(CLO) Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is considered the most meaningful festival in Vietnamese culture. Among the many cultural activities during Tet, giving and receiving gifts and reading newspapers have gradually become beautiful traditions at the beginning of the year, reminding us of the value of literacy, the appreciation of traditional culture, and the wish for peace and prosperity in the new year.
The nation's transformations are reflected in each Tet (Lunar New Year) newspaper publication.
As spring arrives and Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the custom of giving calligraphy as gifts for reading, decoration, and sharing with relatives and friends is indispensable. In this warm and joyful atmosphere, spring newspapers are a must-have on the table or bookshelf, where the whole family and guests can enjoy the beautiful moments of the Tet holidays.
Giving New Year's newspapers to relatives, friends, and colleagues means we are giving a spiritual gift, conveying good wishes. Through this, we spread positive messages and encourage each other to welcome a joyful and happy new year, imbued with great faith in the nation's renewal.
For a long time, the Lunar New Year newspaper has been an indispensable source of intellectual nourishment and is eagerly awaited by the public every time Tet (Lunar New Year) and Spring arrive. Photo: VPM
In the past, during the years of resistance against French colonialism, each Tet (Lunar New Year) and Spring Festival newspaper published and distributed to the people represented national unity and the desire for the country to achieve independence. Each publication born during the resistance encouraged and ignited a passion for reading, warmed the atmosphere and flavor of Tet, and contributed to preserving and promoting the essence of Vietnamese culture.
As the entire nation entered the period of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, Tet newspapers always carried a fresh, beautiful color and the hope of a new year filled with renewed faith. During this period, due to difficult economic conditions, some Tet newspapers were printed in color, but usually only the cover or a few important pages.
Illustrations in Tet (Lunar New Year) newspapers are often propaganda-style drawings depicting spring scenes associated with the working lives of laborers, farmers, and soldiers. Particularly noteworthy are the New Year's greeting paintings featuring snakes (symbolizing the Year of the Snake), which often have a stylized style reflecting the art of that era.
According to antique newspaper collector Nguyen Phi Dung: "Despite difficult economic conditions, Tet newspapers remain a special gift that many families look forward to. Some people queue for a long time to buy them, while others cherish each page like a precious memento. These publications not only reflect the atmosphere of welcoming the spring but also serve as important documents to help future generations better understand a difficult yet optimistic period. Today, revisiting these Tet newspapers not only preserves historical value but also marks a memorable period in the history of Vietnamese journalism."
“Tet newspapers from the resistance war era or the subsidy period are invaluable documents, truthfully reflecting a difficult but spirited period of national construction and defense. For those who love journalism, they are beautiful memories, a vibrant archive that helps present and future generations better understand the traditions of Vietnamese journalism,” Mr. Nguyen Phi Dung shared.
Young people enjoyed the "Traditional Springtime in Tet Newspapers" themed space. Photo: Quang Hung
It can be said that with each Tet (Lunar New Year) newspaper issue, readers can witness the transformations of the country. We feel as if we are accompanying the nation, clearly sensing its optimistic spirit, aspirations for progress, and determination to build a prosperous and civilized country. Today, Tet newspapers have become a distinctive cultural feature, closely associated with the spirit of Tet, and are collected and read by many people every year.
Participating in the Spring Press Festival has become an annual tradition.
Amidst the rapid development of technology and the explosion of information on social media, the beauty of the tradition of reading Tet newspapers has been preserved through generations and is constantly being strengthened. Throughout its formation and development, from the early days of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism to the present day, the press has always accompanied the cause of protecting and building the country. Perhaps it is from this history that Tet newspapers remain a reliable method and source of information for readers every year.
Readers visit the exhibition booth and read the spring issue of the Journalists & Public Opinion Newspaper. Photo: Le Tam.
The Spring Press Festival and the National Press Festival, held at the beginning of the year, have gradually become cultural and spiritual activities, a beautiful annual tradition of the press nationwide. These events always attract public attention, contributing to encouraging and motivating all sectors of society and journalists to welcome a warm and joyful new spring.
Every year, the Spring Newspaper Fair, or National Newspaper Fair, has gradually become an indispensable event, bringing together the intellectual products of journalists. The spring newspapers are showcased, giving people the opportunity to compare and understand the unique characteristics of each newsroom. Together, they "rate" the content and format of the spring and Tet (Lunar New Year) newspapers, and the comments and reviews serve as motivation for newsrooms to continue improving the quality of their journalistic products.
Sharing his thoughts with a reporter from the Newspaper and Public Opinion, historian Duong Trung Quoc stated: "With technological development, everything in life is moving faster, and people feel that time is becoming increasingly scarce. In addition, many new media outlets have emerged, threatening the disappearance of traditional print newspapers, despite their thousands of years of history. This has been predicted and has existed for a long time; however, in reality, this isn't entirely true. While the number of newspapers may decrease, nothing can truly replace a physical newspaper or a book. We must also consider their tangible value. Nowadays, everywhere – at home, on the desk, in public places – print newspapers remain a vital necessity."
While everyone is using technology to access information quickly, a significant portion of the population remains loyal to print newspapers. Maintaining the habit of using print newspapers to stay informed helps them avoid dependence on technology and prevent its negative impact on their health.
"Reading a physical newspaper has its own unique effect; it's different from reading online, which is mainly for information. Reading a physical newspaper or book also contains inspiration. I think someone holding a physical newspaper looks more sophisticated than someone who is glued to their phone. Reading a physical newspaper or book is irreplaceable," historian Duong Trung Quoc assessed.
Historian Duong Trung Quoc. Photo: VOV
Historian Duong Trung Quoc stated: "The Spring Festival and the National Press Festival are eagerly awaited events at the beginning of the year for each of us. Like a cyclical event, the public desires access to knowledge and information about the socio-economic situation of the past year. In reality, newspapers invest more effort and intellect in their Tet (Lunar New Year) and Spring Festival publications, resulting in higher quality and certainly more aesthetically pleasing printing. Therefore, many people make participating in the Spring Festival or the National Press Festival an annual habit, a tradition that is not easily abandoned."
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/doc-bao-tet-dau-xuan-mon-an-tinh-than-khong-the-thieu-post332517.html
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