Tết Nguyên Đán, more commonly known- thường được biết đến by its shortened name- tên gọi tắt Tết, is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of - đánh dấu sự bắt đầu của spring based on- tính theo the Lunar calendar. The name Tết Nguyên Đán is Sino-Vietnamese for Feast of the First Morning.
The dates of Lunar New Year differs- khác nhau every year but it generally takes place- thường sẽ diễn ra around late January or February. Because of the fact that Vietnamese families are so close-knitted- gắn bó, khăng khít, Tet Holiday is considered- được xem như the best occassion- dịp for family members to return home and get together. During Tết, Vietnamese spend time shopping for the New Year, go to Pagodas and Temples. The items of shopping range from food to clothing to decorations- đồ trang trí for the house. The Vietnamese believe that Tet Holiday is an occasion to enjoy life after a year of hard work, thus people forget their struggles- những khó khăn and focus on making the celebration- tổ chức kỉ niệm as festive- vui vẻ (mang tính chất lễ hội) as possible. Due to- vì the high regard in which people hold it, Tết, as often as not, is consumed with unique- độc đáo, distinctive colors- các màu sắc độc đáo and flavors- hương vị . Let’s take a look at some traditions and customs- truyền thống và phong tục typical of-điển hình, đặc trưng cho this special holiday in Vietnam.
1. Food
Bánh chưng (Sticky square cake)
Bánh Chưng is a food made from glutinous rice- gạo nếp, mung bean- đỗ xanh and pork- thịt lợn, added with many other ingredients- nguyên liệu. Bánh Chưng is covered- bọc by green leaves (usually banana leaves) and symbolizes- tượng trưng cho the Earth, invented by the prince Lang Liêu from Hùng King dynasty- thời, triều đại. Besides traditional reason- lí do truyền thống, Bánh Chưng is chosen as the main food for Tết holiday because of it can last long- để lâu for days in Vietnamese weather (Banh Chung can survive at room temperature- giữ không bị hỏng ở nhiệt độ phòng for nearly 1 month).
Giò, chả (Vietnamese sausage)
Giò chả (Vietnamese ham/sausage) is another traditional food in Tết holiday, and usually served with Xôi (sticky rice) and Bánh Chưng. Giò is different from Chả since Giò is boiled- luộc and Chả is deep-fried-rán. Chả is also made of- được làm từ lean pork- thịt nạc and ingredients, but Chả is not wrapped- cuốn, gói by leaves and boiled but deep-fried in oil.
Thịt kho hột vịt (Braised Pork Belly with Duck Egg)
This dish- món is more popularly enjoyed in the South than in the North, however, noone can deny- chối cãi the irresistable aroma- hương vị không thể cưỡng lại, flavor and the amazing compatibility- khả năng kết hợp ( ý là rất ngon khi ăn với) of this dish with a bowl of steaming rice- cơm. The Pork Belly and Egg is cooked with coconut juice- nước cốt dừa and fish sauce- nước mắm until it becomes tender- mềm and absorb- ngấm all those amazing flavor. The dish is so universal and easy to make that it has become one of the most popular dishes served during Tet Holiday.
Xôi (Sticky rice)
Xôi is also a very important part of Têt holiday in Vietnam, along with Bánh Chưng, xôi is the main staple foods- món chính for Tết holiday. Xôi can be seen in many forms: Xôi Lạc (sticky rice with peanuts), Xôi Đỗ Xanh (sticky rice with mung bean), Xôi Gấc (sticky rice with special “gấc” fruit). Among these types, xôi gấc is favorite the most by people because of its special red color – symbolizes the luck and new achievement- thành công for the New Year.
Mứt (Jam)
Mứt Tết (Tết jam) is not a food to serve in a meal during Tết holiday, but more like a snack to welcome guests- mời khách in this special period- dịp đặc biệt. This once-in-year- mix of snack is very large in variety- nhiều loại, with so many tastes: ginger- gừng, carrot, coconut, pineapple- dứa, pumpkin- bí ngô, lotus seed- hạt sen, star fruit- khế, etc.
2. Traditional customs
Even though many Vietnamese traditions are based on- được dựa trên old cultural beliefs- những quan niệm cũ, cổ that may strike some as a little superstitious- mê tín, families believe that their activities during Tết must involve- phải có happiness, joy, and good luck. Below are some of the popular, long-standing- lâu đời Tết traditional customs- phong tục Tết truyền thống that have stood the test of time- trải qua thử thách thời gian from generations to generations- từ đời này qua đời khác.
Giving Lì xì (lucky money)
The first day of Tết is reserved for: được dành rieng cho the nuclear family- gia đình nhỏ. Children receive a red envelope containing money from their elders. This tradition is called mừng tuổi (happy new age) in the north and lì xì in the south. Usually, children wear their new clothes and give their elders the traditional Tết greetings- việc chào hỏi, chúc Tết before receiving the money.
Xông nhà
Since the Vietnamese believe that the first visitor a family receives in the year determines - quyết định their fortune- vận may for the entire year- cả năm, people never enter any house on the first day without being invited first. The act of being the first person to enter a house on Tết is called xông đất, xông nhà or đạp đất, which is one of the most important rituals during Tết. According to Vietnamese tradition, if good things come to the family on the first day of the lunar New Year, the entire following year will also be full of blessings- toàn may mắn. Usually, a person of good temper- tính khí tốt, morality- có đạo đức and success will be the lucky sign- là điềm may for the host family- gia đình chủ and be invited first into the house.
During subsequent days- những ngày tiếp theo, people visit relatives- họ hàng and friends. Traditionally but not strictly- không chặt chẽ, the second and even painting their home in anticipation of- sao cho phù hợp với spring, settle old debts- trả hết nợ năm cũ and disputes- dàn xếp những tranh chấp, and pledge to behave nicely- cố gắng cư xử lịch sự and work hard in the new year.
3. Decorations
Traditionally, each family displays- trưng, bày “Cây nêu”, an artificial- giả New Year Tree consisting of a bamboo pole- đoạn tre 5 to 6 m long. The top end is usually decorated with- được trang trí với many objects, depending on the locality- đặc tính vùng miền, including good luck charms- bùa, origami fish- cá giấy, cactus branches- nhánh xương rồng, etc.
At Tết every house is usually decorated by hoa mai – Ochna integerrima (in the central and southern parts of Vietnam) or hoa đào – peach flower (in the northern part of Vietnam) or hoa ban (in mountain areas). In the north or central, the kumquat tree is a popular decoration for the living room during Tết. Its bright orange-colored fruits represent- thể hiện the fertility- màu mỡ and fruitfulness- sai hoa, trái that the family hopes for in the coming year.
