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What is Tet Holiday? The Significance and Origins of Tet Holiday

The Lunar New Year, a celebration to welcome the arrival of the new year on the lunisolar calendar, is a significant event for many cultures. Known as Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnamese, it translates to "the first morning of the new year," emphasizing the fresh start and new beginnings that this festival signifies.

Administrator

15 July, 2024

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Today, let’s explore the meaning and origins of Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

1. What is Tet Nguyen Dan?

Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, is the traditional Lunar New Year celebration in Vietnam. It is calculated according to the lunar calendar, and it marks the beginning of a new year. Tet is a significant holiday in Vietnam, and it is a time when all family members gather, even those who live far away.

What is Tet Nguyen Dan?

The term “Tet” is a shortened form of Tet Nguyen Dan, derived from ancient Vietnamese, meaning “the festival of the first morning of the first day of the new year.”

2. Where does Tet Nguyen Dan originate from?

You may be familiar with the folk story of “Banh Chung and Banh Giay” (square and round sticky rice cakes), which is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. Tet Nguyen Dan is believed to have originated during the time of the sixth Hung King. Banh Chung, one of the main dishes during Tet, also has its roots in this legend.

People making Banh Chung during Tet Nguyen Dan

However, there are also opinions that Tet Nguyen Dan originated in China and was introduced to Vietnam during the thousand years of Chinese domination. The debate about its origins continues to this day.

3. The Significance of Tet Nguyen Dan – The Traditional Lunar New Year

Tet Nguyen Dan marks the convergence of heaven and earth.

Why is Tet Nguyen Dan considered the convergence of heaven and earth? As the old year ends and the new year begins, people reflect on the past year’s plans and start anew, setting more comprehensive and well-prepared goals for the coming year. This is why families prepare and offer a special dinner on New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve dinner offered to ancestors during Tet Nguyen Dan

This period is also a time of convergence between the earthly and the divine. The New Year’s Eve dinner is not only the first meal of the new year for the family but also an offering to deities like the God of Agriculture, the God of the Land, the Kitchen God, and our beloved ancestors. These offerings are made to seek blessings and pray for a smooth and prosperous new year.

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time to remember and honor our ancestors.

During this joyous family reunion, we express our best wishes to our loved ones and pay respect to our departed ancestors. This act of remembrance is an essential part of being a virtuous descendant.

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time to wish for luck and prosperity.

With the arrival of a new year, people wish for a fresh start. Many visit temples at the beginning of the year to pray for health, luck, and prosperity for themselves and their families. Thus, Tet Nguyen Dan is also a time to wish for good fortune and abundance.

Praying for luck and prosperity at the beginning of the year

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time for family reunions.

No matter how far they have wandered, children will always return home to reunite with their families during Tet Nguyen Dan. It is also a time for children to show their respect and gratitude to their parents and elders, strengthening family bonds.

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time for family reunions

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time to offer sacrifices and pay respect to deities.

We acknowledge that our achievements in the past year were also due to the blessings and protection of the deities. Therefore, during Tet Nguyen Dan, we make offerings to show our gratitude. For example, farmers who had a bountiful harvest would make sacrifices to the God of Agriculture.

Offering sacrifices to deities during Tet Nguyen Dan

Tet Nguyen Dan is like a birthday celebration for everyone.

If your birthday falls during Tet, it’s a double celebration! This is the time when your family is most likely to be complete, and you will receive countless blessings for the new year.

4. Traditional Customs and Practices during Tet

Customs before Tet:

Cleaning and decorating the house
Preparing traditional foods, such as Banh Chung and Banh Giay
Buying new clothes
Preparing offerings for ancestral worship
Preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner

Customs before Tet

Customs during Tet:

Visiting relatives and friends, offering New Year’s greetings
Giving and receiving lucky money (“li xi”)
Visiting temples and pagodas to pray for blessings
Attending festivals and enjoying traditional folk games

Customs during Tet

For further exploration:

5. When is Tet Nguyen Dan 2024?

Tet Nguyen Dan 2024, the Year of the Dragon, will begin on February 10, 2024, and the second day of Tet will be on February 11, 2024, in the Gregorian calendar. So, we are just a few days away from welcoming the new year!

Tet Nguyen Dan 2024

Stay tuned for more exciting content!

We hope you enjoyed learning about the meaning and traditions of Tet Nguyen Dan. Thank you for reading, and please continue to follow our posts for more interesting and informative content!

Frequently asked questions

Tet Holiday, or Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnamese, is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year celebration that marks the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar.

Tet Holiday is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar, which usually falls in late January or early February in the Gregorian calendar.

Tet Holiday is a time for family reunions, feasting, and paying respect to ancestors and elders. It is also seen as a chance to wish for a lucky and prosperous new year. Many cultural activities and traditions are associated with Tet, such as visiting pagodas, exchanging New Year greetings, giving lucky money to children, and decorating homes with yellow apricot flowers and kumquat trees.

The origins of Tet Holiday can be traced back to various legends and historical events. One popular belief is that it originated from a victory celebration against foreign invaders during the Tran Dynasty in the 13th century. Another belief links it to a mythical story about a monster named ‘Year’ that would harm people and their property at the end of the year, leading to the creation of Tet as a way to scare away the monster and bring peace and luck for the new year.

In modern times, Tet Holiday is still a vibrant and joyful festival in Vietnam. People clean and decorate their houses, cook traditional foods, and gather with their families. They also visit friends and relatives, exchange gifts, and participate in cultural events and activities. The holiday period usually lasts for several days, and many businesses and organizations remain closed during this time.