January 26, 2009

Happy New Year- Again!

Many people have heard of Chinese New Year but not Vietnamese Tet (Traditional New Year.) Tet falls sometime between the last ten days of January and the middle part of February. The year 2009 is the Chinese/Vietnamese Year of the Ox.

Tet is a time for family reunions, exchanging gifts, best wishes, forgiving others, paying debts; in short, to start the new year with a clean slate, or else a bad luck curse will remain with you for the coming year. One traditional practice during Tet is the distribution of red envelopes filled with “lucky”

money, with the red envelopes symbolizing wealth and fortune. Children pay respects to their elders by wishing them good luck with crossed arms in exchange for li xi (red envelopes.)

Literally, Tet Nguyen Dan means the first morning of the first day of the new period. Officially, it marks the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar. In reality, it is a friendly, festive, family holiday. Painstaking care is given to starting the year out right, since it is believed the first day and the first week of the new year will determine the fortunes or misfortunes for the rest of the year.

You can wish Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Greet New Year to You) to the Vietnamese, or Phat Tai (Wealth) to the Chinese.