Understand about Tet - Traditional Holiday of Vietnam

Ancestor worship is an indispensable activity for Vietnamese people in special ceremonies, especially at Tet (Lunar New Year). Reported by Thanh, Nguyen

“Birds have nests, humans have ancestors” – is a well-known saying that has existed long time ago so the belief of ancestral worship dates is known from that time. It has been playing an important role in Vietnamese and influencing on the spiritual life of the country when Tet comes. Every time Tet comes, Vietnamese carefully prepare for worshipping; they are very serious about this.

Ancestor worship, one of the Vietnamese customs, was under the influence of China, but after thousands years of existing, it becomes the Vietnamese particular cultural character and long-standing custom that can be indispensable in every Vietnamese people.

Tet is an opportunity to invite and welcome deceased ancestor back for family reunion with their descendants to join the family’s Tet celebration. Preparation for the celebration of the New Year is usually make weeks ahead. On that day, family members together make food, fruit and incense that offer on the altars to commemorate their ancestors.

Food and A tray of five kinds of fruits:

According to the ancient Oriental people, the universe was taken its shape by five elements – called five basic elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Ideology as well as the image of “five basic elements” entered into the material and spiritual life of Oriental people with many features. The Vietnamese people’s custom of worshipping the Tet fruit tray is one of these features.

The fruit tray in the North is, as a whole, smaller than that in the South. It must have three kinds of fruits: banana, grapefruit, mandarin (or orange) while a pair of watermelons and four kinds of fruits: custard apple, coconut, papaya, mango cannot be missing on the fruit tray in the South. For Southerners, this fruit tray means that it will bring a comfortable life and best wishes – the most common demand in the New Year. Tet days are always regarded as a perfect time for people to offer traditional food such as banh chung - a square-shaped sticky rice cake and boiled-chicken on the altar to welcome back our ancestors.

Read more about Tet Food

The lightning of incense:

On the Eve of the New Year’s Day, almost Vietnamese families place trays of offering outside the house to offer the God of the old year and God of the New Year. They also burn joss-stick and joss-paper to mark the occasion.

The lighting of incense is a form of communication between the real world and the death world, between Heaven and Earth. It is believed that during the time for a stick of incense burn out (about from 15 to 20 minutes) the spirit can take the invisible aspect of the offerings and they are considered “blessed” in the other world.

The worshipping of the dead ancestors is the most solemn ceremony in Vietnam. It is mainly devoted to those who have great merit or to ancestor to express respect and deep gratitude. Vietnamese traditional worship is no longer superstition, it now becomes a popular social habit that is retained and respected. Worship, to me, is not only a way to show my respect to my ancestors but also a way to keep a good pride of Vietnamese people.

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