'The flavor of Tet, the soul of Vietnam' joyfully welcomes the new year.

Although we have many customs during Tet (Lunar New Year), when Tet is mentioned, children usually think of two things: wearing new clothes and receiving lucky money. Over the years, the form of giving lucky money has also changed, with adults paying more attention to the "quality" of the envelopes, inadvertently affecting the thinking of young children.

Regarding this, Master's degree holder Nguyen Hieu Tin affirmed: "According to the general rule, we cannot demand that Tet today be exactly the same as Tet in the past, because all values ​​depend on three factors: space, time, and subject."

Mr. Nguyen Hieu Tin shared his thoughts on "the flavor of Tet," the taste of Tet in the wind, and how this small book will contribute to spreading Tet culture.

Readers asked the author of the book many questions about Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and the Vietnamese culture of celebrating Tet.

Representatives from May Thong Dong - the organizing unit - received the calligraphy artwork donated by author Nguyen Hieu Tin.

Traditional Tet (Vietnamese New Year) celebrations were rooted in ancient culture, reflecting the village and agricultural traditions. Today's Tet has shifted from a village setting to an urban one. Simultaneously, the timeframes and participants have completely changed, with younger generations' mindsets differing significantly from those of their grandparents. This shift in industrial culture has led to the emergence of a more materialistic and market-oriented culture.

This is also the reason why the tradition of giving lucky money has gradually moved away from its original meaning. The word "lucky money" in its original sense means "benefit," signifying or symbolizing good fortune at the beginning of the new year. Therefore, lucky money envelopes were usually red, implying wishes for good luck, and the money itself was also red, with little emphasis on the denomination. This is in contrast to today.

If we understand the original meaning of giving lucky money, we will be able to behave more appropriately and gradually rediscover the beautiful cultural tradition of giving lucky money during Tet. Accordingly, young people will also be able to alleviate some of the unnecessary burden of giving "lucky money," which is a long-standing and beautiful tradition.

Young people with the new work by author Nguyen Hieu Tin

The desire to revive the traditional Tet holiday.

Despite these changes, in recent years it's clear that young people are beginning to want to revive the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) customs. For example, they are learning more about traditional customs, activities, and characteristic Tet dishes, as well as recreating the cultural atmosphere of Tet, decorating their homes, and preparing offerings for ancestral worship.

Right in the urban area, we can easily see models recreating traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) spaces, as a way to remind us and evoke memories and nostalgia about the unique traditional culture of our nation. This is a very encouraging sign. Amidst the modern city, the ancient charm of our ancestors is present, where we, especially young people, feel happy and joyful enjoying the festive atmosphere of Tet.

Sharing his thoughts at the exchange session, Mr. Nguyen Hieu Tin, M.Sc., suggested that creating more activities that both capture the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and are suitable for the younger generation will contribute to spreading the meaning of Tet more effectively, helping young people not feel "tired" of Tet when they think about it. For the author himself, during each Tet holiday, besides activities with his family, he often does things related to his talents such as writing Tet articles, writing calligraphy as gifts, brewing and enjoying spring tea, or, more quietly, dedicating more time to reading.

Mr. Nguyen Hieu Tin, M.Sc., presents calligraphy to readers.

Writer and journalist Luu Dinh Long (right) presents flowers to congratulate author Nguyen Hieu Tin.

It can be said that each Tet (Lunar New Year) custom is a message from the past to the present and a guide to the future, a legacy from ancestors to their descendants, imbued with moral values, shaping family traditions and contributing to the flow of Vietnamese culture, both past and present. There must be old alongside the new. The old is the foundation of the new. Recalling old Tet customs helps us to consciously develop new activities, to learn from the past and understand the present, to apply the past to the present, and to harmonize the past and present, enriching our spiritual lives.

With the same idea in mind, Master Nguyen Hieu Tin has compiled and published the book "The Flavors of Tet, the Soul of Vietnam ," which revolves around the customs, pastimes, flavors, and atmosphere of springtime, contributing a small part to the activities of Tet in the vibrant atmosphere of welcoming the new year.

"The Flavors of Tet, the Soul of Vietnam" is a 128-page book, 18 x 26cm in size, printed in elegant 4-color on coated paper. It includes rich content such as Tet couplets, the enjoyment of apricot blossoms, spring calligraphy, Tet paintings, the flavors of spring tea, incense during Tet, the enjoyment of chess, ornamental plants, rock gardens, the Earth God celebrating spring … All are explored and interpreted by the author, helping readers better understand the flavors of Tet and the soul of the Vietnamese people in the depth of their culture.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/phong-vi-tet-tam-hon-viet-ron-rang-don-chao-nam-moi-185240204154715537.htm