Lan Huế

"lt always is darkest before sunrise"

Tet or Vietnamese New Year

Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:05:00 AM

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shopping for Tet
flowers for decorating the altar
Tet is coming soon. For westerner, Christmas and New Year is the biggest event. It is Tet for Vietnamese people. I'd prefer to call it Spring Festival as it is when spring returns with her new and forever young look.

One or two weeks prior to Tet, people start to shop and prepare for this special occasion. Houses are cleaned, painted and decorated so that it looks new and bright. I believe that everything should be new to welcome a prosperous year ahead.

Tet always comes with weak sunlight and cold in Hue. I remember my mom cooking traditional specialties for Tet by an earth stove when I was a little girl. The heat from it reddened my mom’s cheeks, and she looked so beautiful to my eyes.

How can I forget myself tasting newly-made and hot slices of ginger coated with sugar? However, I was only allowed to eat small pieces, the larger ones were saved to serve our guests during Tet. Only on Tet I had chance to eat many delicious dishes, and wear new clothes. Actually, there were two chances that my mom bought new clothes for me – those are Tet holiday and new school year.

Tet is when children receive “lì xì” or lucky money – a red envelop with some money in after saying best wishes to grandma, grandpa, mom, dad or other adult. I haven’t received “lì xì” for a long time as I’m no longer a little girl. Now it’s my turn to give “lì xì” to children.

I’m now too old to longing for Tet, but I enjoy the atmosphere of crowded markets and streets with colorful flowers and decoration stuff. This Tet should be special for me as I’ll celebrate it with an open heart.

Ngày đầu xuân nắng mớiMứt gừng – hương vị Tết Huế

Comments

Mitthaodp Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:32:52 AM

I still want to receive "lì xì" o and miss the sound of firecracker at the eve of New Year's Day although I was really scared of firing it.
I'm counting down to Tet, to come back home. I believe your Tet will be very special this year yes

Huong Lan Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:36:23 AM

Thanks, Thao. I hope you enjoy a happy Tet with your family and friends as well. smile

PainterWoman Thursday, January 15, 2009 5:37:38 PM

I think my new daughter-in-law is very much homesick right now. I know she is thinking of Tet and wanting to be with her family and join in all the celebrations. I spent the day with her yesterday to, hopefully, make her feel better. We also went to a funny movie called 'Yes Man' with Jim Carrey. I wish I had the money to take her out a couple of times a week but I cannot. Her birthday is Friday and all of us are taking her out to dinner.

Huong Lan Friday, January 16, 2009 1:25:23 AM

I think she will feel better soon as she has a nice mother-in-law like you. smile Tomorrow is weekend, and I'll go shopping for Tet. So many things need preparing. Have a great evening, Pam.

PainterWoman Friday, January 16, 2009 1:53:50 AM

Thanks Lan, I hope so. I think I'm going to find a red envelope and give her some 'lucky money' even thought I can't give much. We are going to a seafood restaurant called 'Red Lobster'. We all like their clam chowder and the grilled shrimp.

Huong Lan Friday, January 16, 2009 1:58:40 AM

Wow, it seems like your daughter-in-law will have a cozy birthday celebration with the ones she loves and love her. Please say "Chuc mung sinh nhat vui ve" (Happy Birthday) to her for me! smile

Atma SenthirSenthir001 Saturday, January 17, 2009 7:36:00 PM

Hi Lan. Bagaimana dengan perayaan tahun baru tet, menyenangkankah?
Aku baju barunya. bigsmile

Caroloperainchicago Saturday, January 17, 2009 8:55:22 PM

Happy New Year wizard wine be safe, and I will hope there is lots of sunny days for you and your family and friends.

Carol

Unregistered user Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:33:57 AM

Anonymous writes: hi how are you happy new year to you and your family or chuc mung nam moi. I have a question for you what would be a good gift for my girl friend's mother for tet.

Huong Lan Sunday, January 18, 2009 8:35:28 AM

@Senthir: Hai Senthir, Tet atau Tahun Baru Viet belom datang. Kami sedang siap. Ada pasar bunga disini dan aku senang lihat banyak bunga2. smile Dan aku juga membeli baju baru. wink

@Carol: Hi Carol, thanks for your wishes. My mom and I are preparing for Tet. I feel a little bit tired now after shopping for Tet. Have a great weekend!

@Anonymous: Well, it's a difficult question for me as I don't know anything about your girlfriend's mother. Also, I have no idea about your budget. However, if she's an old woman and living in the North or Central Vietnam, a scarf will be a meaningful gift (as it's a little bit cold in these two areas). For an old woman from the South,well..., I have no idea. Sorry... p

Unregistered user Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:30:26 PM

Anonymous writes: thanks for the gift ideas i am off to hanoi this friday Ben

Huong Lan Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:40:50 PM

Hi Ben, I wish you luck! Enjoy Tet in Hanoi. smile

Lan

SngSoo Ann aka DesDes An Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:47:22 PM

Lan,

im will be still receive li xi or also known as hongbao in Chinese.but i will give hongbao to my parents and nephews.i must remind my parents not to give me hongbao.Chuc Mung Nam Moi!!smile

Huong Lan Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:54:40 PM

Hehehe you sound like a good son. When you arrive in Hue, I'll give you li xi or hongbao. smile

SngSoo Ann aka DesDes An Sunday, January 18, 2009 3:05:28 PM

OOps!im thought i shd be the one to give u li xi.now i have become a little boy!!lol

PainterWoman Sunday, January 18, 2009 3:58:48 PM

Lan, I wanted to give you an update on my daughter-in-law's birthday dinner. We all had a good time going to our favorite seafood restaurant.

I could find no red envelopes so bought a shiny red gift bag instead. Then I looked for one of those stuffed animated toys that sing and move. They are so cute. I couldn't find one that sang Happy Birthday but found a funny green frog with a red heart on it that sang a love song and moved back and forth. Its hands were folded across and my ex husband and I were able to put money in the frog's hands like he was holding it.

When in the store, I squeezed the foot of the frog and I was embarrassed because it was so loud. I laughed, of course, but kept wondering when it would stop. I also put a small bottle of perfume in the red bag.

She seemed quite happy with all of us there and loved the froggie.

Huong Lan Monday, January 19, 2009 12:41:56 AM

@ anh Des: you are not a little boy but a big one with "mui to". bigsmile

@ Pam: Hi Pam, you are a really considerate mom-in-law. If I were her, I would also be happy and proud!!! I know you make the winter of your daughter-in-law warmer with love. I wish when I get married, my mother-in-law will be as nice as you are. Have a nice evening, Pam. smile

Lan

SngSoo Ann aka DesDes An Monday, January 19, 2009 2:28:41 PM

no i dun want to become mui to!!

Huong Lan Monday, January 19, 2009 2:41:18 PM

No need to become a "mui to" guy. You are! p

Unregistered user Thursday, March 4, 2010 9:57:42 PM

Anonymous writes: @Huong Lan and Pam: I hope you will be in better shoes than mine when you get married, because my mom in law does not remember my birthday :D though she remembers the birth month. and sure she does not think about it as much as Pam does to her own daughter in law. Perhaps it is this bad and becoming worse and worse as she moved in with me and my hubby lately. :D what can I say? it is probably the most prone reason to divorce one day. Viet Walin

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