Tet Vietnamese New Year 2017 (Vietnam) Tweet Tet is the common name for the Vietnamese New Year (Vietnamese: Tết Nguyên Đán). It is by far the country’s most important holiday, and is a bit like combining Christmas, New Year’s, and your birthday into one celebration. Like Chinese New Year , Tet takes place on the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar. This usually translates to late January or early February on the Gregorian calendar. The years are represented by 12 zodiac animals: rat, buffalo, tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. These animals rotate through 12-year periods. Each animal has different strengths and weaknesses that they are believed to pass on to any person born in their year. For example, 2012 was the year of the dragon (the last one of which was in 2000), the most noble and powerful of all the animals. According to tradition babies, especially boys, born during a year of the dragon are more likely to become wealthy and powerful adults. As a result, dragon years produce baby booms as couples plan to give birth during that year.

Vietnamese New Year Traditions Much like Christmas, preparations for Tet begin well ahead of the holiday. Every new year is seen as a clean slate, a chance for people to begin anew and be more successful than they were in the year before. Home decorations for Tet Many families renovate houses in the weeks leading up to Tet, adding even more noise to the already raucous streets of Vietnam. If a house isn’t renovated it is at least thoroughly cleaned. New outfits are purchased to signify a new change, and many people change companies or try to switch lines of work. It is also considered good luck to open a business around Tet. There also certain types of food that become popular around Tet, the most common of which are banh chung and banh day. These consist of rice with meat or bean fillings tightly wrapped inside a leaf, and are the most important traditional Tet dishes. In the month before Tet towns and cities throughout the country set up flower streets, and families set up flower displays in front of their homes. During this period Vietnam’s streets explode with color and give a sense of vitality before the start of the new year.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, one of downtown’s main boulevards is shut down and transformed into an elaborate flower exhibition that attracts visitors from the entire region. The three days immediately before Tet are when the holiday kicks into high gear. The cities empty as urban residents return to their family’s hometown to reunite with relatives, as Tet is really all about family. For foreigners and other people living in the city who don’t have family to visit, this is a strange experience. The normally vibrant streets are quiet, and many businesses shut down, making it somewhat difficult to visit your usual restaurants and stalls. Other customs include the giving of Li Xi, or lucky money, to children. Relatives will fill red envelopes with small bills and give them to children in the family the day of Tet as a sign of good luck. Children are supposed to display their respect for their elders before receiving the money. Ancestor worship is also a key part of Tet, and nearly every home in Vietnam contains a family shrine where the spirits of deceased relatives are kept. Gifts, including Li Xi and food, are placed in the shrines to keep ancestors content in the afterlife.

Most cities put on a massive fireworks display the evening of Tet, providing an explosive finish to the holiday and signaling to the nation that it is time to get back to work. The dates of Vietnamese New Year The table below shows all the dates of Tet 2014 up to 2020 and the corresponding animal from the Chinese Zodiac . Holiday Rat Happy New Year in Vietnamese There are plenty of ways to wish someone a Happy New Year in Vietnamese. Traditional New Year´s greetings are: Chúc Mừng Năm Mới – Happy New Year Cung Chúc Tân Xuân – Gracious wishes of the new spring The below video shows you how to pronounce Happy New Year in Vietnamese: The Tet Offensive Tet is a word that may sound familiar to many, but for an unpleasant reason. On January 30, 1968 forces controlled by former North Vietnam launched a massive surprise attack against the U.S. military and the Saigon regime’s troops. This assault took place during what many people had expected to be a holiday-related cease-fire. Though the North’s forces suffered massive casualties during their assault, in the end the Tet Offensive played a large role in turning the American public against the Vietnam War.

It is a shame that Tet is still connected to the legacy of war outside of Vietnam, because inside the country it is a spectacular celebration of life, family, and the future. When is Tet 2017? Giving Thanks Around the World : Harvest Festivals and Thanksgiving Celebrations : Travel Channel Israel: Sukkot Israel: Sukkot Sukkot (Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles) is a biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei, which is between late September and late October. On this special occasion, Jewish people reflect on how the Israelites felt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the exodus from slavery in Egypt, as referenced in the Bible. The 7-day tradition includes special prayer services and holiday meals. 960 1280 Sukkot (Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles) is a biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei, which is between late September and late October.

