By: Nicole Cochran Vietnamese New Year

Background of the Vietnamese New Year  Also known as Tet  The festival which best epitomizes Vietnam's cultural identity  It is the festival of Purity and Renewal.  For the Vietnamese, Vietnamese New Year brings a message of confidence in humanity; it brings redemption, hope and optimism.

Lunar New Year, Tet’s Foundation  The Vietnamese base Tet off of the Chinese Zodiac Calendar  2010 is the year of the Tiger, & it lasts one whole lunar year (12 months).

The Year of a Golden Tiger  Tet began on February 14th, 2010 and ends on February 2nd  The Tiger symbolizes courage, power, passion, and royalty.  The tiger also symbolizes the female Yin energy as opposed to the Yang male energy of the dragon.  It also represents Earth, while the Dragon represents Heaven.

continued…  Those born in the year of the Tiger are straightforward and uninhibited in nature.  Generally liked because of their charming personalities.  Born a natural leader, symbolizing power, passion, and daring.

Famous Tigers  Demi Moore  Hilary Swank  Jodie Foster  Marilyn Monroe  Penelope Cruz  Queen Elizabeth II  Rosie O'Donnell  Tom Cruise.

A few Tet traditions…  Clean and decorate homes  Purchasing new clothes and shoes  Giving away red envelopes  Making offers for their Ancestors

Vietnamese New Year Decorations  Plate of Five Fruits  Peach Blossoms  The New Year Tree  Parallel Sentences  Tradition Tet Paintings

Banh Chung

Some more New Year Foods…  Beef  Chicken  Fish  Oranges  Coconuts  Grapefruits and other seasonal fruits, especially watermelon

What’s so great about Watermelon?  The seeds of the watermelon are often dyed red like the flesh  Watermelon holds much importance, as its flesh is red in color and hence the melon is considered to be lucky.

Tet 2010, The year of the Tiger