In the last days of the twelfth lunar month, when the festive atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year) permeates the countryside of Ha Tinh province , and every household is busy preparing to welcome spring, people's hearts are filled with love and joy.
Tet is a time for loved ones to return home and reunite with each other.
For every Vietnamese person, no matter where they live and work, when Tet (Lunar New Year) arrives, family and roots always remain the place to return to, a place filled with love. This love is so immense that, for many, simply thinking about it alleviates worries and anxieties, acting as an anchor, holding their hearts steady amidst life's storms.
A year filled with numerous holidays and festivals, both large and small, and many short and long breaks, yet Lunar New Year always holds a special place. It serves as a bridge connecting the old year with the new, a time for people to leave behind the hustle and bustle of busy lives and return to peace and reunion with loved ones and family, a time to express gratitude to their roots.
Those who live far away all long to return home to experience the bustling atmosphere of the days leading up to Tet. It's the careful and respectful way fathers prepare the ancestral altar and tend to the graves of their grandparents; the busy yet meticulous way mothers shop, decorate the house, and prepare the ceremonial palanquin, pickled vegetables, and sweets. It's also the lively atmosphere of the streets overflowing with colorful flowers...
But perhaps the most joyful and exciting feeling is gathering with loved ones around the fire, watching the pot of sticky rice cakes cook. The fragrant aroma of the cooking cakes blends with stories about a busy year of earning a living or hopes for a prosperous new year. In that moment, time seems to stand still, all daily worries give way to warm family bonds, and everyone understands that, on the journey of earning a living, through all the stops along the way, home is always the final destination, the only place everyone wants to return to.
Families reunite, children and grandchildren gather together during the Lunar New Year. (Archival photo)
Sharing the same eager anticipation of returning to his hometown for Tet (Lunar New Year) as many other people living far from home, Mr. Le Dinh Quoc (from Loc Ha, currently working in Hanoi ) shared: “Even though I'm almost 40 years old and have celebrated countless Tet holidays in different regions of the country, as Tet approaches, I can't help but feel nostalgic for the flavors of Tet in my hometown. Perhaps that flavor is intertwined with the flavor of family affection. For me, a prosperous Tet is not just about lavish feasts, but also about the fullness of family and hometown love.”
The simple flavors of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) are deeply ingrained in the memories and souls of each person, so that every time Tet comes around, people can't help but long for their homeland and roots. This is a beautiful cultural aspect deeply rooted in the consciousness of every Vietnamese person.
The Lunar New Year not only brings the joy of reunion and the warmth of togetherness, but also provides an opportunity for people to open their hearts, share love, and spread kindness to the community. With the motto of ensuring every family has a happy New Year, it has become an annual tradition for delegations of central and local leaders, as well as charitable groups from all over the country, to set out during these days, bringing warm New Year gifts to the poor and those in difficult circumstances.
Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Trung Dung presents gifts and celebrates the "Tet Reunion" with workers in Ha Tinh City.
This Tet holiday, the provincial "For the Poor" Fund distributed over 4,880 Tet gifts to the poor in various localities; over 13,500 gifts were given by trade unions at all levels to union members and workers in difficult circumstances throughout the province; and 20,800 Tet gifts for vulnerable groups were mobilized by Red Cross societies at all levels... Programs such as "Compassionate Tet," "Family Reunion Tet," "Spring in the Border Region," and "Loving Tet," organized simultaneously by departments, organizations, and philanthropists throughout the province, brought a warm spring atmosphere and shared tens of thousands of meaningful gifts to people in remote, disadvantaged areas.
As one of the impoverished households participating in the free shopping event at the "Zero-Cost Market" within the framework of the "Compassionate Tet Spring 2024" program organized by the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee, Ms. Chu Thi Thien (born in 1956, Do Go residential area, Ky Thinh ward, Ky Anh town) was moved: "My husband passed away when I was only 32 years old, and I raised my disabled child alone with the help of the community. This Tet, my child and I were fortunate to be able to buy some items for free, making the holiday much more complete and warm."
The "zero-cost market" organized by Red Cross branches at all levels brings a more fulfilling Lunar New Year to impoverished people.
The generous donations and heartfelt sharing from the people warm our hearts, showing that despite a difficult year, the community remains open-minded, joining hands to share a warm Tet holiday with the poor. Love and sharing continue to be given, multiplying and spreading endlessly.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Hai, Director of Thanh Sen Training and Human Resources Supply Joint Stock Company (Ha Tinh City), shared: “As a small business, we couldn't avoid the negative impact of the economic downturn last year, but it has become a tradition for our company to allocate a small portion of our profits to give Tet gifts to the poor during every holiday season, with the desire to join hands with the community to bring Tet to those less fortunate. We hope that the new year will bring peace and happiness to everyone and every family.”
Although many customs of the traditional Lunar New Year have changed compared to the past, in the hearts of each person, Tet (Lunar New Year) still holds beautiful meanings, evoking many feelings and good wishes. The arrival of Tet and spring calls for love and sharing, making life more fulfilling.
Kieu Minh
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