (Hai)

The pig is a loyal and honest animal. Even though it can be slow to act, it has a very short temper. Past Years of the Pig include 1995 and 2007 and 2019.

Other Characteristic Symbols of the Chinese New Year

Along with the zodiac, the Chinese New Year has many other important symbols. Lights play an important role in Chinese New Year celebrations. According to a Chinese myth, the lights were once used to scare off a horrible beast. Along with regular lanterns, each New Year celebration includes lanterns in the shape of a rabbit. The rabbit lanterns symbolize a Chinese myth about a goddess who traveled to the moon with a rabbit as her companion.

The color red is also very important during Chinese New Year. Red represents good luck and happiness. One of the most popular traditions during this time of year is giving hong bao, or red envelopes filled with money, to young children. Just like the color red, dragons are also a symbol of good luck, as well as fortune. The plum blossom is used to symbolize both courage and hope going into the new year.

Ochna integerrima (Hoa Mai Vàng, Hoàng Mai, Huỳnh Mai)

Ochna integerrima is a deciduous shrub or tree that can grow up to 12 metres tall. The short bole can be straight or twisted and is 6 - 16cm in diameter. The taller specimens are generally found near river banks, whilst small shrubs are more common near seashores.

The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of wood. It is a very popular ornamental garden plant in east Asia, where the cut flowers are seen as a symbol of good luck during the New Year festivities in Vietnam.

Ochna integerrima (thomasiana) - Vietnamese Mickey Mouse plant (Mai Tứ Quý)

Vietnamese Mickey Mouse plant is a traditional Vietnamese New Year plant. In Vietnamese, the variety of O. integerrima whose flowers have five petals is called Mai Vang (yellow mai), whereas Mai Nui (mountain mai) flowers have between five and nine petals.

Ochna integerrima, which blooms profusely on the occasion of 'Tet', the Vietnamese New Year, is probably most celebrated flower in Vietnam. The spectacular yellow flowers of this plant make it very popular in southern Vietnam, where the plant is purchased during Lunar New Year. This is a rather slow growing, medium size shrub that can be trained into miniature tree. In winter the plant is covered with pretty bright yellow flowers, believed to bring good luck and prosperity. They are followed by cute shiny black berries on bright red sepals that resemble the face of Mickey Mouse. The plant is easy to grow and relatively cold hardy (to light freeze).