Traditional Lunar festivals in Vietnam
Ha Noi, Jan. 21 (VNA) -- Similar to other Asian countries, Viet Nam has several annual fetes and festivals, the most exciting being the Lunar New Year or Tet.
All of the traditional Vietnamese festivals follow the lunar calendar and the new moon is celebrated every month of the year. The most important of these, of course, is the Lunar New Year known as Tet Nguyen Dan.
* Tet Nguyen Dan, is a celebration of the first moon of the new lunar year. This is the most bustling, animated and jubilant of the twelve traditional lunar festivals.
Tet Nguyen Dan is accompanied by spring, the season of regeneration, though to be the best combination of earth and heaven in nature. The weather is pleasant and warm, flowers are in bloom, fruit is plentiful and people are more relaxed and light-hearted.
Spiritually, the Vietnamese believe this is the time for family gatherings, for meeting with neighbours and friends, and a time to welcome the three domestic kitchen gods and the spirits of ancestors.
In reality, the nearly week-long Tet festival is an occasion for people to exchange good wishes after a year of hard work or separation and a time to pay tribute to their ancestors.
* Tet Khai Ha is observed on the seventh day of the first lunar month
According to ancient custom, this festival brings an end to Tet Nguyen Dan, The Cay Neu (New Year's Pole) is lowered, officially opening a new Tet and beginning a year full of good luck.
A superstitious, zodiac-based belief states that at the beginning of the lunar year, the first day represents the rooster, the second day the dog, the third the pig, the fourth the goat, the fifth the buffalo, the sixth the horse and the seventh human beings. It is widely believed that the coming year would reflect the year's first Tet festival in happiness and merriment.
* Tet Thuong Nguyen is observed on the 15th of the first lunar month
This festival is mainly celebrated by Buddhists. It marks the first full moon of the year, which is the day of vital spirit for Buddha and is often celebrated in pagodas. Each household will cook several dishes as offerings to bring to the temples.
* Tet Han Thuc falls on the third day of the third lunar month.
This festival is known as the Cold Food Festival. Special glutinous rice cakes stuffed with sugar or green bean paste are made for the occasion.
* Tet Thanh Minh is celebrated in the third lunar month when the weather is cool and fresh.
During the festival, people pay homage to the graves of their ancestors. They tidy up or upgrade the graves, burn incense sticks and bow before them. At home, the family usually makes a feast to offer to its ancestors. Young people often visit the countryside, their last spring journey before the advent of a hot summer.
* Tet Doan Ngo is observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
This is the threshold between spring and summer, when diseases are rampant. This Tet serves to remind people of the danger of illnesses. Foods during the three days of this festival include fruit, rice liquor and cakes. Aside from food, parents look for a special kind of leaves to dye their children's fingernails and protect them against insects. This festival is commonly known as Insect-Killing Tet.
* Tet Trung Nguyen is the festival of pardon for wandering spirits and falls on the 15th of the seventh lunar month.
In comparison with other festivals, this occasion often takes place in the gloomiest weather. There is common belief that in the other world, many spirits are still roaming about. According to Buddhism, the 15th of the seventh month is for worshipping one's ancestors and praying for their pardon. Families often offer the roving spirits pure porridge, salt and rice. After the rite is over, these offerings are scattered on the roads. People also burn votive clothes, and votive money to send to the homeless spirits in the other world.
* Tet Trung Thu or Moon Festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the eighth lunar year.
This is the one festival during the year meant especially for children. Parents prepare a feast of fruits and moon cakes, and present special toys to their children. The sky in the eighth month is blue and clear. In the evening, the air resounds with children's drumbeasts and jubilant revellers perform unicorn or lion dances amid lanterns and campfires.
* Tet Ha Nguyen or New Rice Festival is an occasion of great significance to farmers. After reaping the new rice, they hold rituals to workship the ancestors, deities and fairies that bless their crops. It is mainly a festival for giving thanks.
* Tet Tao Quang or Festival of the Kitchen Gods falls on the 23rd of the final month of the lunar year.
According to traditional belief, each family has Kitchen Gods to look after the family's welfare and safety. On this day, the Kitchen Gods return to heaven to make annual reports on the household to the Jade Emperor. On the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, many households buy a carp for the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. They also buy shirts, turbans and belts. No one knows why, but for some reasons, no one buys trousers for the Kitchen Gods.--VNA