On this special occasion, Jewish people reflect on how the Israelites felt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the exodus from slavery in Egypt, as referenced in the Bible. The 7-day tradition includes special prayer services and holiday meals. Reuters Canada: Jour de l'Action de Grâce Canada: Jour de l'Action de Grâce Canadians celebrate Jour de l'Action de Grâce, aka Thanksgiving Day, on the second Monday in October. Similar to the American Thanksgiving, people in Canada reserve this time to celebrate the harvest and other blessing of the past year. And Canucks enjoy a good feast, too. During the holiday weekend, most families have the big Thanksgiving meal on Sunday or on Monday. 960 1280 Canadians celebrate Jour de l'Action de Grâce, aka Thanksgiving Day, on the second Monday in October. Similar to the American Thanksgiving, people in Canada reserve this time to celebrate the harvest and other blessing of the past year. And Canucks enjoy a good feast, too. During the holiday weekend, most families have the big Thanksgiving meal on Sunday or on Monday.

Monkey Business Images Korea: Chuseok Korea: Chuseok Chuseok, a major harvest festival and 3-day holiday in Korea, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Koreans return to their hometowns to perform traditional rituals in the morning to remember their ancestors. Family members also visit and clean up the area around the tombs of their immediate ancestors, before offering food, drink and crops to their lost loved ones. Japchae, bulgogi and songpyeon (a crescent-shaped rice cake) are popular foods prepared during the holiday. 960 1280 Chuseok, a major harvest festival and 3-day holiday in Korea, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Koreans return to their hometowns to perform traditional rituals in the morning to remember their ancestors. Family members also visit and clean up the area around the tombs of their immediate ancestors, before offering food, drink and crops to their lost loved ones. Japchae, bulgogi and songpyeon (a crescent-shaped rice cake) are popular foods prepared during the holiday.

riNux, Flickr Vietnam: Tết Trung Thu Festival Vietnam: Tết Trung Thu Festival In Vietnam, people celebrate the Tết Trung Thu Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) in September or in early October. This fall celebration is also known as the Children’s Festival. The Vietnamese believe children are symbols of innocence and purity -- the closest connection to the sacred and natural world. Children light lanterns and perform lion dances as part of the celebration. This is the second most important holiday tradition in Vietnam. 960 1280 In Vietnam, people celebrate the Tết Trung Thu Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) in September or in early October. This fall celebration is also known as the Children’s Festival. The Vietnamese believe children are symbols of innocence and purity -- the closest connection to the sacred and natural world. Children light lanterns and perform lion dances as part of the celebration. This is the second most important holiday tradition in Vietnam. Viethavvh, Wikimedia Commons UK: London's Harvest Festival UK: London's Harvest Festival Locals and tourists with “green thumbs” converge on London to stroll through the city’s Harvest Festival in October.

Organized by the Royal Horticultural Society, this festival has several fun activities including the Fruit & Vegetable Competition, which highlights the UK’s best growers and their best produce. Gardening tips, apple tasting and a giant pumpkin contest are other featured events held during the 2-day festival. 960 1280 Locals and tourists with “green thumbs” converge on London to stroll through the city’s Harvest Festival in October. Organized by the Royal Horticultural Society, this festival has several fun activities including the Fruit & Vegetable Competition, which highlights the UK’s best growers and their best produce. Gardening tips, apple tasting and a giant pumpkin contest are other featured events held during the 2-day festival. Reuters Ghana: Homowo Festival Ghana: Homowo Festival Ga people celebrate Homowo, a festival to commemorate the pre-colonial famine that occurred in Ghana. The festival starts in May during the planting of the crops -- just before the rainy season begins. The celebration includes marching in the streets with drums, face painting, singing and performing traditional dances, like the Kpanlogo. 960 1280 Ga people celebrate Homowo, a festival to commemorate the pre-colonial famine that occurred in Ghana.

