Tet Holiday (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)

The most important holiday in Viet Nam is the Lunar New Year (also called Tet Holiday). Since it is based on the lunar calendar, it comes about one or two months later than the Western New Year. The Vietnamese New Year season traditionally lasts about a month; however, so that working life will not be interrupted for too long, the period has now been reduced to a week or less. There are some parallels with the Western New Year: houses are cleaned thoroughly, for instance, and families all get together for the festivities. All debts must be paid off so that the new year can start with a fresh beginning. Feasts are enjoyed with family and friends, and there are lively dragon and lion dances in the streets. Everywhere there is the sound of firecracker explosions (It’s currently banned due to its possible danger). Children receive gifts of little red envelopes with money inside them. Many superstitions are related to the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year. No sweeping should be done in case the family’s good fortune is swept out of the door with the trash. One should be especially careful not to break any dishes, for such an accident is believed to bring about serious problems between members of the family throughout the coming year.