Chinese New Year Celebration in Vietnam 2012

Chinese New Year is celebrated with great pomp and show throughout the world. It is the principal festival of the Chinese speaking people. In Vietnam Chinese New Year is celebrated with much grandeur. The festival coincides with the Vietnamese New Year. Hence Chinese New Year is celebrated as the New Year of the country,

which is popularly known as Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet. As year 2011 has started rolling into 2012, the country is gearing up to celebrate Chinese New Year or Tet. Chinese New Year celebration in Vietnam, 2012, or Tet celebration, 2012 will include numerous colorful events and fun activities.

Tet is considered by the Vietnamese to be the most significant of all festivals. Epitomizing the identity of the culture of the country, this festival is participated by everyone starting from old to young and rich to poor.

Time of Tet celebration in Vietnam

Considered as the festival of renewal and purity, Tet, is generally celebrated on the last ten days of the month of January or on the first 20 days of the month of February. Tet Nguyen Dan, 2012, will be celebrated from January 23rd. According to the Chinese calendar, 2012 is the year of the rabbit.

Significance of Tet in Vietnam

Since it is the principal festival of the country, Tet has lot of significance for the Vietnamese. Tet Nguyen Dan or ‘the first morning of the first day of the new year’, for the people means beginning of good fortune. It also marks the occasion when everyone in Vietnam arrange for family gatherings and goes for pilgrims. Visiting temples, meeting relatives are the most common customs of the festival. Paying homage to the ancestors is also done by many Vietnamese.

Since the occasion marks the first day of spring, Tet is also known as the Spring Festival. However, each and every part of Vietnam has their distinctive customs for the celebration of Tet. It is during this time everyone returns to their respective homes in order to celebrate this auspicious event with their families.

Events or Customs of Vietnam New Year

From buying new clothes to cleaning kitchens and a lot more form the major events or customs of Tet. The festival begins by visiting relatives and friends.

The natives of the country, like the Chinese believe Tet is the time when the God of Kitchen reports to Jade Emperor about the different families. In order to appease the God of Kitchen, the families burn paper of gold leaf and also offer carp to the God for riding up to the heaven. This is done 7 days before the actual day of celebration. As the midnight approaches, Vietnamese welcomes the new God of Kitchen by beating drums, making dogs bark and lighting firecrackers.

During the time of Tet, all the families engage not only in cleaning the house but also in making necessary decorations. It is believed that cleaning houses wards off bad fortune. The houses are mostly decorated with yellow apricot flowers and pink peach flowers. Cay Neu, which is a bamboo plant, is planted in the courtyard of every home. The plant is thrown away on the seventh day of the festival, and dragon processions rule the streets.

Buying new clothes is synonymous with most of the festivals around the world. Tet is no exception in this case. Parents buy new dresses, clothes and shoes for children. Children get to wear the new clothes on the first day of the New Year. Gifts are also exchanged between friends and family members.

Traditional food makes most of the meal of Vietnamese New Year. One of the traditional dishes which are common in every household of the country during the New Year is Banh Chung, a rice pudding comprising pork bits and mung beans. Fruits like watermelons, oranges, coconuts and grapefruits also form the main meal.

Followed through centuries, giving away red envelopes is one of the most significant customs or traditions of Tet. Symbolizing both wealth and luck, the red envelopes are generally given away by elder people to the youngsters.

Visiting Vietnam during Tet

The whole country of Vietnam is transformed into a different world during the time of their New Year. The principal cities of Vietnam, like Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh are the best place to visit during Tet. The vibrancy, the colorful events, the cuisines and many more make Vietnam a visual treat at the time of Tet. Like other years, Tet, 2011, is likely to attract the largest number of tourist footfall. Vietnam New Year is indeed the perfect time to know about the rich culture and tradition of the country.

Latest Updated on 01/13/2012