Learn How We Can Introduce Vietnam’s Tet Celebration to the World of English (Part 1)

Right at the entrance gate to Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City is a family of buffaloes. On their backs are fellow herdsmen with conical hats flying kites and playing flutes, symbolizing the relationship between farmers and their faithful animals. Photo: VnExpress

*Bạn đọc tham khảo Phần 2 tại đây: https://reflective-english.vn/real-life-english/tet-2021-part-2.html

WHAT IS MEANT BY ‘TET’?

Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán, is Vietnam’s most significant celebration (1). Across Vietnam, during this time families reunite and honour their ancestors (2), while praying for luck, prosperity and health (3) in the new year. The public holiday may only run for one week, but in reality, Tết celebrations last much longer. If you’re visiting Vietnam around Lunar New Year, here’s what you can expect (4).

Tết marks the first day (5) of the Lunar New Year, and the beginning of spring in the North of Vietnam. The holiday traces back to the early days (6) of Vietnamese settlements in the Red River Delta, when Tết meant a new cycle of  flooding rice cultivation (7). Today, the meaning of the holiday runs much deeper than its farming roots: Vietnamese culture emphasises the importance of a fortuitous fresh start (8), surrounded by family and loved ones.

GETTING READY

A peach blossom tree is placed in a house in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Each house decorates itself with signs of ‘Chúc Mừng Năm Mới’ (Happy New Year), and kumquat trees, or peach blossoms are set in a place of honour. Photo: Phuong Bui / Hanoi

Throughout Vietnam, preparations for Tết begin weeks in advance (9), as cleaning, decorating, and sprucing up is a big part of the holiday tradition (10). Vietnamese shop for new clothes (11), get haircuts, cook special dishes, buy flowers, and even wash their motorcycles. Each home and office will decorate itself with signs (12) of ‘Chúc Mừng Năm Mới,’ and kumquat trees or peach blossoms will be set in a place of honour. The bigger the kumquat trees, the more prosperity and health the family will receive in the new year. Streets burst with colour (13) as these trees are transported on the back of motorbikes. In anticipation of the long holiday (14), a festive spirit takes hold of the country (15).

(Adapted from https://vietnam.travel)

*LEARNERS’ NOTES:

(1) significant celebration / meaningful festival: dịp lễ hội mang nhiều ý nghĩa

(2) reunite and honour their ancestors / get reunited, pay tribute and make offerings to the forefathers: đoàn tụ và thờ cúng tổ tiên

(3) luck, prosperity and health / Great success, wealth and well-being: mọi điều may mắn, thịnh đạt và mạnh khỏe

(4) here’s what you can expect / this is what you are likely to witness: sau đây là những gì bạn rất có thể sẽ gặp phải hay được chứng kiến

(5) marks the first day of / celebrates the beginning of : đánh dấu đặc biệt ngày đầu / lễ mừng sự khởi đầu …

(6) traces back to the early days of / dates back to the first days of: có, tồn tại, bắt đầu từ những ngày đầu …

(7) Tết meant a new cycle of flooding rice cultivation / Tết marked another annual crop of rice in flooded fields or paddies: Tết hồi ấy mừng khởi đầu một chu kì hàng năm vụ gieo trồng lúa nước

(8) the importance of a fortuitous /fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/ fresh start / the significance of another fortunate new beginning: ý nghĩa quan trọng của một khởi đầu mới thật may mắn

(9) Preparations begin weeks in advance / Preparations are made several weeks leading to Tết. Việc chuẩn bị Tết diễn ra nhiều tuần trước đó.

(10) sprucing up is a big part of the holiday tradition / Traditionally, cleaning up before the holiday is deemed important.  Tẩy rửa sạch sẽ là một phần quan trọng trong truyền thống dịp Tết.

(11) shop for new clothes / purchase new outfits at stores: đi cửa tiệm mua sắm quần áo mới

(12) decorate itself with signs / put up signs as part of decoration for Tet: trang hoàng Tết với các lời chúc mừng tốt đẹp cho năm mới

(13) Streets burst with colour / Streets suddenly become lively and vibrant with colours: Phố xá bất chợt rực sắc màu.

(14) In anticipation of the long holiday / In the expectation of a grand holiday: Trong không khí đón chào một mùa lễ nghỉ lớn

(15) takes hold of the country / prevails the atmosphere of the whole nation: bao trùm bầu khí cả nước

*Bài học này do thầy Trần Đình Tâm biên soạn.

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