Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important holiday in the year and on this occasion, with the country full of traditions and culture like Vietnam, there are a lot of customs that Vietnamese often do to wish happy, lucky and significance of the Vietnamese in order to wish a happy, luck and prosperous year. Tet holiday is also the chance for all members in the family to reunite, visit relatives, give each other the best wishes, etc. The following are some Vietnamese customs during Tet.
Kitchen Gods Farewell Ceremony
One week before Tet, Vietnamese people clean up their kitchen, buying foods, paper cloths and living carps, to offer farewell ceremony for Kitchen Gods. It is said that Kitchen God’s task is to report to the King of Heaven about the family’s affairs throughout the year and to wish for a lucky and prosperous new year. After the ceremony, the carps will be free to the nearby lake or river and paper cloths will be burned.
Xong dat (carefully choosing the first visitor)
Also known as “Dap dat” in the Central, this is a common belief among the Vietnamese that the first person who enters the house in the New Year could bring luck or bad luck to the family for the rest of the year. Therefore, it is very important to have an appropriate person to “Xong dat”; to put the first step on a house’s door.
According to Eastern Zodiac, there are 12 animals from the Zodiac taking turns to monitor and control the earth for a year. The Vietnamese believes that the chief animal of the year when the visitor was born should be in harmony with the house owner’s chief animal and the animal of the upcoming year.
Give lucky money
During Tet, Vietnamese people often go to visit their relatives, friends, give them the best wishes in the New Year. After that, the elder people often give the red envelopes filled with lucky money to younger people, encouraging them to keep up with the schoolwork, live harmoniously with others, and obey their parents.
Tao mo (cleaning ancestors’ graves)
In preparation for Tet, usually from December 20th to 25th of lunar calendar, the family will choose one day and go “Tao mo” together. They will come to the graveyard, mow the grass, repair and clean the graves. Afterward, family members will burn incense and also offer some kinds of food for the deceased in the meaning of welcoming them back to celebrate New Year with their descendants.
See more: How to experience Vietnamese New Year like locals
Source Internet
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