The Lunar New Year is one of the long-standing traditional cultural features, indispensable in the lives of people in many Asian countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Korea, Korea, China, etc. India, Mongolia…
Each country has different unique traditional customs and practices, but in general, this is an opportunity for family members to gather, pay respects to ancestors, grandparents, parents and pray. regarding a happy and peaceful New Year.
In China, the traditional New Year is the most important holiday of the year. On New Year’s Eve, Chinese people often decorate their homes by hanging red couplets, red lanterns with red paper and lighting firecrackers to wish for a happy New Year and a peaceful New Year.
Each year, in the Chinese calendar corresponds to an animal, so in the year of the animal, people often avoid eating that animal at the beginning of the year.
The Chinese New Year menu is mostly cakes. Notably, there is Banh To (Nian Gao) made from delicious glutinous rice, along with sugar and fresh ginger.
In Chinese, “Gao” means cake, “Nian” means sticky substance, meaning sticky rice cake, sticky cake, people use this cake with the wish that family members always stick together sustainably. . The transliteration of “Nian Gao” in Chinese also means prosperity and progress. That is also the wish of the Chinese people in the New Year.
Meanwhile, Koreans call the Lunar New Year day Seollal. This is not only an event marking the moment of entering the New Year, but also a long holiday in Korea (just following the Mid-Autumn Festival).
Just like in Vietnam, Seollal Tet begins on January 1 of the lunar calendar. Although living in a modern society, with the tradition of respecting the family, Koreans still keep the tradition of going back to their hometown to celebrate Tet with their loved ones.
The first ritual of Tet, called Charye, takes place at the family place of worship. Family members bow in front of the altar to pay respects to their ancestors. This custom is performed early in the morning on the first day of the New Year. Basically, dishes such as chestnuts, pears, cakes, dried fish, tofu, rice cake soup, fried dishes are indispensable dishes on the altar of Korean ancestors. After the ancestor worshiping ceremony is the Sebae ceremony. Young people in the family come to worship and wish the elders a long life and then receive money from their parents and grandparents.
In North Korea, New Year’s Eve is called Seol. During the first days of the New Year, Koreans have special rituals to remember their ancestors. Lunar New Year In North Korea is also a time for people to reunite with their families.
In terms of food during the New Year, North Korea has Songpyeon, a type of rice cake in the shape of a crescent moon. This traditional cake contains the ancient concept of “the moon will wane and it will be full once more,” as life changes, but the spirit is always towards good things.
In Singapore, the Lunar New Year usually takes place with the Spring Festival with 3 outstanding events: Lantern Festival, Singapore River Hongbao Festival and Chingay Street Festival, among many other activities. On New Year’s Eve, Singaporeans often eat boat cakes with the meaning of reunion and reunion. The Singaporean Tet tray also has other dishes such as raw fish, longevity noodles, Pencai (dishes include pork, chicken, mushrooms, seafood, abalone, sea cucumber, scallops…).
[Tết cổ truyền của các dân tộc thiểu số tại Việt Nam]
In Malaysia, ethnic Chinese make up 25% of the population, so the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in this country. Like other countries celebrating the Lunar New Year, this is also an opportunity for people in Malaysia to reunite and gather. Shooting screen firework New Year greetings at Petronas Twin Towers with lion dance, lion dance… have become a tradition during Tet. Red color fills all Chinatowns during Tet.
The shopping centers are brilliant with red couplets, red lanterns. People mingle in the Tet atmosphere and wish each other good wishes and acquaintances give lucky red packets. People also participate in the magical shimmering lantern festival and go to the temple to pray for peace.
The Philippines is considered the country with the longest tradition of celebrating the Lunar New Year in the history of Asian culture. In 2012, the Philippine government officially recognized the Lunar New Year as one of the major holidays of the year.
During Tet, people often go to pagodas and churches to pray for a year of luck, peace and prosperity. New Year celebrations in the Philippines always include lion dances and dragon dances.
Food on Tet holiday is sweet rice cake (Tikoy). This cake is made from glutinous rice, mixed with lard, sugar and water, then mixed with chicken eggs, whisked well before frying. The combination of ingredients of Tikoy cake means wishing everyone in the family to always be together.
The Lunar New Year in Mongolia is also known as the White Month New Year. This is an important time of the year signaling the transition between cold winter and warm spring, a time for families to gather and strengthen ties.
To welcome the New Year, Mongolians clean their houses, barns, bathe, buy new traditional costumes, and prepare traditional dishes. Traditional food During Tet holiday are dairy products, cakes, lamb, beef, horse meat, rice served with curd or raisins…
During the 3 days of New Year, Mongolians will only wear traditional costumes. People often gather at the home of the oldest person in the area, talking together, exchanging dishes and enjoying.
Lunar New Year in India is called Holi festival, also known as the festival of colors. Holi festival is considered one of the most important spring festivals of the year for Indians. Holi festival marks the end of a harsh winter and welcomes a fresh spring.
Besides, Indians also believe that the warm sunshine of spring will help dispel the cold of winter, just like good repels evil. During Holi, there is a very unique and famous event where people throw colored powder at each other whether they know each other or not.
Tet holiday in Bhutan called Losar, is the most important holiday of the year in this country according to the lunar calendar. Losar New Year takes place within 15 days and the first 3 days of the New Year are considered the most important day for Bhutanese people.
On Losar New Year, people gather with their families, clean their houses and prepare a traditional tray of rice and fruits to offer to their ancestors, thanking the gods and ancestors for a prosperous and healthy life in the New Year. past year.
According to traditional customs, during Tet, people go to pagodas, dance and sing, organize festivals. One of the unique customs is participating in archery competitions.
Thanh Lam (VNA/Vietnam+)
