The Vietnamese people highly value their customs, holidays, and traditional culture, including the well-known Lunar New Year, or Tet, and the less commonly known Tet Thuong Tan.
1. What is Tet Thuong Tan?
Tet Thuong Tan, also known as Tet Song Thap, Tet of the Healers, or Tet Trung Thap
Tet Thuong Tan, celebrated annually on the 10th day of the 10th lunar month, has several names, including Tet Song Thap, Tet of the Healers, and Tet Trung Thap. In rice-growing regions, this date typically coincides with the harvest season.
According to ancient beliefs, the 10th day of the 10th lunar month is when the yin and yang energies of the universe converge, uniting the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Herbs are believed to be at their most potent during this time. Traditionally, people prepare sticky rice cakes and sweet porridge to offer to their ancestors and then share with their families and neighbors.
These dishes are chosen because they are made from rice, a gift from the heavens and the earth. By offering these delicacies, people express their gratitude to the deities and their ancestors for their blessings.
2. The Significance of Tet Thuong Tan
Celebrating the Harvest
Tet Thuong Tan celebrates the harvest season
For those in the mountainous regions of Tay Nguyen and Viet Bac, Tet Thuong Tan is a time to celebrate the new rice harvest. This celebration is seen as a way of giving thanks to the gods of the land, rivers, and “Giang”.
“Giang” is a deity of the mountains and forests, worshiped to bring abundance to the villages.
Honoring the Agricultural God
Tet Thuong Tan honors the Agricultural God
Preparing a feast to offer to the ancestors, deities, and especially the Agricultural God is a way of expressing gratitude for a bountiful harvest. People thank the Agricultural God for granting them a prosperous and favorable farming season.
Gratitude for Healers
Preparing rice-based dishes
In rural areas, people often cook various rice-based dishes such as , , sticky rice cakes, soft rice cakes, and different types of sweet porridge to offer to their ancestors. They then share these delicacies with their neighbors and loved ones.
Additionally, they perform rituals to honor the deities and genii loci, thanking them for their blessings of a bountiful harvest, favorable weather, and more. This is a unique and colorful aspect of Tet Thuong Tan.
Performing rituals to honor the deities and genii loci
People in Tay Nguyen and Viet Bac also offer sacrifices to their gods and ancestors. They invite relatives and friends to join in the festivities, with singing, dancing, and feasting. Additionally, they hold a special ceremony involving a communal meal.
The Tay people usually offer a bowl of water with the most beautiful rice flowers, wishing for a bountiful harvest. In contrast, the Thai people’s feast includes two roosters, a hen, eels, frogs, alcohol, and rice, among other dishes.
4. Offerings for Tet Thuong Tan
Banh Bot Loc (Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumplings)
Banh Bot Loc (Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumplings)
A popular delicacy during Tet Thuong Tan is banh bot loc, a dumpling with a sweet and savory filling of shrimp and pork. The sweetness of the shrimp and the richness of the pork are perfectly complemented by a drizzle of fish sauce and a hint of chili pepper, making it a visually appealing offering.
Com Lam (Bamboo Sticky Rice)
Com Lam (Bamboo Sticky Rice)
While rice is a staple food made from the earth’s bounty, com lam takes it a step further with its aromatic fragrance. The rice is cooked in bamboo tubes, infusing it with a distinctive aroma, enhancing its natural sweetness, and resulting in a sticky, buttery texture. A sprinkle of salty fermented shrimp paste completes this delicious dish, making it an ideal offering during Tet Thuong Tan.
Banh Duc Lac (Mung Bean and Peanut Cake)
Banh Duc Lac (Mung Bean and Peanut Cake)
Banh duc lac is a simple yet delicious cake made from mung bean flour and peanuts. It has a nutty flavor and a soft, creamy texture. This cake is a visually appealing and thoughtful choice for the Tet Thuong Tan offerings.
Grilled Clay Pot Chicken
Grilled Clay Pot Chicken
A unique dish, the chicken is cooked in a clay pot over a fire, resulting in tender meat with a smoky aroma and a golden-brown exterior. It is a stunning centerpiece for any offering during Tet Thuong Tan.
Apple Cat Wine
Apple Cat Wine
This wine is a familiar beverage for the people of Tay Bac. The apples are soaked in wine, infusing it with a deep, rich flavor unmatched by other types of alcohol. As a special and precious drink, it is only offered during significant occasions like Tet Thuong Tan.
Banh Giay (Sticky Rice Cake)
Banh Giay (Sticky Rice Cake)
Banh giay, a popular choice during Tet Thuong Tan, is made from rice, symbolizing the essence of the earth and heavens. The cake has a pure white color and a soft, sticky texture with a delicate fragrance.
Che Kho (Sweet Mung Bean Porridge)
Che Kho (Sweet Mung Bean Porridge)
A delicious and aromatic dish made from mung beans, che kho is a common offering on the ancestral altars of Vietnamese families. Its simplicity and use of mung beans make it a humble yet heartwarming dish.
Tet Thuong Tan holds great importance for farmers, especially those in Viet Bac and Tay Nguyen. We hope that these insights into the traditions of Tet Thuong Tan will help preserve this unique cultural heritage for future generations.
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