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The full moon of the first lunar month, also known as Tet Thuong Nguyen, is not just a milestone in the calendar but also a sacred cultural symbol. In the hearts of every Vietnamese person, this is a time of wishes for peace, an invisible thread connecting the present with ancestral roots, creating a radiant humanistic beauty amidst the spring weather of the Year of the Horse.
"A good start leads to a good finish."
Throughout Vietnamese culture, the first full moon of the new year has always held the most sacred place. The saying, "Praying to Buddha all year round is not as important as praying on the first full moon of the year," has become a guiding principle for the spiritual lives of millions. With the belief that "a good beginning makes a good ending," this day is considered a moment of harmony between heaven and earth and the hearts of people, where all wishes for a prosperous and successful new year are entrusted to the Buddha and the Saints.
The first full moon of the lunar year (Tet Thuong Nguyen) holds a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, with the belief that "worshiping Buddha all year round is not as important as the first full moon of the year."
In terms of its origins, the Lantern Festival, or the Full Moon Festival of the first lunar month, carries within it a wondrous convergence. For Buddhists, it is the day of the "Great Assembly of Holy Monks," commemorating the time when the Buddha called upon his disciples to enter the world and serve humanity.
Few holidays carry as many names and symbolic meanings as the Lantern Festival (Rằm tháng Giêng). For many Vietnamese families, it's also known as the "late Tet." In the past, well-off families would wait until this day to fully enjoy the beauty of the late-blooming peach and apricot blossoms. Those working far from home, unable to return on New Year's Eve due to work commitments, would often choose the Lantern Festival to make their journey back home and share a belated but warm reunion meal with their families.
The full moon of the first lunar month, also known as "late Tet," is a time for family reunions.
This "lateness" does not diminish the solemnity; on the contrary, it prolongs the breath of spring, strengthening family bonds. The book "Customs of Worship in Vietnam" points out that the Upper Nguyên Festival marks the beginning of the three biggest full moon days of the year (along with the Middle Nguyên and Lower Nguyên festivals), associated with the bestowal of blessings by the Heavenly Official. This is when the Heavenly Official bestows blessings upon the earthly realm, helping people cleanse their sorrows and confidently embark on a new journey with the most optimistic mindset.
The significance of the Full Moon Festival in the first lunar month remains deeply ingrained in the rice-farming civilization. After the Tet holiday, farmers begin preparing for the spring planting season. Before heading to the fields, the Full Moon Festival ceremony is performed as an important spiritual ritual to thank ancestors and pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. The words "Nguyên" (first) and "Tiêu" (night) not simply refer to time, but also symbolize a fresh and hopeful beginning.
According to the book "Customs of Worship of the Vietnamese People," the Upper Nguyên Festival is one of the three biggest full moon festivals of the year, alongside the Middle Nguyên Festival (the 15th day of the seventh lunar month) and the Lower Nguyên Festival (the 15th day of the tenth lunar month).
Throughout history, the Lantern Festival has been a dazzling celebration of lanterns. Under the brightest full moon of the year, our ancestors would hang lanterns and decorate with flowers, enjoying fragrant tea, reciting and discussing poetry. Even with the hustle and bustle of modern life, and even though elaborate rituals have been simplified to suit modern times, that "poetic essence" and solemnity still flow persistently in the blood of the nation. It has become a traditional cultural activity, reminding each individual of their responsibility to preserve their identity amidst globalization.
A heartfelt tribute offered to our ancestors.
Whether it's a lavish feast or just a simple bowl of sweet soup or a plate of sticky rice, the greatest commonality on the Full Moon Day of the first lunar month is the sincere reverence. Depending on regional customs and economic conditions, each family prepares their offerings differently. Buddhists choose a pure vegetarian offering, while those who worship their ancestors choose a savory offering with traditional flavors. But despite the differences in form, all share a common purpose: to express gratitude for the merits of their parents and to pray for the protection of their ancestors for their descendants.
Each region and each family may have different ways of arranging the offering tray depending on their economic conditions, but the sincerity and reverence are the only things that remain unchanged.
Dr. Duong Hoang Loc once remarked that the Vietnamese people's reverence for the three major full moon days associated with Heaven, Earth, and Water is proof of their absolute respect for nature and their origins. These spiritual values are not superstition, but invaluable spiritual baggage. They help people find balance, compassion, and faith in goodness. The full moon of the first lunar month concludes the Lunar New Year celebrations but opens a sky of hope, allowing each Vietnamese person to confidently continue writing their own story in the new year of the Horse.
It can be said that as long as the Vietnamese people cherish the Full Moon Day of the first lunar month, the bond between the past and the present, between people and their roots, will remain strong, creating a powerful intrinsic strength for the nation.
