Why is the 30th of Tet always special to Vietnamese people?

Today is December 30 - the 30th day of the Lunar New Year, tonight will be New Year's Eve, welcoming the new year of Giap Thin 2024. It will be 9 years from now, that is, in 2033, that Vietnamese people can welcome the New Year's Eve on the 30th night of the Lunar New Year.

A New Year's Eve offering tray - New Year's Eve with traditional Northern dishes

DIEU MI

In the remaining 8 years, we only have December 29th and it is considered as the 30th of Tet, the next day will be the new year. For many generations of Vietnamese people, the 30th of Tet has been deeply engraved in their hearts and has become an important milestone.

'No matter where I go, I will return home before the afternoon of the 30th of Tet'

"My family believes that during the year, children go to work far away, but the most complete Tet is when all the children return home before the afternoon of the 30th of Tet. The afternoon of the 30th of Tet is when the whole family gathers to cook the New Year's Eve meal, worship ancestors, sit down to eat together, watch Tao Quan and wait for New Year's Eve", Ms. Giang Thanh, residing in Dong Hung District, Thai Binh shared. Mr. Hai Hung (residing in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh ) also said that up to now, we have welcomed many new years without the 30th of December (the 30th of Tet) but only on the 29th of December. The 29th of Tet is then considered the 30th of Tet. Traditional customs are still maintained. Everyone scoops up the pot of newly boiled banh chung, arranges the tray of food to worship ancestors, eats the New Year's Eve meal, gathers to drink tea, watches TV programs waiting for New Year's Eve. "Although I feel a bit disappointed, the most complete month is still the month with the full 30th of December. But it's okay. As long as it's a family reunion, with everyone in the family sitting together, the 30th of Tet, whether it's the 30th or 29th of December, is still meaningful," said Mr. Hung.

The 30th of Tet has many meanings for Vietnamese people.

Seeing peach blossom means seeing Tet

THUY HANG

Master Giang Huu Tam, lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "The term '30th of Tet' has been in poetry, music , folk songs and proverbs for generations. So if in any year the lunar calendar only has December 29 as the 30th of Tet, many people may feel uncertain and incomplete. However, that is just a feeling. The traditional values ​​on the 30th of Tet are still there, intact, not affected". According to Master Giang Huu Tam, Tet Nguyen Dan is different from other national holidays, not only in the aspect of being the longest holiday of the year but also in the aspect of marking the change from year to year. The last days of the year, before New Year's Eve, often make each person think about fate and hopes. People wait for the old year to pass, taking away the unlucky and unsatisfied things of the year, waiting for better things in the new year. In particular, the 30th of Tet, at New Year's Eve, is a special moment of transition between the old year and the new year. Because of the importance of the 30th of Tet, Vietnamese people often have the tradition of visiting graves before the 30th of Tet, taking care of the ancestors' graves neatly and tidily, burning incense to invite their grandparents to come home to celebrate Tet; the family altar must also be cleaned, and the worship items must be arranged neatly and fully.

Dinner on the 30th of Tet with dishes imbued with the identity of the South

DIEU MI

On the afternoon of the 30th of Tet, whether rich or poor, every family must prepare a meal, worship their ancestors, and have a family reunion meal together. Near or far, children and grandchildren try to return home, sit together for the most special meal of the year, which only happens once a year - the New Year's Eve meal on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet. That meal carries many hopes for a new year that is full, complete, peaceful, and more prosperous than the previous year. Before the 30th of Tet, whoever has any debts must try to pay them all. Or whoever has any anger towards each other in the old year, on the 30th of Tet, all worries must be put aside. Or on the night of the 30th of Tet, at New Year's Eve, there is also the custom of "first foot" (the first person to enter a house after the New Year's Eve) is extremely important, bringing hope for a new year with everything going smoothly and luck for the homeowner. Everyone hopes that the New Year's Eve will be joyful, with people laughing and talking happily, giving each other good wishes, with the hope of a new year full of harmony and smoothness.

Master Giang Huu Tam (left)

NVCC

"The atmosphere on the 30th of Tet in the South is always very beautiful. The weather is cool. It almost never rains, this can be considered the most beautiful time of the year, suitable for everyone to walk around the streets, admire the flower street, watch fireworks, and welcome the New Year. The 30th of Tet milestone makes people, no matter how busy, suddenly look back, see whether the old year has passed and whether they have succeeded or failed, what more effort they need to make next year, what more effort they need to make to achieve new goals. All days of Tet - not just the 30th of Tet - for Vietnamese people remain intact over the years. Every spring, each family member has to live far from home because of their livelihood, many overseas Vietnamese also long to return home to celebrate Tet with their families. Tet with the time spent with family in many activities is also an opportunityto educate the younger generation, students, and university students about the precious values ​​of tradition, customs and practices. "The festival is about the connection between members and generations. That is what makes Vietnamese Tet always special," said Master Giang Huu Tam.

Thanhnien.vn

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