In terms of meaning, Tet Nguyen Tieu is considered by both cultures as a time for family reunion, praying for prosperity and expressing gratitude to ancestors. This is also an occasion for people to have fun, entertain and enjoy traditional dishes together.
Besides cultural exchanges, Tet Nguyen Tieu in Vietnam and China also has differences in meaning and activities.
Lantern Festival in China
In ancient China, the Lantern Festival was also known as the Trang Nguyen Festival. This was an occasion for the king to gather, hold banquets, and invite the Trang Nguyen scholars to the royal garden to enjoy flowers, view the scenery, and write poems.
Later, the Lantern Festival was considered the most sacred holiday of the new year, also known as the “Flower Lantern Festival” or “Flower Lantern Festival”. The origin of this name may have come from the custom of displaying lanterns on the pole in front of the house, lighting lamps, and playing with five-colored lanterns during the Han Dynasty. Lanterns shaped like dragons, phoenixes, the 12 zodiac animals, or ancient characters in legends and fairy tales were popular during this holiday.
Lanterns shaped like dragons, phoenixes, the 12 zodiac animals or ancient characters from legends and fairy tales are popular on this holiday.
In addition, people here also display offerings to pray for peace and blessings, hoping for a new year of prosperity and good health. Banh troi, also known as "thang vien", symbolizes family reunion and fulfillment, and is also an indispensable dish on this day.
Banh troi is a traditional dish that cannot be missed on this occasion.
In particular, Taiwan is also famous for the custom of releasing sky lanterns on the night of the 15th of the first lunar month. People write their wishes on the lanterns, then release them into the sky to pray for luck and peace. The image of the magical lanterns flying into the night sky creates an extremely impressive scene.
The sky lantern festival is a special feature of the Lantern Festival in Taiwan.
Many people also compare Tet Nguyen Tieu to "Eastern Valentine's Day", similar to the Qixi Festival, creating a romantic atmosphere and attracting couples to date.
Lantern Festival in Vietnam
Our ancestors have a saying "Offering all year round is not as good as the full moon of January" or "The whole year has the full moon of July, the whole year has the full moon of January" showing the importance of Tet Nguyen Tieu in Vietnamese culture. This is an occasion for people to express their respect and pray for peace in the new year.
On this day, people often go to pagodas to worship Buddha, praying for good things for themselves and their families. At the same time, they also set up offerings outside to express their gratitude to Heaven and Earth, Gods, Saints and Buddhas, and national heroes.
Vietnamese people often visit pagodas on the full moon day of January.
In areas with a high concentration of Chinese people such as District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Binh Duong Pagoda, Ba Lai Thieu Pagoda... Nguyen Tieu Festival is held with many special activities. Parades in traditional costumes, dressing up as Buddhas and fairies, lion dances, dragon dances, lion dances... are the highlights that attract tourists.
Since 2020, the Lantern Festival of the Chinese in Cho Lon has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This festival not only has spiritual significance but is also an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists every Tet holiday.
Tet Nguyen Tieu is a big festival of the Chinese community in Cho Lon.
The Vietnamese New Year's Eve offering tray is a harmonious combination of traditional dishes with deep spiritual meanings. Sticky rice with gac fruit symbolizes luck, banh chung symbolizes heaven and earth, banh troi and banh chay pray for everything to go smoothly, boiled chicken with a flower in its mouth represents abundance, boiled ham hock (or ham) symbolizes fullness, pickled vegetables create a sour taste for the offering tray. The bowl of dipping sauce placed in the middle of the round tray symbolizes heaven and earth and the universe. The offering tray on the 15th day of the first lunar month with salty, spicy, sour and sweet flavors expresses the wish for a new year of peace and prosperity.
The offering tray on the 15th day of the first lunar month with salty, spicy, sour, and sweet flavors represents the wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
