I have spent many years celebrating Lunar New Year away from my hometown. It's a feeling of longing for my homeland, and my heart is twisted with the memories that resurface like slow-motion films every Tet. The deep and warm family bonds come alive when everyone gathers around the pot of simmering banh tet, sharing stories late into the night by the glowing kitchen fire. The image of parents cleaning and preparing the house for Tet, along with the joyful chaos of children running from one house to another, occasionally receiving candies from older siblings who have returned from afar, paints a vivid picture. The happiness and excitement are clearly evident on the innocent faces of the children.
As the moment of New Year's Eve arrives, everyone turns towards their hometown, where beloved family members gather to raise a toast, wish each other good health, and a prosperous new year. People also make phone calls to extend Tet greetings to their relatives, easing the homesickness for a while.
Those who are far from their homeland come together to celebrate Tet in a foreign land, partially easing the longing for home. However, it is impossible to stop reminiscing about the feeling of being in the homeland during the gentle drizzles of spring in the northern region. The light rain is not enough to wet the head, yet it brings a poignant and affectionate sensation. Whenever the drizzle comes, it signals the arrival of spring, dispelling the cold harshness of winter.
I vividly remember the years when I studied away from home, around the 20-25th lunar month. The city was bustling with various goods displayed for sale, and everyone was out celebrating Tet. I also bought items and gifts to bring back to my hometown, but the atmosphere was contrasting. My parents and the farmers remained calm, diligently planting and plowing fields to meet the spring crop. The market was sparsely populated because everyone wanted to complete their fieldwork before Tet and then focus on shopping during the Tet holiday.
In the countryside, Tet preparations typically begin around the 25-26th lunar month when families perform rituals at the ancestral tombs, offering traditional foods and prayers. This is an essential practice that reflects filial piety and gratitude towards ancestors. Families or representatives of lineages often bring tools to clean and renovate ancestral graves, offering incense, flowers, and ceremonial items to honor their ancestors. They invite the deceased to join in the Tet festivities with their descendants, followed by a communal meal organized at the head of the family's house.
The region where I was born and raised, Northern Vietnam, holds significant importance in the history and culture of the country. It is an area rich in historical sites, landscapes, and longstanding customs. The distinctive customs of Tet in the Northern region contribute to the diverse and colorful picture of traditional Vietnamese Tet.
1.1 Peach Blossom & Kumquat tree
My family prefers vibrant peach blossoms, symbolizing prosperity and luck. From the early days of the lunar month, the streets are filled with the Tet atmosphere, adorned with dazzling peach blossoms. People flock to Tet flower markets to choose a beautiful peach blossom tree to display in their homes. In the Northern belief, the bright colors of peach blossoms signify luck and abundance in the new year, symbolizing the welcoming of prosperity into the household. If you visit Hanoi or any other province in the North during Tet, you will undoubtedly witness the flourishing peach blossom gardens.
Apart from peach blossoms, people in the North also enjoy displaying kumquat trees. According to ancient beliefs, pots of densely laden kumquat trees bring luck, wealth, and positive energy to the family in the new year.
1.2 The Tradition of Releasing Fish and Offering to Ong Cong Ong Tao
My family have always valued and preserved ancient traditional customs. One of the Tet traditions in the North that has endured through generations is the ritual of offering to ''Ong Cong Ong Tao'' on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month each year. ''Ong Cong Ong Tao'' is known as the deities who oversee households, helping ward off evil spirits and bringing peace to the family. Every year on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, people in the North prepare a feast to bid farewell to ''Ong Cong Ong Tao'', sending him back to the heavens, and on behalf of the homeowners, reporting to the Jade Emperor about the family's activities throughout the year.
The altar for offering to ''Ong Cong Ong Tao'' is usually set with the three officials' attire, fruits, and a savory feast. Particularly, people also buy live carp and release them with the belief that the carp will transform into dragons, escorting Ong Tao back to the heavens. This is a distinctive tradition of Tet in the Northern region, symbolizing the wish for a peaceful and abundant new year.
1.3 The Tray of Five Fruits on Tet Day in Northern Vietnam
The Tray of Five Fruits is an indispensable part of the traditional Tet celebration in Vietnam. As Tet approaches and the spring arrives, families throughout Northern Vietnam prepare trays filled with five assorted fruits to express their respect for their ancestors and to wish for a peaceful new year. In contrast to the Southern tradition of arranging the Tray of Five Fruits with "peaches - coconuts - figs - mangoes," the Northern version typically consists of 5 types of fruits, each representing one of the Five Elements "Metal - Wood - Water - Fire - Earth."
Various fruits commonly found on the Tray of Five Fruits during Tet in Northern Vietnam include:
Green Bananas: Symbolizing the Wood Element, representing abundance, prosperity, and the unity of the family.
Pomelo or Grapefruit: Having a yellow color, it symbolizes the Earth Element, signifying good luck, wealth, and prosperity.
Pomegranate: Representing the Fire Element, it carries the meanings of luck and happiness.
Besides these, there are also many other fruits with different symbolic meanings, such as watermelon, lychee, custard apple, apple, peaches, and more. Each fruit contributes to the overall symbolism of the Tray of Five Fruits, conveying wishes for a prosperous and joyful new year.
1.4 Packing Banh Chung for Tet Celebration
When it comes to the traditional Tet celebration in Northern Vietnam, one immediately thinks of the elaborate feasts. For the people in the North, the Tet feast must include a variety of dishes such as boiled chicken, spring rolls, Banh Chung (square sticky rice cake), pickled onions, and jellied meat. Among these, Banh Chung stands out as the culinary symbol of the Tet feast in the North. Therefore, the tradition of packing Banh Chung has become an indispensable part of the cultural heritage for the people in the North during every Tet celebration.
Banh Chung is a square-shaped sticky rice cake made from glutinous rice, green beans, and pork, all tightly wrapped in banana leaves. The process of packing Banh Chung is a communal activity, often involving multiple generations of family members. It signifies not only the preparation of a traditional dish but also fosters a sense of unity and connection among family members.
As Tet approaches and the spring arrives, families in Northern Vietnam come together to pack Banh Chung, following the age-old recipe passed down through generations. The act of packing Banh Chung is not just a culinary tradition; it is a cultural practice that binds families and communities together, creating lasting memories and a sense of shared identity during the festive season.
1.5 Giving Lucky Money
Giving lucky money is a beautiful tradition in the Tet culture of the Vietnamese people, not limited to any specific region, including the North. According to the beliefs of the ancients, giving lucky money at the beginning of the new year brings luck and prosperity to the recipient throughout the year. Therefore, during these days, descendants often gather to send good wishes and celebrate birthdays for their grandparents and parents. Subsequently, grandparents and parents also express their love and give lucky money to their grandchildren. My parents always give me the lucky money after we watch fireworks together.
The vibrant red envelopes containing lucky money, along with heartfelt wishes, become spiritually significant gifts for everyone during this special occasion. In addition, the tradition of celebrating birthdays at the beginning of the year can also be extended to friends, colleagues, and others. People can celebrate each other's birthdays to wish for a safe and prosperous new year.
Being away from the hometown during the Tet holiday is something no one wishes for, but due to various circumstances, many people have to accept it. For those who are far from home, everything related to Tet, everything belonging to the family, becomes a yearning and desire.
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