Lunar New Year / Tet Festival

This Saturday is the Lunar New Year. For Vietnamese people, like my husband, it is the start of the Tet Festival.

According to VietnamOnline.com:

“Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar, Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven days. Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. Moreover, in the past, Tet was essential as it provided one of few long breaks during the agricultural year, which was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones. To make it easier, one can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year: every family will get together to have big meals, decorate Tet trees and eat Tet food but to welcome the new year instead of a religious cause.”

I’m trying to find a way to take my kids to the Tet Festival this weekend. I want them to see the Dragon Dances and performances on the street. We’ll probably miss the parade on Saturday, but I’m hoping the celebrations will last throughout the weekend.

Last 2009, we lived pretty much where the festival was being held. It was really fun. I’m looking forward to taking some photos of the Dragons and other festivities that go along with the event.

That was my favorite dragon shot. Don’t you just love that royal blue?! Below are the other important colors of the occasion, red and yellow. (That’s my grandma, by the way. The lady, not the red dragon.) 😀

This is just one example of the many beautiful Tet Flowers you could buy at the festival. They range from small, perfect for the desk size – all the way to plant it in your backyard size! Also, you can get them real or fake. haha (I’ve always secretly wanted a big one.)

Finally, men, women, and children dress in traditional Vietnamese clothing. For girls/women, the outfit is called Ao Dai (ow-yai). At the beginning of the festival, if you go to the Fair dressed in traditional clothing at a certain day and time, you get Free Admission!

The Tet Festival is an exciting celebration. I really wish we could be a part of it this year. Are you celebrating Tet? Lunar New Year? Chinese New Year? Whatever it is, Happy New Year! (again)

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