Tet, The Vietnamese New Year For 4th6th GRADE

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Tet,The Vietnamese New Year For 4th-6th GRADE
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Background

• For the majority of Vietnamese, Tet evokes a
  magic period of the year when everyone forgets
  his or her misfortune or misery during the
  previous year.  It is the start of the New Year
  in the lunar calendar.  Rich or poor, young or
  old, everyone celebrates it with solemnity and
  cheerfulness.

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Background Cont.

• The Vietnamese believe the first day and the
  first week of the new year will determine their
  fortunes or misfortunes for the rest of the year.
  
• Tet is the abbreviation of Tet Nguyen Dan which
  means the first morning of the first day of the
  new period.

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Lunar Calendar

• Vietnamese are constantly aware of the phases of
  the moon.
• All events are planned by the lunar calendar.
• The New Year begins on the first night of the
  first moon after the sun enters Aquarius.
• This is sometimes between January 21 and February
  19 on the solar calendar.

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Lunar Calendar

• For more information on the Vietnamese Zodiac
  visit this website

http//www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1198
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Tet Celebration

• Is the major holiday in Vietnam
• Lasts 3 days
• People buy food, trinkets, firecrackers, flowers,
  and other items in anticipation of the holiday.
• Tet eve all markets close down so the people can
  go home and prepare for midnight when Tet begins.

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Atmosphere

• Very festive
• Incense is burned in homes
• Red is used to symbolize good luck and happiness
• There are dragon dances at night
• Food is plentiful
• Homes are decorated
• Parks are full of people dressed in their very
  best.

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Tet is 3 days of Ultimate Celebration!
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Tet Parades in VietnamThe purpose of the dragon
parade is to scare away all the evil spirits to
insure good luck for the New Year.
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Traditions

• Visits from family and friends.
• The first visitor to a home is very important.
• The first day of Tet is reserved for visiting
  family.
• The second day is set aside for special guests
  and close friends.
• The third day is for teachers and business
  associates to make visits.

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More Traditions

• The Vietnamese believe that their deceased
  ancestors will visit the family for the holiday
• Alters are decorated in the homes with incense,
  flowers, and photographs of deceased relatives.
• A tray full of fruit, coins, and a tall vase of
  blossoms are placed in front of the alter
  symbolizing good luck and prosperity.
• The third day of Tet is also a day to visit
  graves of deceased relatives.

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More Traditions

• Families choose a Tet tree, or tac, which is a
  cone shaped tree with miniature oranges just
  ripening, the more fruit on the tree the luckier
  the family.
• A branch of the Mai tree is placed in the home, a
  symbol of spring, which bears lucky yellow
  flowers.
• Food plays a major role in the Tet celebration.

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Happy Birthday!

• Not only is Tet the beginning of a New Year, it
  is also everyones birthday.
• The Vietnamese do not know or acknowledge the
  exact day they were born.
• A baby turns one on Tet no matter when he/she was
  born that year, and says they were born in the
  year of the symbol of the lunar calendar for that
  year.
• On the first morning of Tet, adults congratulate
  children with Lucky Money or Li xi.

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Similarities/DifferencesIn New Year Celebration

• Vietnamese
• Big Celebration
• Lunar Calendar determines day
• Family as well as Deceased ancestors are
  important
• Everyones birthday is celebrated this day.
• People gather in parks ALL over Vietnam for huge
  celebration
• 3 day celebration

• American
• Big Celebration
• January 1st every year
• Significant other is usually the person you are
  with this evening
• Birthday is celebrated on day you are born
• People gather in New York City or few other big
  cities.
• 1 day celebration

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Vietnam and American Commonalties

• New Clothes- Easter
• Firecrackers- 4th of July
• Graves decorated- Memorial Day
• Tree- Christmas
• Ornaments- Christmas
• Ghosts in Street- Halloween
• Midnight Noise- New Years
• Parade- 4th of July
• Feast- Thanksgiving

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Resources

• http//adoptvietnam.org
• http//www.fcvn.org/tet.htm
• http//www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1198
• http//familyculture.com/holidays/vietnamese_new_y
  ear_resources.htm
• http//vietnamese.passchristian.net/index.htm
• http//www.fathertimes.net/vietnamesenewyear.htm

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Activity

• Make your own Musha Dragon Puppet for Tet

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Happy New Year!orChuc Mung Nam Moi!Created
byDanielle Crawford for 4th -6th Grade
Cultural Awareness