Language/Vietnamese/Culture/Tet

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Vietnamese Culture → Holidays and Celebrations → Tet

As a Vietnamese language teacher for over 20 years, I have always found Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebration, to be one of the most fascinating and culturally significant holidays. It is a joyous occasion for reconnecting with family, honoring ancestors, and looking forward to the upcoming year. In this lesson, we will delve into the meaning and customs of Tet and learn the Vietnamese vocabulary associated with it.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Vietnamese Values & Bánh chưng ngày.

What is Tet?

Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan, marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture. The holiday typically falls between late January and mid-February and lasts for seven to nine days. Tet is a time for families to come together and celebrate, and many Vietnamese travel long distances to be with loved ones during the holiday.

History of Tet

Tet can be traced back over 4,000 years to its origins in ancient agricultural societies in China. Over time, the celebration spread to Vietnam and other East Asian countries. The holiday was historically tied to the lunar calendar and signaled the end of the winter harvest and the beginning of spring. Today, Tet celebrations mark a new beginning and the hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Tet Traditions

Tet is rich in tradition and customs, with each family often having their unique way of celebrating. Some of the most common Tet traditions include:

Cleaning: Vietnamese families meticulously clean their homes before the new year to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.

Decorating: People decorate their homes with colorful flowers such as peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and chrysanthemums. The color red is considered lucky and is favored in decorations.

Gathering with family: Tet is a time for family reunions, and it’s common for Vietnamese people to travel long distances to visit loved ones during the holiday. Extended families often gather to share a traditional Tet meal, exchange gifts and red envelopes (lì xì), and participate in ancestor worship.

Ancestor Worship: Vietnamese people believe in the power of their ancestors, and the new year is a time to pay respect to them. Family members often visit gravesites to clean and decorate the area and offer gifts and prayers.

Tet Vocabulary

Here are some essential Tet-related vocabulary words and phrases in Vietnamese:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Tết	tet̚˧˥	Tet Holiday
Gia đình	ɟja˧ jʲɲ̍ː	Family
Sinh viên	ʂɪn˧ˀ˥ viː˧ n̪ɜːn˨˩˦	Student
Hội xuân	hɔ˧˥ɪˀ˨˩ sy̯ɜn˨˩	Spring Festival
Lì xì	li˧˥ ksiː˧	Red envelope/packet
Năm mới	nam˧˥ mo̤j˧˥	New Year
Pháo hoa	pʰaːw˨˩˦ woj˧	Fireworks
Thịt kho tàu	tʰɪt̚˧ˀ˥ xo̤˧˥ tɔːw˨˩	Braised pork with eggs

Conclusion

Tet is a beautiful holiday that embodies the spirit of Vietnamese culture. Celebrating the holiday with family and loved ones, paying respect to ancestors, and looking forward to the upcoming year are all essential aspects of the celebration. I hope that this lesson helps you understand the significance of Tet and learn some Vietnamese vocabulary associated with the holiday.

Sources

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Cuisine and Dining & Other Traditional Clothing.

Table of Contents - Vietnamese Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Greetings and Introductions

Vietnamese Culture Basics

Numbers and Counting

Nouns and Pronouns

Family and Relationships

Holidays and Celebrations

Verbs and Verb Tenses

Food and Drink

Arts and Entertainment

Adjectives and Adverbs

Transportation

Traditional Clothing

Videos

6 Traditional Customs to Do for VIETNAMESE TET (Lunar New Year ...

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