Tet: The Celebrated Festival of Vietnam's Culture

Tet , or Lunar New Year is considered one of the most popular festival in Vietnam. This special
holiday takes place on January 1st based on Lunar Calendar. Tet is an occasion for people gather
their family, express their respect to their ancestors and welcome a new year. Tet occupies an
important role in Vietnamese culture, so the preparation often begin before one or two weeks.
Although Tet is a holiday for all Vietnamese, every region has its own custom and preparation. In my
hometown, to celebrate this occasion, people usually clean and decorate their houses, go shopping
and cook traditional food, as well as take part in many specific activities during this holiday. Firstly, to
prepare for Tet, people often spend a few days cleaning their houses, polishing furnishings and
bronze incense burner, or even repainting the wall. They want everything in their houses must be
cleaned to get the good in new year and get rid off the bad luck in the old year. They also decorate
their houses with many flowers as: apricot blossom, marigold, daisy, and so on. Moreover, the houses
is also garnished with colorful lights and parallel sentences. Each parallel sentence has its own
meaning, showing the expectation of Vietnamese.

For example, “Security, good health, and prosperity”,” May myriad things go according to your will”.
Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring fortune things, so these colors can be
seen everywhere during Tet. Besides, the ancestor’s altar is also especially taken care of with flowers
and some kinds of fruit, including: custard apple, coconut, papaya, mango and fig. They want to pray
for enough money to spend and comfortable life in the New Year. Secondly, to welcome this great
festival people usually go shopping for everything which is necessary for Tet and cook traditional
food. Everyone spend money purchasing new clothes to wear when Tet arrives. This is often the most
exciting among children, the best beautiful clothes is always worn on the first day of the new year.
People buy not only clothes but also flowers to put them in front of or inside their houses.
Furthermore, they also buy a lot of food, which is integral during Tet. The food is very various from
cakes, candies, jam to many special dishes. Some popular dishes are often cooked to consume
during Tet as: sticky rice cake, boiled chickens, spring rolls, Chinese braise pork. These are very
delicious and contain culinary culture in Vietnam.

Finally, it is the time to enjoy the new spring together. There are many activities happened in Tet
holiday. In some big cities, people organize concerts and performance firework at the moment of New
Year’s Eve to welcome the new year. Besides, lion dance is also a traditional activity to bring lucky
and prosperity. During Tet,children wear new clothes and receive lucky money from the older after
giving to them greeting Tet. Parties are organized to all of member in family eat and drink together.
During the time of Tet, the streets are very crowded and noisy because of streams of people. They
spend time visiting their relatives, their friends, and their teachers. Some people go to pagoda to pray
for peace and happiness in the new year.

Tet is a special and meaningful occasion to all Vietnamese. It is the time for people reunite with their
family and relax after a hard-working year. I am sure that if foreigner have a chance to visit Vietnam at
Tet holiday, they will be fascinated by its feature. Remember that, do not consume too much alcohol
and sweet stuff during Tet because it is not good for your health.

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