The festival starts in May during the planting of the crops -- just before the rainy season begins. The celebration includes marching in the streets with drums, face painting, singing and performing traditional dances, like the Kpanlogo. Reuters Germany: Erntedankfest Germany: Erntedankfest Although it’s not an official holiday, Germans celebrate Erntedankfest (The Harvest of Thanks) on the first Sunday in October. Usually a church-organized celebration, this harvest festival includes several fun activities including a Thanksgiving parade and carnival with elaborate decorations made from harvested fruits and vegetables. 960 1280 Although it’s not an official holiday, Germans celebrate Erntedankfest (The Harvest of Thanks) on the first Sunday in October. Usually a church-organized celebration, this harvest festival includes several fun activities including a Thanksgiving parade and carnival with elaborate decorations made from harvested fruits and vegetables.

madle-fotowelt.de, flickr China: August Moon Festival China: August Moon Festival Celebrated in China, the August Moon Festival is a 1,000-year-old tradition for the Chinese to reflect on the bounty of the summer harvest, the fullness of the moon and the myth of the immortal goddess, Chang O, who lives in the moon. Millions of Mooncakes -- flaky, round, semi-sweet pastries -- are given as gifts during this celebration. The festival is often thought of as “Chinese Thanksgiving” because of its spirit of gratitude and abundant food. 960 1280 Celebrated in China, the August Moon Festival is a 1,000-year-old tradition for the Chinese to reflect on the bounty of the summer harvest, the fullness of the moon and the myth of the immortal goddess, Chang O, who lives in the moon. Millions of Mooncakes -- flaky, round, semi-sweet pastries -- are given as gifts during this celebration. The festival is often thought of as “Chinese Thanksgiving” because of its spirit of gratitude and abundant food.

Shizhao, Wikimedia Commons India: Pongal India: Pongal Pongal is a 4-day festival celebrated January 12th through the 15th, to mark the beginning of the end of the winter season in India. The second day, Surya Pongal, is the most important day of the festival. On this day, people throw their old clothes into the fire, have an oil massage and then wear new clothes, to worship Surya, the sun god. During the festival, cattle are bathed, dressed and served pongal (rice boiled in milk), women of the house perform puja for the prosperity of their brothers, and families decorate their floor with decorative patterns using rice flour. 960 1280 Pongal is a 4-day festival celebrated January 12th through the 15th, to mark the beginning of the end of the winter season in India. The second day, Surya Pongal, is the most important day of the festival. On this day, people throw their old clothes into the fire, have an oil massage and then wear new clothes, to worship Surya, the sun god.

During the festival, cattle are bathed, dressed and served pongal (rice boiled in milk), women of the house perform puja for the prosperity of their brothers, and families decorate their floor with decorative patterns using rice flour. Getty Images Barbados: Crop Over Barbados: Crop Over The Crop Over, a traditional harvest festival in Barbados, features singing, dancing, climbing a greased pole, feasting, drinking competitions and a calypso music competition. The celebration starts in June and ends on the first Monday in August. With street parties, craft markets, food tents, Crop Over has evolved into Barbados’ biggest national festival -- similar to Carnival in Brazil and Trinidad. 960 1280 The Crop Over, a traditional harvest festival in Barbados, features singing, dancing, climbing a greased pole, feasting, drinking competitions and a calypso music competition. The celebration starts in June and ends on the first Monday in August. With street parties, craft markets, food tents, Crop Over has evolved into Barbados’ biggest national festival -- similar to Carnival in Brazil and Trinidad.

Getty Images Multicultural Holiday Marketing: Vietnamese New Year (Tết) Research Multicultural Holiday: Guide to Multicultural Marketing on Vietnamese New Year (Tết) In only less than two weeks, the most important multicultural holiday of the year Tết (Vietnamese New Year) for Vietnamese would come. No matter if people live in Vietnam, or Vietnamese immigrants live in other countries, they would celebrate the arrival of spring on that day and this multicultural holiday season is usually the peak of the sales for Vietnamese all year around. Therefore, it is valuable for marketers to know how to make use of the multicultural holiday season to launch multicultural marketing campaigns for Vietnamese wisely. What is Tết (Vietnamese New Year) and how Vietnamese celebrate this multicultural holiday? Tết, or called as Vietnamese New Year, is the most important holiday for Vietnamese to celebrate the arrival of the spring based on the Vietnamese lunar calendar. In 2014, the Vietnamese New Year would be at 31st of January, which is the same day as the Chinese New Year. More than 92 million people in Vietnam and over 3 million overseas Vietnamese (mostly in United States, Cambodia, France, Australia, Canada, etc.) would celebrate this multicultural holiday every year.

