Vietnam new year holiday
Tết Nguyên Đán, also known as Vietnamese New Year or Tet, is the most important holiday in Vietnam. It is a 3- to 7-day celebration that marks the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar Vietnamese calendar. Here are some key facts about the Vietnamese New Year holiday:
Date: Tết usually falls between January 20th and February 20th in the Gregorian calendar.
Preparations: Before Tết, Vietnamese people typically clean their homes, decorate with flowers and decorations, and prepare traditional foods such as banh Chung (square cake) and banh Tet (cylindrical cake).
Traditions:
- Family Reunions: Tết is a time for family reunions and gatherings. People often return to their hometowns to spend time with their loved ones.
- Visiting Ancestors: Vietnamese people pay respects to their ancestors by visiting their graves, offering incense, and leaving food and drink offerings.
- Wearing New Clothes: It's customary to wear new clothes on the first day of Tết to symbolize a fresh start.
- Giving and Receiving Money: Adults give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
- Traditional Foods: Banh Chung and banh Tet are traditional foods eaten during Tết. Other popular dishes include xôi (sticky rice), bánh chưng (square cake), and bánh tét (cylindrical cake).
- Lion Dance and Dragon Dance: These traditional performances are often held during Tết to bring good luck and fortune.
Public Holidays: Tết is a public holiday in Vietnam, and most businesses, schools, and government offices are closed during this period.
Interesting Facts:
- Tết is a time for renewal: The Vietnamese New Year is a time for people to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new year with hope and optimism.
- Tết is a time for forgiveness: Vietnamese people often use Tết as an opportunity to forgive and forget past conflicts and mistakes.
- Tết is a time for celebration: Tết is a time for people to come together, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in festive activities such as lion and dragon dances.
Overall, Tết is a significant holiday in Vietnam that is filled with tradition, family, and celebration. It's a time for people to come together, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the new year with hope and optimism.