Vietnamese New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán)

Date: Vietnamese New Year, known as Tết Nguyên Đán or simply Tết, is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. The actual date varies each year but typically falls in late January or early February.

History: Tết is rooted in ancient agricultural practices and marks the arrival of spring, a time for renewal and honoring ancestors. It is influenced by Chinese New Year traditions due to historical cultural exchange but has distinct Vietnamese characteristics.

Traditions:

• Preparation: The lead-up to Tết involves thorough house-cleaning, buying new clothes, settling debts, and cooking traditional foods.
• Decorations: Homes are decorated with peach blossoms (in the north) or apricot blossoms (in the south), kumquat trees, and red banners with calligraphy to symbolize good fortune.
• Ancestor Worship: An important aspect of Tết is paying respects to ancestors through rituals at home altars.
• Food: Traditional dishes such as bánh chưng (sticky rice cake), pickled onions, and boiled chicken are prepared and shared among family members.
• Lì xì: Elders give red envelopes containing money (lì xì) to children for good luck.
• Dragon Dances: Lion and dragon dances are performed in public places to ward off evil spirits.

Activities on the Day: On the day of Tết:

• People visit family members starting with the most senior. This is called "xông đất" or "xông nhà."
• They also visit temples and pagodas to pray for a prosperous year ahead.
• Festive activities include firework displays, playing traditional games, listening to music, and watching performances.

The celebration often extends over several days, during which businesses are closed as people take time off work to engage in festivities.