Since culturally Vietnam is deeply influenced by China for years, Tết and Chinese Spring Festiva l have a lot in common: in both Vietnamese and Chinese culture, the lunar New Year is the occasion for family reunions and visit relatives and friends, therefore people would travel more during this multicultural holiday season, especially with airlines and railway transportation. Besides, most Vietnamese would prepare special holiday foods and clean the house completely for Tết. On the New Year day, there are certain traditions for Vietnamese, such as wishing New Year´s greeting, giving lucky money to young generations, visiting temples and meeting relatives to embrace the new year. Major multicultural markets for Vietnamese Since we are discussing about multicultural marketing for the Vietnamese groups, therefore it is more relevant to understand the habit and cultural aspects of those overseas Vietnamese, especially in these major immigration countries. Vietnamese in the U.S. The U.S. is the largest and most popular destination for Vietnamese immigrants. Based on the US census 2010, almost 1.8 million people with Vietnamese origin live in the U.S., which counts more than half of the overseas Vietnamese.

Moreover, Vietnamese are the 5th largest ethnic group in the U.S., right after Mexican, Filipino, Indian and Chinese, counting around 0.6% of the U.S. population. According to the statistics , Vietnamese tend to live in the West U.S., around 38% and 14% of Vietnamese Americans live in California and Texas. In the Orange County, California, there are around 183,766 Vietnamese living there, which represents 6.1% of the county’s population. Besides, Los Angeles, San Jose, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and so on are also popular cities for Vietnamese to reside. The income and social class levels of Vietnamese in the U.S. are quite mixed and complex. After the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese immigrants moved to the United States in 1975 to escape the communist party. Those Vietnamese people who were primarily as refugees didn’t have much money at the beginning, however nowadays many of them improved their economy status dramatically. Many Vietnamese Americans work as middle-class professionals and blue-collar jobs.

Due to the influence of Confucianism social value among Vietnamese, many family value education and learning, which makes many of the second generation Vietnamese Americans acquire higher education and become successful. Regarding the religion of Vietnamese Americans, the majority of them believe in Buddhism, while there are also 30% to 40% Vietnamese in the U.S are Roman Catholic. Many Vietnamese Americans would celebrate their multicultural holiday Vietnamese New Year at the temples. To be mentioned, the most commonly used languages among Vietnamese Americans are Vietnamese, English, and even Cantonese and Mandarin. Vietnamese in France France is the largest migration destination for Vietnamese in the Europe. In 2012, the population of Vietnamese in France was more than 300,000. Due to the colonisation history of Vietnam by France, Vietnamese migrants started to settle down in France since 18th century. After the Vietnam War in 1975, many Vietnamese people arrived in France as refuges. However, unlike the situation in the U.S., many of Vietnamese refugees in France are professionals and middle-class with high level of education in Vietnam. This made them easier to integrate with the French society than other Vietnamese refugees in the U.S., Canada or other countries.

According to the research, most Vietnamese in France live in Paris, Marseille and Lyon. Regarding the language , although most first generation Vietnamese immigrants still have strong attachment with Vietnamese culture, most second generation Vietnamese in France identify strongly with the French culture and most of them can barely speak Vietnamese. Marketers should be aware of this when launch multicultural marketing campaigns to target Vietnamese in France. Vietnamese in the UK Comparing with in other western countries like Canada and Australia , the Vietnamese ethnic group in United Kingdom is much smaller, with more than 55, 000 people living in the country. More than half of the Vietnamese in the UK live in London, especially in Lewisham, Southwark and Hackney. Besides, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are also the places where many Vietnamese gather to reside. Due to the history reason, most of the first generation Vietnamese immigrants came to the UK as refugees and couldn’t speak English at all. However, the second generation Vietnamese and more recent Vietnamese immigrants have much better understanding of the English. Based on a research in 2001, the education level of Vietnamese was lower than UK average. For example, only 18.7% of Vietnamese immigrants had higher education in London.

