Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as "Tet Ca," "Tet Ta," or "Lunar New Year" to distinguish it from the Western Gregorian New Year, is the first festival of the year. It marks the transition between the old and new year, a time to close out the past year and welcome good things in the new year. Tet Nguyen Dan begins on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the old year and ends on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month of the new year, with many rituals and customs taking place both in the royal court and among the people.
Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha delivered a speech at the program.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha said that Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a World Cultural Heritage site - is not only a place preserving the brilliant imprints of the nation's history, but also the soul of the thousand-year-old capital city. Organizing the reenactment of traditional court rituals demonstrates Hanoi's strong determination in preserving and promoting the typical cultural values of the nation, while also promoting the image of Hanoi as a "Culturally Rich - Distinctive - Creative" capital city.
"We are deeply honored to share with you the beauty of the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday in this special heritage setting. The presence of distinguished delegates, international guests, scientists , the people, and tourists not only demonstrates the widespread influence of Vietnamese culture but also affirms our shared commitment to preserving and promoting heritage values – invaluable assets of humanity," Ms. Vu Thu Ha expressed.
Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, spoke at the event.
Speaking at the event, Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, assessed today's program as a harmonious and meaningful blend of traditional court rituals with contemporary cultural experiences. Through the Kitchen God farewell ceremony – a spiritual ritual deeply rooted in the Vietnamese people's spiritual life – we together honor intangible cultural values passed down through generations, reflecting the strong bond between people and family, ancestors, and nature, while also conveying hopes for a prosperous new year.
Calendar presentation ceremony
"UNESCO always appreciates initiatives that help preserve and promote cultural heritage in a vibrant, accessible, and closely connected way to the community. The harmonious combination of traditional rituals, heritage spaces, and public participation in today's program is clear evidence that intangible cultural heritage is not only preserved but also continues to develop and adapt in the context of modern urban life. UNESCO is committed to continuing to work alongside Vietnam in preserving, promoting, and disseminating the rich values of its cultural heritage to present and future generations," said Jonathan Wallace Baker.
Carp Release Ceremony
Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is one of the festivals with many unique customs and deeply rooted in the indigenous culture of the Vietnamese people throughout Vietnam. Especially in the thousand-year-old capital city, the culture of Tet Nguyen Dan is even richer and more distinctive, representing a convergence and intermingling of court culture and traditional folk culture.
The ceremony of erecting the ceremonial pole (Thuong Tieu ceremony)
Under a monarchical state, the king and the court represented the people and the prosperity and stability of the nation. Therefore, a system of solemn and dignified court New Year rituals was formed, signifying the supreme authority of the emperor. During the Le Trung Hung period, this system of court New Year rituals comprised a series of ceremonies that took place consecutively from the end of the twelfth lunar month of the old year to the seventh day of the first lunar month of the new year.
These include: the Kitchen God ceremony, the Calendar offering ceremony, the Spring Ox offering ceremony (carrying the clay ox and the god Câu Mang), the Seal cleaning and sealing ceremony, the Offering ceremony (inviting the ancestral emperors to celebrate Tet), the Erecting of the New Year's pole ceremony, the New Year's Eve ceremony, the Ancestor worship ceremony, the Main Day ceremony, the King's longevity ceremony, the Heaven worship ceremony, the Lowering of the New Year's pole ceremony, the Seal opening ceremony... Among them, the Calendar offering ceremony, the Spring Ox offering ceremony, the Erecting of the New Year's pole ceremony, and the Main Day ceremony are the four most important rituals during the Lunar New Year.
Changing of the Guard
At the "Farewell to the Old, Welcome to the New" program, the public learned about the calendar distribution ceremony - the ritual of distributing calendars to the court and the people, the flag-raising ceremony with the image of the New Year's pole to ward off evil spirits, the ritual of releasing carp to send the Kitchen God and the Stove God back to heaven, and the strict changing of the guard ceremony in the Forbidden City.
Through this program, the public will gain a deeper understanding of the unique cultural and historical values of Thang Long - Hanoi.
Through research, restoration, and presentation of traditional rituals at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site in Hanoi, the public has gained a deeper understanding of the unique cultural and historical values of Thang Long - Hanoi, while also contributing to the preservation and promotion of the nation's traditional cultural heritage.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/tong-cuu-nghinh-tan-tai-hien-cac-nghi-le-truyen-thong-trong-cung-dinh-20260210144740299.htm
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