Tet - a very general and also very specific noun, is the sacred call of heaven and earth, of people's hearts. So that today and forever, whether old or young, from the lowlands or the highlands or anywhere, the children of Vietnam will join together in the deep cultural source, turn to the origin in the days of Tet coming spring, sing together the song to welcome the new year...
Bustling Tet in the highlands
Thai Luong Ngoc Han, 31 years old, is the owner of a popular restaurant in Son Lu town (Quan Son). Tet is near, but Han and her husband are still busy with their restaurant from morning to night, thinking to themselves: "Let's sell a few more days to make it a whole year". Although joking, the young couple is also excited and bustling to shop and prepare carefully for the upcoming Tet holidays. Ngoc Han shared: "Work is always busy, but we only have a chance to celebrate Tet all year round. This is not only an opportunity for everyone to rest after busy days of worrying about food and money, but also an opportunity for the family to gather together".
Han was born and raised in the heart of Thai culture. She introduced her homeland, her people and the way Thai people celebrate Tet with all their pride and love: “Quan Son border area is where 4 ethnic groups Kinh, Muong, Thai, Mong live together; Thai people account for more than 80% of the population. This place still preserves many unique traditional cultural features of the Thai people, including many customs, rituals, cuisine, costumes, folk games and performances every time Tet comes and spring comes”.
Joining the atmosphere of everyone, every household in every region of the country, from December 25, all Thai villages are bustling, busy preparing for the biggest holiday of the year such as: going to the forest to cut firewood to store, picking dong leaves, draining ponds to catch fish, butchering pigs, buffaloes, cows... Then when the firewood is full, dong leaves are green in a corner of the house, pork, buffaloes, cows have signaled a full Tet, the people here dress up and "go to the market". The year-end market is colorful with traditional costumes, diverse local products, rich in food flavors, bustling with buying and selling atmosphere...
Along with language and writing, costumes and cuisine are important "markers" to distinguish one ethnic group from another. Ngoc Han said: "The dishes on Tet holiday of Thai Quan Son people often include sticky rice, banh chung, buffalo meat, dried beef, fish, moss... In particular, grilled fish is an indispensable dish". Thai people also have many unique customs to celebrate spring and welcome Tet. For example, on the morning of the first day of Tet, the homeowner will perform a worship ceremony, both to report the situation and to invite ancestors to celebrate Tet and celebrate with the family. At the same time, through that, the homeowner also shows respect and gratitude to ancestors and sends wishes and aspirations for a prosperous new year... Folk games and performances such as throwing con, jumping bamboo poles, singing khap,... have contributed to painting a vivid picture of spring in the mountainous region, imbued with its own cultural nuances.
Tet in the hearts of people living far away from home
In the minds of Vietnamese people, the most precious thing during Tet is to be reunited with family and relatives. For those who live far away from home, that longing and desire is stronger than ever.
This Lunar New Year 2025 is the first year that 25-year-old Nguyen Thi Kieu Anh (Lang Chanh) is not with her family. Australia, the land located in the Southern Hemisphere, where Kieu Anh lives and studies, is famous for its majestic natural landscape, diverse culture and friendly, lovable people. But all of that cannot fill the love and longing of the young girl. Every memory and reminiscence of Tet just keeps filling her mind, her eyes well up with tears, she thinks that if she hears her mother's voice asking her how she is doing over the phone right now, she will burst into tears like a child...
Like many other international students, Kieu Anh had to overcome it herself, learning to gradually get used to the feeling of homesickness and the traditional taste of Tet. Kieu Anh confided: “The first feeling of those who celebrate Tet away from home like me is definitely missing their family, friends and the feeling of gathering and reunion that many people have probably waited all year to have the opportunity to return and reunite. Normally, during this period, most international students will return to Vietnam to celebrate Tet with their families. However, companies and businesses in Australia are still operating as usual, so I think this is also a good time to look for a job and have the opportunity to train myself.” In addition, Kieu Anh is also curious and wants to explore more about how Vietnamese people abroad or foreigners with similar customs and practices celebrate Tet. Kieu Anh shared: “The international student community where I live and study comes from many different countries, so it is very culturally diverse. In some Vietnamese or Chinese areas, there are activities to celebrate Lunar New Year. I will join these activities with my friends.
Spring has arrived, Tet has reached every home, people are joyful in the joy of welcoming the new year. Spring - Tet is still a special occasion to connect, erase "generation gap", geographical distance. That is when we all "live together in a common feeling, a common idea, a collective emotion", towards the good traditional cultural values that have been passed down and continued for thousands of years.
Dang Khoa
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tet-oi-tet-a-238071.htm
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