This made it difficult to find employment for Vietnamese group in the UK. Nowadays nail and catering are among the top industries for most Vietnamese origin immigrants (not including second generation) in the UK. How to launch marketing campaigns wisely during Vietnamese New Year Multicultural Holiday? As we discussed earlier, generally Vietnamese families would save money, prepare many various kinds of food, buy gifts and new clothes, clean the house and plan ahead for the major multicultural holiday Tết (Vietnamese New Year). The consuming behaviour of Vietnamese during this multicultural holiday would be beneficial for Retail, FMCG, Fashion, Finance, Air Travel, Cosmetics and other industries if they know how to market Vietnamese audiences efficiently. First, during the Vietnamese New Year multicultural holiday, many cities in Western countries that most Vietnamese gather would host some celebration activities, especially in the China towns or little Saigon. Markers who are interested in offline multicultural marketing campaigns can sponsor these events to reach their targeted audiences. What´s more, markers can also find potential Vietnamese consumers at the temples during the multicultural holiday season. However, due to the widely spread of residency of Vietnamese immigrants in the western countries that we mentioned above, offline marketing campaign is not the easiest and most convenient marketing method to target this specific group.

With the development of Internet and improving educational level and better integration with the society of the host country, many Vietnamese immigrants surf on the Internet a lot. With the help of cutting edge ad technology, online advertising could make it easy, fast and efficient for advertisers to set up, optimise and keep track of their multicultural marketing campaigns. As the expert of multicultural marketing, Joinville has run more than 250 online advertising campaigns globally, including several campaigns targeting Vietnamese groups in the United States, France and United Kingdom. Interested in exploring the potential benefit of reaching Vietnamese during the Vietnamese New Year multicultural holiday? Don´t hesitate and contact us today! Wish all the Vietnamese friends happy Tết Vietnamese New Year 2014 (chúc mừng năm mới)! 5 Things You Need To Know About Multicultural Marketing Download our free PDF to start a smarter campaign Vietnamese New Year 2017 - Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) Holiday Tweet Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam.

Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar , Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven days (with the exception of Tet 2012 when the holiday is expected to last for 9 days!). Vietnamese New Year in 2013 will last from February 10-13, and in 2014 from January 31st to Feb 4th. How Tet is calculated? Different from the Gregorian calendar, Lunar Calendar has a fix number of twelve months with 30 days each, and a leap-year will have a whole intercalary month instead of the 29th day of February. The new year of Lunar Calendar normally will start in late January or beginning of February according to Gregorian calendar. That explains why Tet days vary from year to year: it is because the leap month may fall shorter or longer which create a smaller or bigger gap between the two calendars. When is Tet?

* In 2011, Tet day falls on February 3rd * In 2012, Tet day falls on January 23rd * In 2013, Tet is on February 10th * In 2014, Tet is on January 31st * In 2015, Tet is on February 19th * In 2016, Tet is on February 8th (actual holiday from Feb 6-14) * In 2017, Tet is on January 28th The actual holiday will last 1 day before and about 3-5 days after the day mentioned above. What is Tet? Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. Moreover, in the past, Tet was essential as it provided one of few long breaks during the agricultural year, which was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones.

To make it easier, one can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year: every family will get together to have big meals, decorate Tet trees and eat Tet food but to welcome the new year instead of a religious cause. Watch our latest video: My heart can feel Tet for the most vivid image from Tet in Vietnam. How is Tet celebrated? Since Tet occupies an important role in Vietnamese’s religious beliefs, Vietnamese will begin their preparations well in advance of the upcoming New Year. In an effort to get rid of the bad luck of the old year, people will spend a few days cleaning their homes, polishing every utensil, or even repaint and decorate the house with kumquat tree, branches of peach blossom , and many other colorful flowers. The ancestral altar is especially taken care of, with careful decoration of five kinds of fruits and votive papers, along with many religious rituals. Everybody, especially children, buy new clothes and shoes to wear on the first days of New Year. People also try to pay all their pending debts and resolve all the arguments among colleagues, friends or members of family .

Like other Asian countries, Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring good fortune, which may explain why these colors can be seen everywhere in Lunar New Year . People consider what they do on the dawn of Tet will determine their fate for the whole year, hence people always smile and behave as nice as they can in the hope for a better year. Besides, gifts are exchanged between family members and friends and relatives, while children receive lucky money kept in red envelope. No matter where Tet is celebrated, it must be clarified from the beginning that Tet is not a day, but several days of celebration. The general process is as follow (all dates quoted in lunar calendar): 3. Family reunion and Tất niên - December 30th 4. Giao thừa - New Year's Eve: including praying sessions to God and Ancestors, Xông đất (First visit to a family in the new year) 5. First three days of the new year : visit paternal side on the first day, maternal side on the second day and teachers on the third day 6. Visit relatives, friends and neighbours: can take place from January 3rd - 5th 7.

