The traditions of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year
In Vietnam , Tet is the most important Festival for the Vietnamese people. This sacred Festival occurs sometime between late January or early February, depending on the Lunar Calendar. It is also the time for family reunions, and for paying respect to the ancestors and the elders. Gift of food are given to friends, neighbors and relatives days before Tet. One of the traditional foods like bánh chung ( a square cake made of sticky rice stuffed with beans and pork), mang ( a soup of boiled bamboo shoots and fried pork). This is followed by a visit to the local pagodas. Everyone is in rush to get a haircut, buy new clothes, spruce up their homes, visit friends, settle outstanding debts, and stock up on traditional Tet delicacies and hang festive red banners which read " Chuc Mung Nam Moi"(Happy New Year) and city streets are festooned with colored lights.
Flower of Tet: Dao, Mai, Quat (the Peach Apricot and Kumquat)
Coming to Vietnam during season of the Tet festival, visitors are engulfed in an ocean of colorful flowers. Visiting flower shows, contemplating the buds and blooms, and purchasing blossoms represents one of the distinct Vietnamese cultural characteristics. The peach ( in the North and the apricot blossoms in the South are symbols of the Vietnamese Tet. The mandarin fruit is symbolic of food fortune.
Food specialties for Tet
On the last day of the old year, the preparation of food to offer to the ancestors is of special significance. What is common in all regions of the country during Tet holidays are the varieties of soups, fried, boiled, or stewed dishes, meat, fish, vegetable.... The foods that the Vietnamese eat at Tet are varied and diverse, but people throughout the country all want to have the best and the most beautiful looking food on this occasion to offer their ancestors.
The Giao Thua
The Giao Thua is the New Year's Eve. This is the highlight of the Tet celebration. The old chieftain ends his year and the new chieftain will be welcomed to take his place. In this place the people of Vietnam makes an offer for a bountiful year ahead.
