Reconnection of the Vietnamese Roots Through Tet
February 20, 2021Tết is a Lunar New Year celebration for the Vietnamese. Most people prepare in advance for two months while the festive mood lasts for fifteen days or more. The holiday diaspora for the Vietnamese residing in Canada works as a link to their roots.
The occasion could go on for the first three days of the new year. Most food prepared during the feast are Tết preferences which include thịt kho, and canh khổ qua hầm. In tradition, the altar must display its food for three days to show gratitude to the ancestors.
People also decorate their homes with yellow apricot flowers as it sets the mood of the place. They share stories on how the sprouting of barren trees symbolizes renewal and prosperity. It also creates a bond for the parents to their children.
Some welcome the new year with a clean house and celebrate tradition by receiving lì xì (red envelopes filled with money), observing múa lân (lion dance), and playing mahjong and bầu cua (bingo-like game) with family and friends.
Before the strike of the pandemic, most people visit pagodas or temples at Phap Van temple. A gathering of around 5,000 people to pray and seek blessings.