The last afternoon of the year

(NB&CL) The last days of the year are a time for us to reflect on others' lives and our own, to forget the lingering sadness and uncertainties of life, to dispel the biting cold and welcome the bright golden sunshine rejoicing with the swallows. The atmosphere of the last afternoon of the year evokes a deep sense of nostalgia…

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. The older we get, the more we realize how quickly time flies. The hustle and bustle of work, the petty worries of everyday life, have made us forget the passage of time. The end of the year is a time to reflect on our own lives and the lives of others, to forget the lingering sadness and uncertainties of life, to dispel the biting cold and welcome the bright sunshine and the joyful swallows. The atmosphere of the year-end afternoon fills our hearts with a deep longing…

On the last afternoon of the year, life seemed to become more hurried and bustling. Laughter and chatter filled the air. Aunt Tam and Aunt Ba greeted each other with shouts of welcome. Tèo's joyful shouts rang out after his successful pond draining. My mother busied herself preparing the offering for my maternal grandparents and murmured prayers, hoping to welcome them home for Tet (Lunar New Year).

I fondly remember those late afternoons at the end of the year, in the distant memories of a young, innocent soul, the days when my father was still by my side. I would excitedly follow him into the garden to choose the most beautiful apricot blossom branches, then carefully and respectfully arrange them in the vase on the altar. My father said that the Lunar New Year must have apricot blossoms. Looking at the altar was what created the festive atmosphere.

Then my father picked the fruits available in our garden to prepare the five-fruit offering. He didn't follow the tradition of having custard apples, coconuts, papayas, mangoes, and figs. He told me that offering a five-fruit offering made from our own garden to our ancestors during Tet (Lunar New Year) showed respect and gratitude for the hardships our ancestors endured to give us what we have today. My father often told me about the traditional Tet customs of our nation. Even now, I remember them vividly, even though he is now far, far away...

On the last afternoon of the year, the rural market, though not large, was incredibly bustling and lively, with buyers and sellers coming and going in a constant stream. Normally, my village market would open at dawn and close around 8 a.m. But during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), people buy and sell all day long. The market is much more crowded and cheerful. Everyone is happy, laughing and chatting. During Tet, people haggle less; everyone is more forgiving. There are carts selling red envelopes, red paper with couplets, and Tet decorations. Everything is a vibrant red. Seeing it means Tet has arrived.

On the last afternoon of the year, my mother would often sit on the bamboo bench in front of the house, wrapping sticky rice cakes (bánh tét) to offer to our ancestors. The polished bamboo bench, made by my father from the bamboo grove behind the house, was simple, rustic, and full of memories. My mother had sat there for countless springs, from when we were children until now, as adults. For her, that bamboo bench held the image of my father. It was also on that same bamboo bench that my sisters and I would play and watch over the pot of sticky rice cakes.

On the last afternoon of the year, mothers' eyes always gaze towards the end of the lane, anxiously waiting for their children who haven't made it home yet because they're working overtime or busy delivering goods to customers... hoping to earn a little extra to buy gifts for their younger siblings back home.

On the last afternoon of the year, the roads are crowded with vehicles. Those who have left their hometowns to work elsewhere are rushing home to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with their families. Each person has their own circumstances, but perhaps they all share a common feeling of excitement about returning home. They return to live in the loving embrace of their parents and family. They return home to relive peaceful days, temporarily setting aside the worries and anxieties of the outside world. The moment on this last afternoon of the year is the happiest when it's filled with family reunion and closeness with loved ones. And only then does it truly feel like Tet.

Over time, things have changed a lot. People's lives are more prosperous than before, so Tet (Lunar New Year) is not much different from ordinary days, and the feeling of the last afternoon of the year is no longer as special or complete as it used to be. Everything needed for Tet, from sweets and preserves, banh tet (sticky rice cake), banh chung (square sticky rice cake), to braised pork with eggs... is readily available; you just need to buy it and you're ready to go. Therefore, the excitement of preparing, the laughter and joy of gathering around the pot of banh tet on the last afternoon of the year has gradually faded away...

In our hurried race against time, we often forget the true meaning of the final afternoons of the year. It's about harmony in life, mutual care, and above all, peace of mind. Let's slow down and enjoy the tranquility that these last days of the year bring. Because the real joy of Tet lies in those days.

On the porch, the bright golden sunlight converses with the early-blooming apricot blossoms, butterflies flutter playfully among the chrysanthemums and orchids. The marigolds in the front yard burst into bloom, releasing their fragrance along with the bees. Swallows begin to soar in the sky. The cheerful chatter of children, barely able to speak, fills the house with warmth and joy on this day leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Perhaps those who have experienced the uncertainties of life, witnessed the ups and downs of the times, and the impermanence of life, will cherish the end-of-year evenings even more. Because it reminds us to value family ties, togetherness, and reunion—things that no material possessions can replace. Don't let the pursuit of a few extra dollars or feelings of inadequacy prevent you from celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) with your family. Go home and celebrate Tet with your family. That is the most precious thing in our lives.

For me, the feeling of the last days of the year passing by so quickly, seemingly fleeting, gone in an instant, yet its lingering impact remains, leaving us with a sense of nostalgia and reflection as we look back on our lives on those final afternoons of the year.

In the distance, a melancholic spring melody drifted on: "At the end of the year, I sit and count my life's days. More than three hundred days have already passed..."

Source: https://congluan.vn/chieu-cuoi-nam-10329462.html