Customs and taboos in the three regions of Vietnam during Tet (Lunar New Year)

North

Before Tet (Lunar New Year), every household cleans their house thoroughly so that the broom is not touched during the first three days of the new year. According to tradition, sweeping the house sweeps away good fortune and blessings for the new year. Therefore, no one sweeps the house during the first three days of the year.

The custom of refraining from throwing away garbage originates from a story in the *Sưu thần ký* (Collection of Divine Tales). The story goes that a merchant passing by Thanh Thao Lake was given a maid named Nhu Nguyet by the Water God. He became wealthy, his house overflowing with money. That year, on the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), Nhu Nguyet made a small mistake and was beaten by her master, causing her to transform into a pile of garbage. The merchant, unaware of this, threw the garbage away. From then on, he became poor again.

Avoid dropping or breaking things during the three days of Tet (Lunar New Year) to prevent misfortune and bad luck throughout the year. (Image: )Traveller.

Avoid hanging paintings depicting inauspicious themes such as jealousy or lawsuits, and instead seek out paintings of pigs, chickens, or young boys. Paintings from Dong Ho and Hang Trong villages carry auspicious and lucky meanings.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, avoid asking for fire from others because red fire symbolizes good fortune. Giving away anything red on the first day of the Lunar New Year is believed to bring bad luck to the household throughout the year. Similarly, avoid asking for water on this day.

There's a folk saying, "Buy salt at the beginning of the year, buy lime at the end of the year," with many different interpretations. Firstly, buying salt is seen as bringing the "saltiness" (or "saltiness") into the home for the whole year. Lime also holds an important place in spiritual life, demonstrated through three uses: building houses, chewing betel, and scattering it in the four corners of the house to ward off evil spirits. Another interpretation suggests that lime must be bought at the end of the year to replenish the lime in the lime pot.

People considered "unlucky" or whose zodiac signs are incompatible with the homeowner should not be the first to enter the house on New Year's Day. Some families will choose someone whose zodiac sign is compatible with their own to invite as the first visitor. People whose families experienced a death in the previous year should not visit other families during the New Year to avoid bad luck.

Words associated with bad luck, such as death and illness, are avoided during the first days of the new year.

Breaking dishes, arguing, and cursing at each other spoil the festive atmosphere of Tet and create discord throughout the year; these things are avoided in order to ensure happiness all year long.

Central region

Duck meat and dog meat are dishes that should not be touched during the first days of the month and the first day of the year. (Photo:)Vitninhhoa.

People in Central Vietnam have a custom of avoiding eating fertilized duck eggs, duck meat, and dog meat during Tet (Lunar New Year) and throughout the first month of the year. They believe that eating duck meat brings bad luck. In some regions, people avoid eating shrimp for fear of... moving backward like a shrimp.

During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), people avoid wearing white or black clothes and instead choose cheerful, attractive colors for the first days of the new year.

Southern

During Tet (Lunar New Year), no matter what time guests arrive, the host will prepare a feast and offer them wine and cakes. Guests are not allowed to refuse the meal; even if they are full, they must at least nibble a little.

No matter how far you travel, you must return home before New Year's Eve. Anyone who fails to make it back in time will have to wander aimlessly for work and business for the entire following year.

Losing a broom during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) means that the family will be robbed of all their possessions that year.

People in Northern Vietnam avoid sweeping the house during the first three days of the new year, while those in Southern Vietnam put away their brooms to avoid having their belongings stolen. (Photo)Family.

The Thanh