The third day of Tet, honoring teachers - A timeless beauty in Vietnamese spiritual life.

"The first day of Tet is for visiting fathers, the second day for visiting mothers, and the third day for visiting teachers" is a familiar saying to every Vietnamese person when Tet comes around. According to many, the tradition of "Tet for teachers" has changed significantly today, seemingly becoming commercialized. However, this is only an isolated case.

During the Lunar New Year, the contributions of parents in raising their children and the dedication of teachers in nurturing them are always remembered, promoted, and preserved by subsequent generations. (Source: VOV)

The above saying evokes the beautiful traditions of "Drinking water, remember the source" and "Respecting teachers and valuing morality" of our nation, reminding us of a beautiful traditional value during Tet for every Vietnamese person.

Remembering the sacrifices of parents in raising their children and the dedication of teachers in nurturing their education.

From ancient times to the present day, the Lunar New Year has been considered the most important holiday of the year. During this festival, the contributions of parents and the dedication of teachers are always remembered, upheld, and preserved by subsequent generations. Therefore, for as long as anyone can remember, a folk saying has emerged, serving as a schedule for people to visit each other during the first three days of the Lunar New Year: "Visit your father on the first day, your mother on the second, and your teacher on the third."

According to Vietnamese tradition, "father" represents the "paternal side of the family." Therefore, "the first day of Tet is for the father" means that on the morning of the first day of Tet, family members will gather at the paternal side of the family to worship their ancestors and wish their grandparents and parents a happy New Year to show their respect.

On the second day of Tet, we will "set off" to visit and wish our maternal grandparents a Happy New Year. The rituals for "Tet with Mother" are just as solemn and respectful as those on the paternal side. Children and grandchildren wish their grandparents a Happy New Year and receive lucky money for the new year.

And then the third day is Teacher's Day, a day for Vietnamese people to express gratitude to their teachers, those who have taught and imparted knowledge, those who have guided them to the shores of knowledge and success.

The term "teacher" here is not limited to academic teachers but also includes vocational teachers such as carpentry, tailoring, traditional medicine, and teachers of the arts such as playing musical instruments, singing, drawing, and dancing.

On this day, students of all ages and social standing try to gather at the head of the class's house, along with their classmates, to visit and wish their teachers and their families a Happy New Year. This is both an opportunity to visit and express gratitude to the teachers for their guidance, and a time for friends to meet, socialize, and wish each other good fortune during the upcoming Tet holiday.

The gifts brought to honor teachers in the past were not about material possessions. Regardless of position or social status, the students would simply serve themselves sweets and snacks, then sit together to chat, listen to their teachers' questions, and inform them about their work and family life over the past year, as well as their future plans…

The third day of Tet passed in such a warm atmosphere of teacher-student affection, and it has become an unchanging beautiful tradition in the hearts of the students of yesteryear...

"The third day of Tet is dedicated to teachers" is a beautiful tradition that continues to flow through Vietnamese spiritual life. (Source: Dan Tri Newspaper)

Preserving the beauty of "Teacher's Day"

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, most students still visit their teachers with heartfelt intentions, respect, and gratitude. In the spirit of "respecting teachers and valuing education," Vietnamese people always believe in the saying "Even a single word can make a teacher, even half a word can make a teacher," and they often remind each other, "Without a teacher, you can't achieve anything," to emphasize the invaluable contribution of teachers in each person's life.

But in modern times, "Teachers' Day" has become even more "special." What makes it "special" is that instead of visiting teachers in person to wish them a Happy New Year, students can send their wishes via phone or Facebook.

Teachers, both in the past and present, have always been treated with respect, and the gifts given are not directly proportional to the students' gratitude towards their teachers. While the tradition of celebrating Teachers' Day has changed over time, if in the past students would bring tea or candied fruits, today's gifts are more diverse and varied. However, the beautiful essence of this tradition remains unchanged, always expressing the students' affection, gratitude, and respect for their teachers. Therefore, this beautiful moral tradition of "Teachers' Day" will continue to flow uninterruptedly in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

(according to VNA)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mung-ba-tet-thay-net-dep-khong-ngung-chay-trong-doi-song-tinh-than-viet-260706.html