Hóa vàng - burn the offerings near Tet's end for ancestors: January 4th 8. Reopen business : usually owners pick a good date that matches their age 9. Tết Nguyên Tiêu : January 15th Food for Tet The following food is often consumed during Tet; some are particular to Tet and often associated with the grand celebration: Easter and other holidays around the World Pay attention to cultural and religious diversity Have you ever received an email saying “Happy Holidays” even though you will not actually be celebrating anything? People love to share their happiness with others and sometimes they do not remember that the recipient might not be in the same situation. This is very common in multinational societies, like in Canada, where there are so many different nationalities living and working together. Lots of companies update their websites when a big celebration approaches to make the site more appealing to visitors. For Christmas and Easter, there are images of Santa Claus and Easter bunnies everywhere… and in their enthusiasm, some forget that not all cultures celebrate these events or that some events are celebrated at different times for certain cultures.

Some companies even update their foreign language websites… It is nice to get an email wishing you all the best for Easter even if you do not celebrate it, but it is very strange to go to a website in your native language and see Easter bunnies everywhere if you do not celebrate Easter. Why two different Easters? Easter is a Christian celebration, but not all Christians celebrate Easter at the same time. This year, the Catholic Easter was in March and the Orthodox Easter will be at the end of April. Why this difference? Because of the different calendars used by the churches to calculate the Easter dates. Orthodox Churches use the Julian calendar named after Julius Caesar. This is usually referred to as the “Old Style” calendar and it was the official calendar from 45 B.C. to 1582 A.D, when it was replaced with the Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the official calendar used around the world today. The Julian calendar was accurate, but it was still not as precise as the Gregorian one. A year was considered to have 365 days and 6 hours instead of 365 days, 5 hours and 46 seconds.

This difference may seem insignificant, but because of this difference, one day is lost every 128 years. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII of the Roman Catholic Church revised the Julian calendar, and so the Easter dates were changed. In time, the Gregorian calendar was adopted all over the world. Countries with a large Orthodox population are mostly located in Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, etc. A few other holidays that are celebrated around the World Everyday around the world, someone is celebrating something. Here are only a few of these holidays and their dates in 2008: New Year’s Day: January 1st – This is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar and it’s celebrated in most countries around the World. Eastern Orthodox New Year: January 14 – Most of the Orthodox churches have adopted the Gregorian calendar and celebrate the New Year on January 1st. However, for Orthodox churches of Georgia, Jerusalem, Russia, Macedonia and Serbia, the New Year falls on January 14. Chinese New Year: In 2008, the Chinese New Year was on February 7.

Next year, the Chinese New Year will be on January 26. Vietnamese New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán): Celebrated on the same day as the Chinese New Year. Iranian New Year (Norouz): March 20 in 2008 – The traditional Iranian New Year holiday marks the first day of spring. Songkran – Thai New Year which is celebrated around April 13. Orthodox Easter: April 27, 2008 – Celebrated by all Orthodox churches around the World. Ramadam: September 1 to September 30, 2008 – A Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Rosh Hashanah – commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year: In 2008, this celebration begins at sundown on Monday, September 29 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday October 1. Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement: Celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Christmas: December 25 – The holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It is celebrated in most Christian countries.

Orthodox Christmas: January 7 – Only Russian, Serbian, Macedonian and Georgian Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas in January Tet Festival in Vietnam | USA Today Tet Festival in Vietnam "Attractions in Da Nang, Vietnam" Tet is the most important festival of the Vietnamese calendar. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year, which is celebrated in China as well. Festivities occur throughout the country, but this is a family holiday and many of the traditions of observance occur in the home. The official holiday lasts three days, but celebrations continue for at least the first week of the new year. Before The New Year Preparations begin about a week before the new year. Homes are cleaned out in the hopes of getting rid of the past year's bad luck, and some families go so far as to repaint their house's exterior. It also is believed to be lucky to buy new clothes and get a fresh haircut. At midnight on New Year's Eve, Vietnamese families conduct the ritual Le Tru Tich, which involves gongs, firecrackers and other noisy items to chase out the old year and ring in the new.

