As reported in the previous episode, for the Vietnamese the Tet is the most important event of the year. Their origins are remembered, family members are hugged and prayed together for the ancestors.

Every Vietnamese, wherever he has ended up for work reasons, will do everything to return to his birthplace to visit the tombs of his ancestors and spend this holiday with his family. The party is obviously then extended to each village, this means that the big cities become empty during this period and are particularly quiet.

The custom of firecrackers (which crackled continuously in the days before the Tet) was prohibited by the government due to its dangerousness. However, the tradition of the lion dance remains unchanged, performed on the streets by dancers and acrobats, accompanied by a large costume depicting a mythical monster with a lion’s head.

Obviously the whole festive period is accompanied by the preparation of typical traditional family dishes, in particular glutinous rice cakes, eggs and meat, which require a long time (about 12 hours) and the contribution of various family members who have to alternate between facing the fire.

New Year’s day is characterized by great binges and at the stroke of midnight we celebrate and try to make as much noise as possible to make the bad spirits escape for good. Immediately after we move on to prayer.

Once the new year begins, it is also very important that the first person to visit the house is the right one: possibly male, with a good character, rich, with a happy family and with many children. This first visit will be decisive for the fortunes of the entire year. So it is always better to wait for an invitation rather than surprise someone’s home, to avoid being an unwelcome guest and being kindly turned away by the host.

Happy Vietnamese New Year to everyone !!

In Vietnam, the lunisolar New Year, called Tet, is the most important holiday of the year: it is a sort of Christmas, New Year and Easter put together in a single celebration (it is also everyone’s birthday !!).

The date of the Tet is always between January 19 and February 20 and the atmosphere starts to get hectic. There are plants, flowers and various decorations for the home to buy. But also new clothes, especially for children, and if possible jewelry. You must stock up on food and other strictly necessary things as for many days every business will remain strictly closed.

Of course, we must also think about gifts. The Tet, like us Christmas is an opportunity for family reunions and to strengthen social ties, also through the exchange of gifts.

First, brand new banknotes must be bought (it is possible in the markets and from street vendors, at a price higher than their real value) to be inserted in the red envelopes to give to children and old people. Traditionally, the value of the banknotes contained in the envelopes must always be even, as the odd numbers are associated with the money that is given in the event of a funeral. Bills worth at least 2 dollars should therefore be given away.

It is also very common to give sprigs of peach trees, roosters, rice, rice wine in a pumpkin or in traditional amphorae, dogs and red things such as watermelons.

In the days leading up to the Tet all the houses are cleaned up. Doors and windows are kept wide open for days to let out all the “old” and “bad” and let the “new” in.

In front of the altar of the Ancestors (present in every Vietnamese house and which is completely decorated), a small mandarin tree is placed with the function of keeping evil spirits away.

The Tet has not yet arrived, but the preparations are many and continue, we will see others together in the next episode …