The biggest holiday of Vietnamese people
In the rich and diverse cultural picture of East Asian countries, Tet Ram January is always considered one of the most important holidays, imbued with spiritual and traditional cultural values. This is not only an occasion for people to gather and have fun, but also a time to mark an important turning point in the cycle of the universe, and at the same time, it is the beginning of a new year with many hopes and good wishes.
Tet Ram thang 1, also known as Tet Nguyen Tieu, is the first full moon night of the lunar new year. According to ancient beliefs, the full moon is a symbol of fulfillment, fullness, happiness, luck and fortune. On the night of the Full Moon in January, everywhere is brightly lit with lanterns, with a myriad of different shapes and colors. People go together to watch lion dances, sing cheo, enjoy traditional dishes... creating a joyful and bustling atmosphere.
The full moon of January is also known as the Lantern Festival, the Shangyuan Festival, the Trang Nguyen Festival... This festival originated from China. Over time, this festival was supplemented with East Asian cultural elements, so its origin can be explained in many different ways.
In the rich spiritual cultural space of the Vietnamese people, the full moon day of the first lunar month has a very special meaning. This is not only the first full moon day of the new year, but also an occasion for each person to turn their hearts to good and noble values, a time for each person to express their respect and gratitude to Buddha, ancestors and the origin of the nation.
According to the Vietnam Institute of Buddhist Studies, the 15th day of the first lunar month is also known as the Great Assembly of the Holy Monks. On this day, the Buddha called on his disciples to enter the world to serve humanity, for the purpose of bringing welfare to the majority and peace to humanity. This is a profound message about the spirit of entering the world, dedication and contribution of Buddhism, and at the same time a reminder for each person of their responsibility to the community and society.
The full moon festival of January takes place from the middle of the night of the 14th (the night before the full moon) to the end of the 15th (the night of the full moon) of the first lunar month.
That is why in the past, our people had a saying, "Worshiping Buddha all year round is not as good as the full moon day of the first lunar month" or: "Being vegetarian all year round is not as good as the full moon day of the first lunar month". Lantern Festival, the first bright moonlit night of a new spring cycle, the moonlight shines brightly across the lower world after a long, dark, cold winter. According to feng shui experts, this night is the time when yin and yang are in harmony, full of prosperity, the universe is at its peak, trees and fruits sprout and grow in time, all things are born. The Lantern Festival is peaceful, the cold wind blows gently, the space is caressing, making the poet's soul more excited before the changes in the scenery of the clouds and sky, the fragrance of flowers and fruits spreads throughout the world.
The Lantern Festival is a catalyst, a time that creates endless poetic inspiration. On this occasion, kings have the custom of choosing the Lantern Festival as an occasion to summon the top scholars and those who have achieved high grades in the country to the capital to meet and hold a banquet in the Royal Garden. In the past, at the family temples, the clan leaders often summoned highly educated, knowledgeable, talented and virtuous young men to read a report on a year's achievements to their ancestors. Through this, they could see the prosperity of the family and educate the next generations in the best way. After that, the elders organized moon-viewing, poetry reading competitions or played cards such as tom and tam cuc. After this day, they often put away or burned these games to urge their children and grandchildren to start a new year of hard work and pass exams.
On this day, people often prepare a full offering tray to show gratitude.
For the common people, on the occasion of the Lantern Festival, many places often hold village festivals, with many types of folk activities, organizing flower lantern lighting ceremonies, boat racing, wrestling, dancing, singing, offering flower lanterns...
Discussing the beauty of the Full Moon Day in January in Vietnamese culture, cultural researcher Hoang Tien Thang shared in-depth information about the origin and the process of adaptation of this holiday in history. According to him, Tet Nguyen Tieu originated from China and has spread and influenced many countries in the Asian region, including Vietnam. However, in the process of cultural exchange, Vietnam and some countries in the region have received and transformed Tet Nguyen Tieu in their own way, bearing the cultural identity of each nation.
On this day, families will go to the temple together, display offerings to show respect to Buddha and their ancestors, and at the same time, pray for luck and blessings.
In the Vietnamese mind, the 15th day of the first lunar month is not only an occasion to pray for oneself and one's family, but also an occasion for each person to express gratitude to their ancestors, those who have contributed to building and defending the country.
Another humanistic value that the Full Moon Festival in January has acquired during the Vietnamization process is the lasting bond between family members. When standing before the ancestral altar, everyone feels their hearts calm down, remembering the merits of their parents, remembering their roots. This is an opportunity for everyone to show their responsibility to their family and clan, and at the same time, it is also an opportunity for everyone to express their love and attachment to their loved ones.
Preserving ancient culture
History shows that under the Nguyen Dynasty, the Thuong Nguyen Festival was always respected and solemnly organized. The Nguyen Kings often personally performed the worshiping ceremony at temples and shrines. Thereby, they showed respect to their ancestors and affirmed national pride. Nowadays, this custom has become simpler, but has not lost its spiritual value and meaning. It has become an occasion for people to look forward to a peaceful and prosperous future together.
Cultural beauty passed down through generations
Along with the cultural beauty that has been preserved for a long time, the rituals on the Full Moon Day of the first lunar month have also gradually changed over time. Besides the good traditional values that are promoted, there are also ugly phenomena in religious activities, affecting the sacred meaning of the holiday.
Although the authorities at all levels and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha have issued specific guidance documents, there are still some religious establishments that take advantage of the name of praying for peace to organize star offerings, ward off bad luck, and pray for the dead for profit, distorting and distorting the meaning of the activities of going to the temple on the 15th day of the first lunar month. These actions not only destroy the peaceful beauty of the holiday, but also create offensive images in the eyes of the public.
Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc, a prestigious cultural researcher, believes that the focus of the Full Moon Festival in January is the ceremony to pray for national peace and prosperity, to pray for peace, health, abundance, prosperity and development for the country and family. However, understanding and worshiping correctly largely depends on each person's perception. Not everyone understands the profound meaning of the holiday, leading to incorrect and offensive actions.
Offering on the 15th day of the first lunar month is an occasion for the homeowner to express respect to grandparents and parents, thanking them for blessing the family and children with good health and prosperity in business during the year.
Burning too much votive paper, causing waste, polluting the environment, or exploiting beliefs for personal gain or superstition are all condemnable actions that must be eliminated. These actions not only go against the spirit of the holiday, but also have negative impacts on the environment and society.
In order for the Full Moon Day of the first lunar month to truly be a meaningful holiday, everyone needs to raise awareness, understand the meaning of the holiday, and stay away from negative and incorrect actions. There needs to be close coordination between authorities at all levels, the Buddhist Sangha and the community to correct incorrect religious activities, and at the same time propagate and educate so that everyone can better understand the cultural and spiritual values of the Full Moon Day of the first lunar month.
