Vietnamese people usually return to their families for Lunar New Year (officially called Tet Nguyen Dan or simply Tet).  Some return to worship at the family altar or to visit the graves of their ancestors in their homeland.  They might also clean the family graves as a sign of respect.

Cleaning and decorating the home

Homes are usually cleaned and decorated before Lunar New Year’s Eve.  The kitchen needs to be cleaned before the 23^rd night of the last month of the year.  Usually, the head of the household cleans the dust and ashes (from incense) from the ancestral altars.  It is a common belief that cleaning the house will get rid of any bad fortunes associated with the old year.  Some people repaint their houses and decorate them with festive items.

Cleaning home

Buying new clothes

This is often the most exciting part of Lunar New Year for children.  Parents usually purchase new clothes and shoes for their children a month prior to Lunar New Year, but the children cannot wear their new clothes until the 1^st day of the new year. The best outfit is always worn on that day.

Farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Ong Tao)

Seven days before Tet (the 23^rd night of the last lunar month), each Vietnamese family offers a farewell ceremony for Ong Tao (the 3 Kitchen Gods) as they leave the home to go up to Heaven Palace.  Their task is to make an annual report to the Jade Emperor about the family’s affairs throughout the year.

Lunar New Year’s Eve

It is a common belief among Vietnamese people that there are 12 sacred animals from the Zodiac who take turns to monitor and control the affairs on earth.  Thus, Giao Thua (Lunar New Year’s Eve) is the time when the old chief (Horse for 2014) ends his ruling term and passes his powers to the new chief (Goat for 2015).  Giao Thua is also the time for Ong Tao (the Kitchen Gods) to return to earth after making their report to the Jade Emperor.  Every family should offer an open-air ceremony to welcome them back to their kitchen.

Peach blossom

“Xong dat”

Giao Thua is the most sacred time of the year.  Therefore, the first house guest to offer the first greeting of a new year is very important.  If that particular guest has a good aura (well respected, well educated, successful, famous, etc), then the family believes that they will receive luck and good fortune throughout the year.  The belief of “xong dat” still remains strong today, especially among families with businesses.  In respect of the tradition, people never enter a house on the 1^st day without first being invited.

Apricot and peach blossom

Flower buds and blossoms are the symbols for a new beginning, and 2 distinctive flowers are widely purchased during Tet.  Yellow apricot flowers (hoa mai) are often seen in southern Viet Nam.  These flowers are more adaptable to the hot weather of the southern region, whilst the pink peach blossoms (hoa dao) fair better in the drier, colder weather further north.  Tet is not Tet if there is no sight of one or the other in every home.

Giving lucky money in red envelopes

This is a cultural practice that has been maintained over many generations.  It is very common to see older people giving away sealed red envelopes (li xi) to younger people, who are first expected to perform a particular greeting before receiving an envelope.  The red envelopes symbolise luck and wealth.

Reciprocally, the older people return good advice and words of wisdom, encouraging the younger ones to keep up with the school work, live harmoniously with others, and obey their parents.

This greeting ritual and gifting is also known as “mung tuoi”, honouring the achievement of another year of one’s life.

Giving lucky money

Making offerings to ancestors

This ceremony is held on the 1^st day of the Lunar New Year before noon.  The head of the household performs a ritual (offering food, wine, cakes, fruits, and burning incense) to invite the souls of the ancestors to join the celebrations with the family.  This is the time when families honour the souls of their ancestors and present the welfare of the family.