Oh Tet, oh Tet!

Tet – a term that is both very general and very personal, a sacred call from heaven and earth, and from the hearts of people. And so today and forevermore, whether old or young, from the lowlands or the highlands, or anywhere else, the children of Vietnam will all join together in the profound cultural current, turning towards their roots during the Tet holiday and the arrival of spring, singing songs to welcome the new year...

The joy of spring outings during the Lunar New Year. Photo: Dang Khoa

A lively Tet celebration in the highlands.

Thai Luong Ngoc Han, 31, is the owner of a popular restaurant in Son Lu town (Quan Son district). With Tet (Lunar New Year) just around the corner, Han and her husband are still busy with their business from morning till night, thinking to themselves, "Let's keep doing business for a few more days to complete the year." Joking aside, the young couple are excitedly preparing for the upcoming Tet celebrations. Ngoc Han shared, "Work keeps piling up day after day, but it's only once a year that we get to celebrate Tet. This isn't just a chance for everyone to rest after the busy days of earning a living, but also a time for the family to gather together."

Hân was born and raised in the heart of Thai culture. She introduced her homeland, her ethnic group, and how the Thai people celebrate the Lunar New Year with pride and affection: “The border region of Quan Son is home to four ethnic groups: Kinh, Muong, Thai, and Mong; the Thai people make up over 80% of the population. This area still preserves many unique traditional cultural features of the Thai people, including customs, rituals, cuisine , clothing, and folk games and performances during the Lunar New Year.”

In keeping with the festive atmosphere across the country, from the 25th day of the 12th lunar month, the villages of the Thai people are bustling with preparations for the biggest festival of the year: going to the forest to cut firewood for storage, gathering banana leaves, draining ponds to catch fish, slaughtering pigs, buffaloes, and cows... Then, when the firewood is stored, banana leaves have turned a corner of the house green, and the pork, buffalo, and cows signal a prosperous New Year, the people here dress up in their finest clothes and head to the market. The year-end market is vibrant with the colors of traditional costumes, a variety of local products, a rich array of dishes, and a lively atmosphere of buying and selling...

Along with language and writing, clothing and cuisine are important "indicators" to distinguish one ethnic group from another. Ngoc Han said: "The dishes served during Tet (Lunar New Year) in Quan Son, Thai people, often include sticky rice, banh chung (rice cakes), smoked buffalo and beef, steamed fish, steamed moss... Especially, grilled fish is an indispensable dish." The Thai people also have many unique customs for celebrating the New Year. For example, on the morning of the first day of Tet, the host will perform a ritual to report on the situation and invite ancestors to celebrate Tet with the family. At the same time, through this, the host also expresses respect and gratitude to their ancestors and conveys wishes and hopes for a prosperous new year... Folk games and performances such as throwing the ball, bamboo pole dancing, and singing folk songs contribute to painting a vibrant picture of spring in the mountainous region, rich in unique cultural nuances.

Tet in the hearts of those living far from home.

In the hearts of Vietnamese people, the most precious thing during Tet (Lunar New Year) is being reunited with family and loved ones. For those living far from home, this longing and yearning is even more intense.

The Thanh Hoa Newspaper Trade Union organized the Green Sticky Rice Cake Festival. Photo: To Dung

This Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025 marks the first time that 25-year-old Nguyen Thi Kieu Anh (from Lang Chanh) will not be with her family. Australia, a land in the Southern Hemisphere where Kieu Anh lives and studies, is renowned for its majestic natural landscapes, diverse culture, and friendly, amiable people. But all of that cannot fill the void of love and longing for home for this young woman. Memories of Tet (Lunar New Year) flood her mind, bringing tears to her eyes; she feels as if hearing her mother's voice on the phone right now would make her burst into tears like a child...

Like many other international students, Kieu Anh had to be strong and learn to cope with homesickness and the traditional flavors of the Lunar New Year. Kieu Anh shared: “The first feeling for those of us celebrating Tet away from home is definitely missing family, friends, and the feeling of reunion that many people have waited a whole year to experience. Usually, during this period, most international students return to Vietnam to celebrate Tet with their families. However, companies and businesses in Australia are still operating as usual, so I think this is also a good time to look for work and have opportunities to improve myself.” Besides that, Kieu Anh is also curious and wants to explore how Vietnamese people abroad, or foreigners with similar customs and traditions, celebrate Tet. Kieu Anh shared: “The international student community where I live and study comes from many different countries, so it's very culturally diverse. In some areas, both Vietnamese and Chinese communities organize activities to celebrate Lunar New Year. I will participate in these activities with my friends.”

Spring is lingering, Tet (Lunar New Year) is knocking at every door, and people's hearts are filled with joy as they prepare to welcome the new year. Spring and Tet remain a special occasion for connection, bridging the "generation gap" and geographical distance. It is a time when we all "live together in a shared feeling, a common idea, and a collective emotion," embracing the beautiful traditional cultural values ​​that have been passed down and continued for millennia.

Dang Khoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tet-oi-tet-a-238071.htm