New Year's Day Traditions On New Year's Day, most families meet to exchange gifts and have a traditional meal, and also perform a ceremony to appease the kitchen god. Homes are decorated with the hoa mai flower and all thoughts of sadness are supposed to be avoided. Children are encouraged not to fight or cry and anyone in mourning is shunned because it is bad luck to be associated with death on New Year's Day. Many families plant a new year's tree in front of the house and wrap it with lucky red paper. The tree is removed at the end of the first week of the new year. After the family meal, many Vietnamese attend the local pagoda to worship ancestors. In The Cities In major cities, such as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Tet celebrations are more similar to new year celebrations in western countries. People attend events in dance clubs and bars. This is a time of enjoyment and there is a lot of eating and drinking involved in the celebrations. Fireworks are set off to scare away the evil spirit Na A. Stores and neighborhoods decorate with colored lights and red banners. Food Food is an important part of the Tet celebrations.

The Vietnamese believe that what a person does on New Year's Day dictates the course of the rest of the year, and eating a lot represents the hope that no one will go hungry in the coming year. In the days leading up to the holiday, the Vietnamese traditionally give gifts of food to family members and friends. The traditional meal includes foods such as bang, a bamboo and pork soup; bang chung, a sticky rice cake filled with pork and beans; and orange sticky rice. Even the ancestors are given food gifts. Families leave a five fruit tray at the altar. Things To Know With the exception of the hospitality industry, most businesses close down for the entire week of Tet celebrations. Because the holiday is an important time for Vietnamese families to spend time together, travel in Vietnam is as hectic as Christmas travel is in many other parts of the world. Any travel plans within the country must be arranged well in advance. Since most of the celebration takes place in the homes of friends and family, visitors might feel left out for most of the week unless they have close friends or family in Vietnam.

References Tet, A Celebration of Rebirth : Asian-Nation :: Asian American History, Demographics, & Issues Printer-Friendly Version Têt Nguyen Dan literally means the first morning of the first day of the new period. More simply known as "Têt," it is Viet Nam's version of the Lunar New Year and is celebrated by millions of Vietnamese all around the world to celebrate the Year of the Rooster, beginning January 28, 2017. Têt is normally the biggest and most important holidays in Vietnamese culture, almost like New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all rolled into one. It's a holiday that is based on history but has also evolved into a modern celebration that incorporates new elements to produce new traditions. Nature, Family, and Renewal Even though many Vietnamese traditions are based on old cultural beliefs that may strike some as a little superstitious, families believe that their activities during Têt must involve happiness, joy, and good luck. That's why even before the beginning of Têt, it's customary for families to prepare by cleaning and even painting their home in anticipation of spring, settle old debts and disputes, and pledge to behave nicely and work hard in the new year.

People also traditionally buy new clothes to usher in the new year. Paying homage to one's ancestors is another important component of Têt as families pray at temples, churches, and pagodas. They will also visit the grave sites of their deceased family and construct altars in their homes containing photographs of their ancestors, then offering them symbolic gifts in the form of food, flowers, and incense. The night before the new year, families perform a ritual where incense sticks are burned, inviting the spirits of their ancestors to join them in celebration. This is also a time to bid farewell to the family's Kitchen God (Ong Tao), who then returns to heaven to report on the family's behavior in the past year to the Jade Emperor. Houses are also decorated with several things, such as a Cay Neu, a small bamboo tree planted in the front of the house; Hoa Mai, a yellow blossom that represents spring; and red banners on the front door as it's believed that red wards off evil spirits from entering the house. Adults also give fancy red envelopes to children full of Li Xi or "lucky money," always in even denominations since odd numbers are considered bad luck.

Not too surprisingly, this was always my favorite part of Têt when I was growing up. Traditional celebrations can last anywhere from a day, when public parades and traditional dances are performed, to an entire week. When it's time for Le Tru Tich, the official start of Têt, people fill the streets in celebration of the new year and try to make as much noise as possible using anything from firecrackers (although they are now illegal in Viet Nam), drums, bells, gongs, to simple wooden instruments to ward off evil spirits. It's also critical that the first person who visits a family's house in the new year be someone who has enjoyed good luck during the previous year as it's believed that his/her karma can also influence the family's fortune in the upcoming year. There will often be a parade where people wear all kinds of scary-looking masks and dancers mimic the Mua Lan, who is frequently referred to as a unicorn but looks more like a cross between a lion and a dragon and who is the traditional symbol of strength in Vietnamese culture, all to scare away evil spirits.

