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In the North
Avoid sweeping the house.
It is considered taboo to sweep the house, or more accurately, to throw away trash. During the three days of Tet, if you sweep the house, you must gather the trash into a corner; do not sweep it out the door or throw it away.
This custom originated from a Chinese folk tale and later spread to Vietnam.
Not only in the North, but people in all three regions of Vietnam generally believe that one should absolutely not sweep the house during the first three days of Tet (Lunar New Year). They believe that good fortune and wealth will leave with it. They wait until after the fourth day of Tet to begin the new year before cleaning up the trash.
Avoid breaking dishes and other items.
According to ancient beliefs, dishes symbolize the family. Breaking dishes is considered a bad omen for the family in the coming year. Broken dishes or arguments at the beginning of the year represent separation and broken relationships.
Many families still avoid saying unlucky or mournful words like "Death," "It's over," "Poor," etc. During Tet, it's best to avoid negative words and harsh words so that the family remains happy and harmonious.
Avoid giving away fire at the beginning of the year.
According to Vietnamese beliefs, fire is represented by the element Fire (Hỏa) in the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Fire is symbolized by the color red, bringing good luck and joy. It is considered taboo to give away fire at the beginning of the year, as it is believed to give away good fortune from the house.
This custom exists because in the northern countryside, every household uses a wood-burning stove. Whether cooking is going on or not, the fire must never be extinguished; instead, embers are always kept burning so that they don't have to be relit whenever cooking is needed. Therefore, at the beginning of the year, if a household lets their stove go out, they must immediately go and ask for a piece of burning ember to relight the fire.
Avoid hanging paintings that bring bad luck.
People in Northern Vietnam avoid hanging pictures that bring bad luck, especially those depicting jealousy or lawsuits, during Tet (Lunar New Year). To ensure a prosperous and peaceful new year, they hang pictures symbolizing wealth and good fortune, such as pictures of roosters, pigs, or young boys. Nowadays, Vietnamese people also hang calligraphy and couplets with meanings of "Happiness," "Prosperity," and "Longevity."
In Central Vietnam
Avoid eating duck meat.
The initial reason for avoiding duck meat was probably because it was considered poisonous and shouldn't be eaten at the beginning of the year. Another reason was the saying "Water poured on a duck's head," meaning that all the money invested would flow away. Therefore, business people would avoid eating duck meat until the end of January.
Even in the early days of the new year, people in Central Vietnam avoid eating shrimp because it is considered inauspicious, and they avoid eating squid because its name is associated with bad luck.
Avoid wearing white clothes.
For Vietnamese people, white symbolizes mourning, death, and bad luck, so they usually avoid wearing clothing of this color during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). They also avoid wearing black and other somber colors.
Traditionally, we often wear bright colors to express joy. Colors like red and yellow are always chosen for Tet (Lunar New Year).
In the South
Avoid leaving the rice mill empty.
In some rural areas of Southern Vietnam, there is a custom of avoiding leaving the rice mill empty because it symbolizes failure and a bad harvest in the coming year. Similarly, families who don't farm also avoid leaving their rice bins empty, believing it will lead to famine and misfortune in the coming year. Therefore, they often put a small amount of rice into the mill, hoping for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. Or they will fill the rice jars completely, hoping for a year without crop failure or famine.
Avoid losing your broom.
Putting away the broom after sweeping is a custom common in the southern provinces. Here, people avoid losing their brooms because they believe that losing a broom during Tet (Lunar New Year) means that thieves will steal all their possessions and property throughout the year.
Avoid refusing food and drinks.
When visiting relatives and friends on the first day of the Lunar New Year, if offered a feast, even if you don't want to or are already full, you should still take a bite to please the host. People in Southern Vietnam are known for their hospitality, so they always prepare feasts to welcome guests. No matter what time you arrive, you should eat some snacks or treats when offered. Importantly, you should not rest your chopsticks on the bowl while eating; this symbolizes delays in work and losses in business.
Our ancestors had a saying: "Respecting traditions brings blessings, observing taboos brings good fortune." Therefore, even though life is modern and many customs and traditions are fading over time, maintaining a joyful and harmonious Tet holiday, a new year filled with good luck and prosperity, and observing the aforementioned taboos are still things we should uphold.
Post:Bao Khuyen |Painting:Sunday team
