TET
"Chuc Mung Nam
The Vietnamese New Year (referred to as TET) is the most important Festival of the Vietnamese people. This scared Festival occurs sometime between late January or early February, depending on Lunar Calendar. This year, Tet, begins on my birthday, Thursday, February 3rd!
Although officially a three-day affair, festivities can continue for a week or more with every effort made to indulge in eating, drinking, and social activities. It is also a time for family reunions, and for paying respect to ancestors and the elders. Gifts of food are made to friends, neighbors and relatives in the days before Tet. Above all, Tet is an opportunity to get together and celebrate! Loved ones, gather to enjoy traditional foods like bánh chung (a square cake made of sticky rice stuffed with beans and pork), mang (a soup of boiled bamboo shoots and flied pork) and orange sticky rice.
Other interesting things about Tet: Everyone is in a rush to get a haircut, buy new clothes, clean their homes, visit friends, settle outstanding debts, and stock up on traditional Tet delicacies. In Vietnam
Tet 2009. Halle-Grace celebrates Tet with other children from her birth country.
Tet 2010
Tet 2010. Halle-Grace received a special package from Vietnam! Ms. Hau (a very special lady we met while living in Vietnam who took extra special care of us) sent Halle-Grace an au dai, a Vietnamese doll and a beautiful picture frame!
Tet 2011: We are SO excited about Tet this year. We will celebrate with friends on February 5th. Please stay tuned…you don’t want to miss the upcoming “Tet Celebration” blog entry!
Don’t forget to wear RED tomorrow, Feb. 4th. I will be in New York City serving as the event emcee for National Wear Red Day! Lots of photos coming soon…
Until next post, remain blessed,
Shannon
Comments
Post a Comment