Later, families and friends will gather for a generous feast full of traditional Vietnamese dishes, such as mut (candied fruit), banh chung (steamed sticky rice cake with pork stuffing wrapped in banana leaves), keo dua (coconut candy), and keo me xung (peanut brittle with sesame seeds). Different Flavors and New Traditions The Lunar Year holiday was originally brought to Viet Nam by the Chinese, who were Viet Nam's traditional nemesis for almost 2,000 years. In times when the Chinese ruled Viet Nam, they also brought with them their own policies, culture, and traditions. The Lunar New Year was passed to the Vietnamese people and has stayed relatively intact through the centuries, despite uneasy and often hostile relations between the two countries. Nonetheless, one of the differences between the two traditions concerns the Lunar calendar itself. The main difference between the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendars is that the Vietnamese replace the Ox, Rabbit, and Sheep in the Chinese calendar with the Buffalo, Cat, and Goat, respectively. Along with many other Asian countries, both the Chinese and the Vietnamese recognize the Lunar calendar as part of their cultural tradition. It's a calendar that incorporates a zodiac of twelve animals in rotation.

As a new lunar new year begins, the "year" of a new animal also begins. On January 28 2017, we will start the Year of the Rooster (sometimes also referred to as the Chicken or Cock). That means that if you turn 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, etc. years of age starting on the lunar new year, this is your year. Supposedly, those born in the Year of the Rooster tend to be kind, hard-working, sociable, intuitive, independent, humorous, honest, and organized. On the other hand, they might be arrogant, self-aggrandizing, wild, judgmental, and gullible. Famous "Roosters" include Beyoncé, Eric Clapton, Ben Franklin, Paris Hilton, Caroline Kennedy, Alicia Keys, Larry King, Jennifer Lopez, Neymar, Yoko Ono, Natalie Portman, Nancy Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Serena Williams. In modern times, as Vietnamese communities are developing all over the world, Têt celebrations themselves have reflected this evolution by incorporating different elements from their new social and cultural environments.

For example, in many U.S. cities with Chicago as one recent example, the Vietnamese community have celebrated Têt with other southeast Asian communities such as Cambodian, Laotian, and Hmong, separate from the Chinese New Year celebrations organized by the city's Chinese community. Other communities have broadened the appeal of Têt to encourage non-Asian Americans to attend celebrations and festivals. These days it's common to find games, crafts, and activities designed just for children at Têt festivals. In addition, many Têt festivals have expanded to include art and photography exhibits, information booths from local businesses and community organizations, and stalls offering various health and wellness treatments, in addition to the traditional dance performances, musical entertainment, and ethnic food. The organization of Têt celebrations is undergoing change as well. In Orange County, California, home to almost half of the Vietnamese community in the U.S., annual Têt festivals have historically been organized by the Vietnamese Community of Southern California (VCSC).

But due to recent political infighting over leadership and disputes over finances within the VCSC, the city council of Garden Grove recently granted permission to hold the annual Têt festival to the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (UVSA), an umbrella group of Vietnamese student associations that has successfully hosted other Têt festivals for 20 years. The Garden Grove city council felt that the UVSA had a better history of making larger profits from their festivals, some of which would then be redistributed to local charities, and that the student group was able to fully account for all their finances, a requirement that the older VCSC could not fulfill. Leaders of the student group credit their political activism on their respective college campuses for their skills and abilities to organize successful festivals. If the torch is indeed being passed, it's clear that it's going into very capable hands. In fact, it seems quite appropriate for Têt -- a celebration of birth and renewal and the evolution of an international Vietnamese identity that continues a long and proud tradition for Vietnamese all around the world. If you would like to participate, send someone a Happy Têt e-card for free. Chuc mung nam moi!. Author Citation by C.N. Le. Some rights reserved . Suggested reference: Le, C.N. .

"Têt: A Celebration of Rebirth " Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. < ( ).

Question: What country celebrates the holiday Tết?
Answer: Vietnam