In December, the northeast monsoon winds swept in one after another. The biting north wind seeped into every fiber of their being. In the village fields, a few farmers, wrapped in raincoats, diligently plowed and prepared for planting crops. Tet (Lunar New Year) was fast approaching, but they couldn't rest yet, because January and February were very long. The lean months of March always haunted the farmers in my hometown.
Despite the many chores in the fields, their minds were already preoccupied with Tet (Vietnamese New Year). There were so many things to worry about. Tet was approaching; the children needed new clothes. The ancestral altar had to have a plate of five fruits. Then there were sticky rice cakes, pickled onions, couplets... all requiring a considerable sum of money. They had carefully raised pigs and chickens all year, saving the best sticky rice for Tet. But they had to sell some to buy things. People in the countryside didn't need many flowers and flashing lights for Tet. What they needed most was a fat pig, a few live castrated chickens, and a dozen kilograms of fragrant sticky rice.
I still remember the simple yet heartwarming Tet celebrations in my hometown. For a whole month before Tet, my father would painstakingly ferment the yeast to make enough rice wine for the Tet celebrations and to entertain guests. It was a beautiful cultural tradition: during Tet, villagers would visit each other's homes with deep affection. Whenever guests came to offer New Year's greetings, the host would prepare a feast with all the flavors of Tet to offer them. New Year's wishes were abundant: a big pig, plenty of rice, good health for the host, and a peaceful, warm, and happy life. Just a slice of sticky rice cake and a cup of strong rice wine for good luck in the new year was enough to bring joy to everyone.
The most joyful and exciting part of Tet in the countryside is when a fat pig is slaughtered. The offal is prepared into various dishes, and blood pudding and sausage are indispensable. The first lavish meal of Tet always evokes a range of emotions. The plate of fragrant boiled pork offal and meat provides us children with a satisfying meal, making up for all the frugality of the past year. Neighbors and those living next door often come to help slaughter the pig. And the joyful feast spreads, filled with warmth and affection. The lingering taste of Tet in the village spreads through the hamlets. The fragrant aroma of sticky rice from the pots of banh chung (traditional rice cakes) remains in the hearts of the villagers.
In my family, my mother usually makes sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng) on the eve of the Lunar New Year. We have many children, but few helpers, so we're not well-off. We're always hungry, so my mother fears that if she makes them too early, they'll be gone before the three days of Tet are over. Even though we have to wait, we're incredibly eager to help her make the cakes. The rice is pristine white, the mung beans have been thoroughly washed. My mother carefully folds each leaf, measures each bowl of rice, and puts all her hard work into each sticky rice cake. On the night of the thirtieth of Tet, my father usually prepares a basin to mix lime water and paint it on the tree trunks around the house. In front of the gate, he uses lime powder to draw bows, arrows, swords, and knives to ward off evil spirits...
Unlike the bustling, brightly lit streets of the city, Tet in the village has its own unique charm, a sense of warmth and close-knit affection. During Tet, every household erects a New Year's pole in front of their house and hangs symbolic items representing prosperity and happiness on it. These symbols, made from red cloth or colored paper, add to the impressive image of Tet in the countryside. On Tet day, the village usually organizes many fun and wholesome folk games.
The villagers usually choose a flat, spacious, dry rice field in the center to use as a football field and erect a pole. On the morning of the first day of Tet, we children, dressed in our new clothes, ran around the village and gathered to play traditional games such as stick fighting, marbles, spinning tops, and mock battles. Young men and women played games like kite flying, tug-of-war, stilt walking, and throwing the ball. The elders gathered around the fire, sipping wine and chatting animatedly about village affairs, national affairs, business, farming, and so on.
Tet (Vietnamese New Year) varies from place to place, but Tet in the village still retains many traditional aspects of the Vietnamese people. No matter how far we travel, we still remember the Tet of our homeland, filled with warmth, human connection, and the love of our hometown.
According to Tuyen Quang Weekend Newspaper
Source: https://baophutho.vn/tet-que-226493.htm
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