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Januay 2017
2017
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Vietnam celebrates many holidays, however TET celebrations are by far the most important days for all Vietnamese. The week long period of celebration allows the Vietnamese to travel to their hometowns from the cities and spend time with their close and distant relatives. Leading up to the holidays the cities don a red and yellow jacket of colorful items that decorate all the homes and shops in the residential and business areas. Tet marks the beginning of the Lunar Year where the citizens celebrate the union of nature, culture and people living and dead. Being always mindful of the connections between people and their natural and spiritual world. While this originates from China, Vietnam has adapted their unique way with festivals that are their own. Tet translated defines the “First morning of the first day” While their are many festivals in and around the city the most important traditions of observance take place in the home.
Children Love Tet Children are very much part of the festivities and all the children receive a new set of clothes which they can’t wait to wear on the first day of the new year. On the eve of new year houses prepare for the next day and usually families gather at home to wait for the first day of the year. Children will usually stay up late and be part of all the rituals that take place. The biggest excitement for children, young and old, would be the receiving of the lucky money envelopes. “Tien mung tuoi” is a tradition that all adults would purchase several of these envelopes to hand out to children with gifts of money inside. The amount varies and it is usually a greater amount the closer the relative is. Friends of the family would have the same envelopes and would hand out to all the children they come into contact with in the first few days of Tet. It is seen as a small amount of money that can bring good fortune for the upcoming year. Folklore tells the story of gold coins wrapped in a red cloth that shimmered which chased the evil spirits away, when that news spread the tradition of handing out the red envelopes with money inside remained a strong tradition in several parts of Asia.
Banh Chung - the glutinous rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves is square shaped in the north, Banh Tet is rounded and served in the south.
The use of the envelope has a further purpose and that is that the envelopes look the same but the amount would vary. The envelope in turn projects the image of giving the same thing and in turn steers children away from comparing the amounts given. On the first day of the new year, children and adults will visit the grandparents to wish them a happy new year and great health. In return grandparents would give children their lucky money to welcome their new age. The envelope also carries hope for children to eat well and grow quickly, to study well and to have a great year ahead.
Candied ginger, lotus seeds and peanut candy bars. Mut Tet (Tet candied fruit) are placed in beautifully decorated bowls or plates, on offer to every visitor during this period and beyond. Coconut, ginger, kumquats and lotus seeds are the most popular candied fruit often served with roasted watermelon seeds and a good cup of tea. 2017 - The Year of the Fire Rooster
A elderly lady passing on some words of wisdom to two boys with their lucky money envelopes. With the handing of the lucky money, the older generation would pause to give the children some good advice, usually towards studying and being a good scholar. It is a good idea to invest in a pack or two of the envelopes and to put in some crisp notes, it needn’t be large amounts but you will be making the childrens day that you come accross on New Years Day!
The Year of the Red Fire Rooster starts from January 28th 2017 and extends up to February 15th 2018. This is the year when you will need to work hard and be patient in order to achieve your goals. This Year of the Rooster is ruled by the fire element and it is a Yin year. This is the time to be spent in solitude and harmony with friends and family. According to Chinese astrology, the Rooster years are known to be filled with integrity and efficiency. Hard work is the key to achieving success in this Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year 2017 predictions suggest that this year can beneficial in your career and financial investments. But time your business ventures well if you want to take advantage of the most profitable periods. Also try alternative healing therapies to keep stress at bay so that you can use your potential to the maximum. Astrologers for 2017 forecasts predict that this will turn out to be an excellent year for the Dragons. The Snake, Ox and Rooster will have a great year. The Rats and Tigers too will have a good year. The Sheep, Pigs and Monkeys will have a mix of good and bad happenings while the Rabbits, Horses and Dogs might face a few problems. But as long as you have the will power and focus to overcome all challenges, nothing can stop you from reaching your targets!
Within the first week of January visitors will be fascinated by the motorbike drivers carting numerous trees for delivery. In the north of Vietnam it is custom to buy or rent a Kumquat tree or “Hoa Dao” the Peach Blossom tree. As the Tet Holiday approaches, many Vietnamese crowd into the kumquat orchard markets to choose the perfect tree specimen. Most importantly, for many Vietnamese, choosing the right kumquat tree contributes to the feeling that the coming year will bring good luck prosperity. A trip down to the flower market in Au Co will leave you astounded as to the frantic activity around you and the abundance of cherry blossom branches in all different shapes and sizes and of course, prices. If you do get a chance to go to the market look at the back end stalls which are covered, there orchid vendors have perfectly manicured pots of orchids in sizes up to two metres. The market is at its busiest in the early hours of the morning in fact before five am. January this year the streets outside the market are lined with cherry blossom branches with vendors from up country. Another street to visit before Tet is Lac Long Quan where potted kumquat trees and cherry blossoms line the streets for a few kilometres. Cuisine plays an enourmous role in the preparations of Tet. The table is not limited to but usually includes stewed pork with bamboo shoots, steamed glutinous rice, bitter gourds, stir fried almonds, papaja salad and mung bean pudding. These dishes are usually served with pickled green sprouts with leeks, carrots and turnips to aid the digestion of the rich meal. It does however vary depending on the region. Banh Chung a glutinous rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves is square shaped in the north, and represents Mother Earth, fertility and wealth. Mut Tet (Tet candied fruit) are placed in beautifully decorated bowls or plates, on offer to every visitor during this period and beyond. Coconut, ginger, kumquats and lotus seeds are the most popular candied fruit often served with roasted watermelon seeds and a good cup of tea.