BY ANDY, LISA, JUDY, LONG. Also known as Tet Nguyen Dan(Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Is one of the most important and popular occasions of the year.

VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR

BY ANDY, LISA, JUDY, LONG

WHAT IS TET?

Also known as Tet Nguyen Dan(Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Is one of the most important and popular occasions of the

year for Vietnamese people. Tet is celebrated to welcome the new year. People think of Vietnamese New year as a fresh start where

they can forget their troubles of the previous years and hope to do better this year.

Tết also means the first morning of the first day of the new year.

WHEN AND HOW LONG IS TET?

It occurs at around late January or early February

Tet occurs on the first day of spring for three days straight.

Tet can last for the whole month but usually the first three days is most prominent/ prior.

It is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year on the first day of spring.

WHAT DO THE VIETNAMESE PLAN AND DO IN ADVANCE

IN PREPARE FOR TET

The things that Vietnamese people often do in advance for Tet is:

Cleaning the house

Cleaning the utensils

They go around buying food, clothes and decoration for New Year.

Some people would repaint their house.

Some houses would have Kumquat trees, branches of peach blossoms or any colourful flowers.

They do all the things above because they believe that will help them get rid of the bad luck of the year before and they want to start with good luck.

WHAT DO THEY DO ON TET DAYS?

Tet comprises of three main Tet days: 1. The first day comprises of : a) An occasion where people can meet their close relatives b) The ritual where the first visitor decides whether the family is

good or bad and whether the family have good blessings for the year.

2. The second day consists of: a) Visit all their friends, and special guests

3. While on the third day consists ofa) Teachers and business associates to have a visit.

b) The third day also includes visiting the graves of their deceased ancestors or relatives.

c) Many people will go to the temple or churches praying for a new good year. Food plays a major role in the Tet celebration. Tet is a time of excess, one does not enjoy Tet, one "eats" Tet.

In essence, we do a variety of things during Tet and such as visit people’s houses, give lucky money, ancestral worshiping, opening a shop... But during all three days of Tet, Elders may also give children li xi (red envelope), wishing to retrieve good luck and happiness, eat an excessive amount of food

WHAT COLOURS SYMBOLISES GOOD LUCK AND HAPPINESS

IN VIETNAMESE CULTURE

In the Vietnamese culture red and yellow symbolizes good luck and happiness.

They believe red is good luck because it was said that demons and evil sprits were afraid of the colour red and they use the colour red as a guard to scare off the demons.

Also for our flag the red represent the colour of the Vietnamese blood and the yellow represent our dream

WHAT ARE ALTARS IN THE VIETNAMESE HOMES DECORATED WITH?

On the altars that are found in the Vietnamese households would be the plate of fruits, which contain: a bunch of banana, a grape fruit, oranges, coconut, apple and etc.

They also decorate the altar with votive papers. On the altar we have the stature of our god and incense.

What is “li xi” and its meaning? Li xi is basically lucky money wrapped in a red envelope

as a gift to young children.

The custom of elders giving young children money is called ‘mung tuoi’ (happy new age). It is said elders could get good luck doing this.

Li xi is also known as lucky money given to children at the start of the year to welcome the new age of the year.

Children will usually wear new clothes before retrieving the money.

Despite the money, the red evelope also has its own meaning. The red envelope is also good luck given to children by elders.

What do they avoid doing on Tet days

One shouldn't say or do bad things during New Year.

One shouldn't sweep the house or empty out the rubbish to avoid luck and benefits going with it.

One shouldn't give these presents to others: clock or watch (the recipient's time is going to pass), cats, medicine, scissors or knives.

One shouldn't have duck meat because it brings unluckiness.

One shouldn't have shrimp in case one would move backwards like shrimp, in other words, one would not succeed.

One shouldn't let the rice-hulling mill go empty because it symbolizes failed crops.

One shouldn't refuse anything others give or wish you during Tet.

SOME TRADITIONAL DISHES ON THE TET OCCASION

Hạt Dưa Dưa Hành Củ Kiệu Mứt Cầu Dừa Đủ Xoài Bánh chưng and bánh

dầy Bánh chưng and bánh

dầy

WHAT DO THEY DO AT A VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR FAIR

The vietnamese new year fairs usually can last up to an entire week.

New Year is filled with people in the streets trying to make as much noise as possible using firecrackers, drums, bells, gongs, and anything they can think of to ward off evil spirits.

This parade will also include different masks, and dancers hidden under the guise of what is known as the Mua Lan or Lion Dancing.

The Mua Lan is an animal between a lion and a dragon, and is the symbol of strength in the Vietnamese culture that is used to scare away evil spirits. After the parade, families and friends will come together to have a feast of traditional vietnamese dishes, and share the happiness and joy of the New Year with one another.

1. Tiger- 1974,1986,19982. Ox- 1973,1985,19983. Rat- 1973,1985,19974. Pig- 1983,1995,20075. Dog- 1982,1994,20066. Rooster- 1981,1993,20057. Monkey- 1980,1992,20048. Goat- 1979,1991,20039. Horse- 1978,1990,200210. Snake- 1977,1989,200111. Dragon- 1976,1988,20012. Rabbit- 1975,1987,1999Each zodiac is said to have an influence/representation on people’s behaviour and how they act.There are 12 zodiac animals in total.This is the year of the dragon.

ZODIAC

Reference

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/Chinese-zodiac-signs.htmlhttp://www.threeland.com/vietnam_festivals_events.htmhttp://www.familyculture.com/holidays/tet.htmhttp://www.adoptvietnam.org/vietnamese/tet-links.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E1%BA%BFt

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