Tết Vietnam

New Year or Tết in the Vietnamese word, is a national holiday among all Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese usually return to their families during Tết to celebrate. In the days leading up to Tết, people are full on the streets and in the markets. They bustle buying food, flowers and things to decorate their house before New Year comes because during New Year, all of the shops will be closed. Each family cooks traditional food such as Thịt kho nước dừa(pork meat stewed with eggs in young coconut juice and fish sauce.), Dưa Hành(pickled onion and pickle cabbage), Củ Kiệu( pickled small leeks). Also, Hạt Dưa(or roasted watermelon seeds)and Mứt( dried candied fruits) are eaten during Tết. In addition, two sticky rices or bánh chưng (rectangular) and bánh giầy (circular) are essential in any Tết celabration. Vietnamese celebrates New Year during three days. The first day of Tết is reserved for family. Children wear new clothes and give the elders such as grandparents, parents, or uncles and aunts, the traditional greetings before receiving a red envelope which contains money. This tradition is called lì xì in the south Vietnam or mừng tuổi(happy new age) in the north. Friends have a friend reunion, in the second day of Tết, after a year they have not seen each other. They also wish each other luck and prosperity in the New Year. The third day of Tết is reserved for teachers, who are respected in Vietnam. In this day, students meet their teachers whom they love, and give their best wishes to their teachers. Common wishes for Tết are Sống lâu trăm tuổi means live up to 100 years (this is used by children for elders), An khang thịnh vượng means security and prosperity, Vạn sự như ý means may a myriad things go according to your will, Sức khoẻ dồi dào means plenty of health, Cung hỉ phát tài means congratulations and be prosperous, and Tiền vô như nước means may money flow in like water (this is used informally). Vietnamese people very cheer these wishes and believe that these wishes will come true in new year. There are still many traditional ceremonies and fun activities during Vietnamese’s Tết. Vietnamese people relax and have fun during Tết. They are proud of having a great national holiday as Tết, which gives family members, relatives, friends or students and teachers an occasion to gather together and wish each other the best wishes. Wherever they go, Vietnamese people always remember about their national holiday and wish to gather together with their families.