Preserving the spirit of Vietnamese Tet

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, where many traditional values ​​are at risk of fading, there are still young people quietly preserving the spirit of Vietnamese Tet in their own way. They cherish every family custom, every dish, every ritual, every story of their grandparents, and spread the spirit of reunion to the community. Thus, the picture of Tet is woven not only with vibrant new colors but also imbued with cultural depth, warmth, and sacredness.

Preserving Vietnamese Tet through simple things.

Through countless Tet holidays, Ms. Le Thi Thuy Trang (residing in Binh An hamlet, Thuan My commune, Tay Ninh province) still preserves the beauty of traditional Tet customs. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, while many families want to "simplify" Tet celebrations, Ms. Trang persistently maintains what she calls "the essence of Vietnamese spring."

"Tet is not just a time of seasonal change, but also a time of reunion and emotion that each family member must contribute to," shared Ms. Trang. Despite her busy work schedule and caring for two young children, she still finds time to recreate Tet customs that her family has preserved for generations.

Every year during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Ms. Le Thi Thuy Trang wears an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and participates in calligraphy activities.

Making bánh tét (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) has become a family tradition every spring during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Ms. Trang says, "Without laughter, the smoky aroma, and the feeling of gathering around the pot of bánh tét, Tet loses half its meaning." So, in the days leading up to Tet, the extended family gathers in the yard to make bánh tét; adults help, children run around playing, and the sounds of laughter fill the small house... In the last months of the year, Ms. Trang even grows marigolds to beautify her living space. At every Tet meal, the whole family gathers to enjoy the traditional dish while chatting about the past year.

Traditional folk games, evenings spent together watching over the pot of sticky rice cakes... these are all preserved by Ms. Trang as a way of "preserving the soul" of Vietnamese Tet. Ms. Trang expressed: "These games are like a thread connecting people and letting children know what Tet in the countryside is like... Our grandparents taught us 'on the first day of Tet, visit your father; on the second day, visit your mother; on the third day, visit your teacher.' Although the custom of visiting teachers has become less common in many places, I still maintain it because it's a way to cultivate gratitude, so that our children and grandchildren don't forget their roots."

Every year as the Lunar New Year approaches, Ms. Le Thi Thuy Trang uses her calligraphy skills to raise funds for those in need.

Every year, Trang still wears her traditional ao dai dress and, along with her calligraphy club, participates in calligraphy activities at temples or cultural centers. Trang understands that Tet (Vietnamese New Year) has changed; many people are preoccupied with finances, busy, and choose to travel instead of preparing for a traditional Tet celebration. However, according to her, preserving traditional Tet customs does not mean rejecting the new; it's simply about retaining the essence so that future generations will still know what the traditional Tet of the nation is like.

Traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) continues to flow amidst the modern era.

For Mr. Phi Thanh Phat (residing in Trang Bang ward), a love for culture has been ingrained in his blood since childhood, stemming from the stories of his grandparents and the rich cultural and historical traditions of Trang Bang. He chooses to conduct in-depth research, collect materials, and write articles to disseminate information, helping young people understand correctly, thereby fostering love and voluntary preservation of traditions, including Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Phat confided: "I want young people to understand correctly, thereby loving and voluntarily preserving it. No one is forced to preserve Tet, but if they understand its meaning, they will appreciate it much more."

For Mr. Phi Thanh Phat (residing in Trang Bang ward), a love for culture has been ingrained in his blood since childhood, stemming from the stories of his grandparents and the Trang Bang land, which is rich in cultural and historical traditions.

Mr. Pham Ngo Minh Tri (residing in An Tinh ward) used to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in a modern way, mainly going out with friends on New Year's Eve. But after participating in many folk culture programs, he changed his way of celebrating Tet. Mr. Tri shared: "I began to understand that behind the familiar rituals lies a profound cultural depth that my generation needs to continue."

Mr. Pham Ngo Minh Tri (residing in An Tinh ward) is one of the young people quietly "preserving the soul" of Vietnamese Tet in his own way.

Despite their busy schedules, Mr. Phat and Mr. Tri still strive to preserve traditional Tet customs in their family life through simple things like pruning apricot blossoms on the 15th day of the 12th lunar month, offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, visiting ancestral graves, and cleaning the house. On the last day of the year, both choose to stay home to celebrate New Year's Eve and tend to the ancestral altar. Wearing the traditional ao dai during Tet is also maintained. Mr. Phat said: "I wear the ao dai not to be nostalgic, but to remind myself that culture is something I live with every day."

On New Year's Day, Mr. Tri still maintains the tradition of giving red envelopes of money instead of transferring funds. He even "adapted" it into a "lucky draw" to create a fun atmosphere, because, according to him, the most valuable thing about red envelopes is not the money but the wishes and joy of the new year.

On Tet (Vietnamese New Year), Phi Thanh Phat and Pham Ngo Minh Tri chose to wear traditional ao dai as a way to preserve old Tet customs.

Not only do they preserve Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) within their family, but they also spread the beauty of tradition to the community. While working with the Youth Union, Phat maintained the Folk Culture Festival for three consecutive years. In addition, they and their group of friends participated in charitable programs bringing Tet to mountainous areas, making and cooking traditional cakes, organizing games for children, etc. For them, preserving Vietnamese Tet is not about clinging to the past, but about sowing the seeds of culture for present and future generations.

Despite the many changes in modern life, young people are quietly preserving the spirit of Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) through their deep respect for tradition. From family customs to spreading cultural values ​​within the community, they contribute to making Tet today warm, meaningful, and full of character. It is this simple love that keeps Vietnamese Tet enduring amidst the modern pace of life.

Khanh Duy

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/giu-hon-tet-viet-137306.html