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Symbols of
Tet
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Cay neu is a
bamboo pole (New Year's Tree) stripped of its leaves except for a tuft on top.
Red paper is used to decorate the tree, which is planted outside the house
during the Tet holiday. The cay neu has Taoist origins and holds talismanic
objects that clang in the breeze to attract good spirits and repel evil ones.
On the very top, they frequently place a paper symbol of yin and yang, the two
principal forces of the universe. Sometimes a colorful paper carp flag will fly
from the top. The carp (or sometimes a horse) is the vehicle on which the
Kitchen God travels to make his report. This tree is more common in the
countryside now than in the city. It is ceremonially removed after the seventh
day of Tet.
Vietnamese Peach
Blossoms (Hoa Dao)
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According to
Vietnamese legend, once upon a time, in the East of the Soc Son Mountain, North
Vietnam, existed a gigantic peach tree. The tree was so huge that its shadow
extended through out a large area of land. Up on the tree, lived two powerful
deities, Tra and Uat Luy. They protected the people of the land in the
surrounding areas from the devils. The devils were so afraid of these two
deities that even the sight of the peach tree haunted them.
However, at the end of every lunar year, these two deities had to fly back to
heaven for an annual meeting with the Jade Emperor. During this time, the
devils took advantage of this opportunity to harass the peaceful inhabitants.
To fight the battle against these devils, people came up with the ideas of
display a branch of the Peach tree in the house to scare away the devils. Since
then it becomes a custom of the North Vietnamese to have a branch of a Peach
tree during Tet season to protect themselves against the Satan soldiers. Those
who don't have Peach tree can draw the figures of the two deities, Tra and Uat
Luy, on red paper, and display them in front of the house.
Hoa Mai
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While Peach tree
is preferred in the North, Hoa Mai is more commonly used for this ceremony in
the South because of the warm weather. Hoa Mai is a small, yellow flowering
plant that is used for decoration during Tet with the meanings of prosperity
and well-being for the family. The value of these flowers is determined by the
number of petals - the more petals, the more expensive the flower.
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Kumquat trees
about two or three feet tall are carefully selected and prominently displayed
during Tet. To carefully choose a kumquat bush, the buyer must pay attention to
the symmetrical shape, to the leaves and to the color and shape of the fruit.
The bushes have been precisely pruned to display ripe deep orange fruits with
smooth clear thin skin shining like little suns or gold coins on the first day
of the lunar new year. Other fruits must still be green to ripen later. This
represents the wish that wealth will come to you now and in the future. The
leaves must be thick and dark green with some light green sprouts. The fruits
represent the grandparents, the flowers represent parents, the buds represent
children and the light green leaves represent grandchildren. The tree thus
symbolizes many generations. Guests will caress the light green leaves about to
sprout and compliment the discerning host who chose so carefully.
The "Mam Ngu
Qua"
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The
"five-fruit tray" on the ancestral altar during the Tet holiday
symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of the Vietnamese to Heaven and Earth
and their ancestors, and demonstrates their aspiration for a life of plenty. As
one theory goes, the five fruits are symbolic of the five basic elements of
oriental philosophy: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Some people believe
that the five fruits are symbols of the five fingers of a man's hand that is
used to produce physical wealth for his own use and to make offerings to his
ancestors. However, in a simpler way, the five fruits represent the
quintessence that Heaven and Earth bless humans. This is one of the general
perceptions of life of the Vietnamese, which is "When taking fruit, you
should think of the grower". Today, the tray may contain five or more
fruits, in the form of a pyramid like before or in an different shape.
Regardless, it is still called the Mam Ngu Qua, the five-fruit tray.
Fire Crackers
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The most
exciting element in the celebration of Tet is the lighting of trang phao (fire
crackers). These explosions are believed to drive off ghosts and evil spirits
and leave good luck in their place. As thousands of households simultaneously
partake in this fantastic part of Tet, the level of volume and excitement rises
to a fury. This level of emotion is the most memorable part of Tet and also the
part which makes it such a marvelous experience. However, firecrackers are no
longer used as the government banned them in 1995.
Banh Chung
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It is a square
cake, wrapped in banana leaves and tied with laces of flexible bamboo slivers.
It is a very rich food for the interior contains a filling of bean paste to
which may be added small bits of pork meat, both fat and lean. This filling,
which is amply seasoned, is pressed between layers of glutinous rice. Its
square shape is considered a symbol of the thankfulness of the Vietnamese
people for the great abundance of the Earth, which has supplied them with
nutritious food throughout the four seasons of the year.
Cau Doi
(Parallels)
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Composing,
challenging and displaying parallels represents an elegant cultural activity of
the Vietnamese. On the occasion of Tet, parallels are written on red paper and
hung on both sides of the gate, the pillars or the ancestral altar. Each pair
of parallels has an equal number of words with contrasting or corresponding
meanings and lines of verses. They show a keen intelligence, perception of
nature and social life, uphold morality and a yearning for the well-being of
all people. The red is symbolic of auspicious and powerful vitality, according
to popular belief. Mingling with the green of the banh chung, the pink of the
peach blooms, the yellow of the hoa mai, and the red of the parallels is sure
to make the Spring warmer and cozier.
Xin Xam
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After Giao Thua,
the last day of the lunar calendar year, many Buddhists go to their favorite
pagoda to pray for a good year and to get a fortune reading for the whole year.
Each person will get a chance to shake the tube that contains reading sticks,
until one stick falls out of the tube. In the case that many sticks drop out of
the tube, that person will have to repeat the process. Afterwards, usually the
monks will translate the meanings of the reading.