Tết is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and occurs sometime between the last 10 days of January and mid February. During Tết people try to end their quarrels with each other and make peace. Tết is a time for families to come together. Families will try to travel together to have a meal together. The will also visit and tidy up the graves of ancestors.
Prior to Tết people start preparations for the Kitchen Gods journey back to Heaven to make their report on the families activities. The kitchen God’s come from an old Vietnamese story (link to story) Families will have a farewell dinner for him and in the North they will release carp three carp into a river. After that a family will clean their house thoroughly so that they do not have to during the festival.
Some families make a Tết tree (cay neu) to ward off bad spirits. The tree is a bamboo pole stripped of all of its leaves except for on the top. Shopping is also big and shoppers will flood the markets days before Tết. Many people go to the Flower Market which is only held at this time of year (video of a market) A few days before Tết shops will lock up until after the festival.
Midnight at for Tết varies for people in Vietnam. Traditionally families would whisper prayers and drums will beat and bells will ring from various temples. Ancestors of the family are invited to share a meal and offerings are giving in the form money for the dead, and other paper gifts. Now many youth in some cieites go to see fireworks at midnight (fireworks in Hanoi). Because firecrackers are now illegal some improvise by making loud noise with cans, electronic popping firecrackers and other alternatives.
For the First Morning a family will stay with their nuclear family. A family will celebrate the husband’s parents. Grandparents will give advice to grandchildren who will then make promises for the year, similar to New Year’s resolutions in the US. Also the head of a family will give offerings to past generations and invite them for the meal. After that the whole family will have a meal together.
For the Second day a family will visit the wife’s parents. Some shops will begin to open and people will be out in the streets parading (parade in Hue).
For the third day people will begin visiting a larger network of people which may include teachers, bosses, and physicians. This is the night which the ancestors depart by burning votive objects which the ancestors can take with them back to Heaven.
Vietnam’s Lunar calendar is based off of cycles of the moon. Each year is designated as the year of one of 12 animals: rat, buffalo, tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, cock dog, and pig (find your sign here). The sign changes every year. Another 60 year cycle is made up of the 5 sets of the rotating 12 animals. This second set modifies the animal set. Once each animal has occurred 5 times the cycle is modified.
A common saying in Vietnam is Ăn Tết which means eating Tet On the last day of theh old year people place great significance in offering their ancestors traditional meals. The food varies depending on the region. The central region around Hue makes traditional foods that used to be prepared for the royal family. The south around Ho Chi Minh City prepares many dishes that use coconut. All families try to make their meals look as beautiful as possible. (Video of rice cakes or Bánh Chưng)
(not that I have any reason to post this video but the song is quite catchy)
