Tet in Vietnam

New Year is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year base on the Luna calender. Vietnamese New Year commonly known by formal name Tet Nguyen Dan. The name Tet Nguyen Dan is Sino-Vietnamese for the Feast of the First Morning, derived from the Han nom characters. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tet by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tet, like ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year’s greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people,etc.
Tet in the three Vietnamese regions can be divided into three period, known as Before New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Eve and the New Year, representing the preparation before Tet, the eve Tet, and the days of and following Tet, respectively. All of these customs are to celebrate Tet in Vietnam. Vietnamese people avoid doing bad things and try to do good things during T?t holiday. * DOS – One should sprinkle lime powder around the house to expel evil. – One should return all things borrowed, and pay debts before Tet. * DON’TS One should not say or do bad things during Tet. – One should not hurt or kill animals or plants but should set them free. The reason for this originates from Buddhism’s causality. – One should not sweep the house or empty out the rubbish to avoid luck and benefits going with it, especially on the first day of the new year. – One should not have duck meat because it brings unluckiness. – One should not have shrimp in case on would move backwards like shrimp, in other words, one would not succeed. – One should not refuse anything other give or wish you during Tet.
New Year, my favorite holiday, is one of the most celebrated days in the world. The day is shaped by different customs and traditions. Each culture celebrates this holiday in its own unique way. We live in a rapidly changing world both culturally and linguistically, so culture is very important thing. People who know about other cultures are more able and adept at working in today’s world. They can communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, and keep an open mind when others shut down. Happy New Year!