Tet in a far away place

Throughout the endless flow of time, from ancient times to the present day, despite numerous traditional holidays, Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet as most of us call it, remains the most sacred and important holiday of the year in the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.

Tet, the Lunar New Year, is an event deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of generations of Vietnamese people. It has become a beautiful custom, a deeply spiritual activity, and a cultural feature that contributes to the "original identity" of our nation, one that will not fade with time and cannot be replaced.

As Tet (Vietnamese New Year) approaches, all Vietnamese people, regardless of their circumstances, living in different parts of the world, rich or poor, always turn their thoughts towards their roots, towards their beloved homeland. Everyone wants, during the first days of spring, to return to light incense for their ancestors, to remember their forefathers, to meet grandparents, parents, neighbors, and friends, or simply to "celebrate Tet" with family, relatives, and neighbors. There are still months, maybe even half a year, until Tet (Vietnamese New Year), but when people meet, they ask: "Are you coming home for Tet this year?" This question sometimes replaces a greeting, warm and friendly; perhaps only Vietnamese people ask each other like that. Those who can afford to return to Vietnam for Tet eagerly anticipate each day, checking to see if their passports are still valid for the holiday, then booking plane tickets in advance, and preparing gifts and clothes for relatives back home. Now that the country is relatively prosperous and goods are readily available, it has become simpler and less significant. But a few decades ago, choosing and considering what to buy, what to bring back, and what to leave behind was a difficult problem.

Those who stay abroad to celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year) have a more relaxed time. Locals work and live according to the Western calendar; Christmas is a bit more elaborate, but it's only two or three days long, while what we call "Western New Year" is just one night of celebration, and by the morning of the new year, it's pretty bland. Usually, starting from January 3rd, the hectic, busy, and mechanical pace of industrial life begins again, and people hardly remember the end-of-year holidays. Therefore, in Europe, there's hardly any Tet atmosphere, from the weather to the surroundings. For Vietnamese people, preparing for Tet is just a habit ingrained in their blood, from a very long time ago.

Even in foreign lands, Vietnamese families usually have an altar. Nowadays, in countries with large Vietnamese communities, such as Paris, Moscow, Berlin, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, etc., you can find Vietnamese markets or many shops selling Vietnamese food and goods. Everything is readily available, especially before Tet (Vietnamese New Year), from pork sausage and green sticky rice cakes to jams, candies, votive paper, incense, and wall calendars – all at reasonable prices. Every family altar has a plate of five fruits and other items mentioned above, looking almost as elaborate as a traditional Tet altar back home. Families with elderly members usually continue to light incense and pray throughout the three days of Tet, offering sacrifices on the thirtieth day of the lunar month, on New Year's Eve, and during the burning of votive paper on the third and seventh days of the lunar month. The Tet feast, usually prepared only once on the thirtieth or first day of the new year, is just as complete and beautiful as in Vietnam. Sometimes, the host even invites friends and family to share in the Tet festivities. Even with lavish feasts, sometimes only the adults raise their glasses to toast and enjoy the meal together. The children, especially those born abroad who haven't experienced the Tet atmosphere in their homeland, might just sit there casually to please their parents before retreating to a separate spot. They're usually not very enthusiastic about Vietnamese food; they have their own favorites and stories to tell. Parents prepare the Tet feast and offer incense hoping to remind them of a beautiful tradition of their ancestors, but for them, Tet is something rather vague and distant. That's generally the case, except for a few exceptions. For older Vietnamese living abroad in Europe, Tet is heavily laden with nostalgia, a feeling similar to the "twelve years of longing" in Vu Bang's poem.

In Eastern European countries with large Vietnamese communities, Vietnamese associations often coordinate with diplomatic agencies to organize a joint Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration for the community. For the organizing committee, such an event involves countless tasks: renting a venue, welcoming guests and local officials, arranging food and entertainment, organizing cultural programs, and planning games, especially for children, and so on. However, Tet programs organized by embassies or associations for the community are not very appealing to young people. Therefore, the question of how to preserve the essence and spirit of the Vietnamese Tet holiday for future generations remains a major concern.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tet-o-noi-xa-10298558.html