L’approche du Tet*
There are several things to do during Tet in Saigon. It’s not a one-day holiday, it’s a season, similar to Christmas in form and Thanksgiving in spirit. The holiday is lunar-calendar based. It starts on the 23rd of the 12th month, the day to “cung dua ong Tao“, a ceremonious dinner to see off the Household God as he takes his annual trip to heaven. It ends on the 7th day of the 1st month of the new lunar year. In the first week, there are spring flower markets on Nguyen Hue Street and water melon markets in Dakao. Water melon used to be available during Tet only, and there used to be only one kind – the green outside, red inside kind. Now there are yellow, striped, even cubic watermelon! There’s the sound of the gongs and the drums of mua lan (lion dance) in the neighborhood. There are thousands of crimson red Chinese sausages packaged, displayed not so far from deep green banh chung and banh tet. Hmm… it just crossed my mind that the main colors of Tet are also red and green, like Christmas… There is orange from the kumquats, shiny gold from the newly polished copper censers, and yellow from the flowers. Chrysanthemums for small vases on the altars and mai for display in the living room or the garden. My mom used to say, when she took off the leaves of the mai tree (to make room for its new leaves and blossoms), she could feel Tet is coming in the air. For big families with the tradition of making their own banh chung banh tet, Tet comes when they sit around the huge pot of cooking banh, warmed by the fire, chatting the hours away. After giao thua (Tet’s eve), the second week of the holiday starts. It’s the first week of the new spring and the new lunar year. It’s time to go to the pagodas, to be nice with others, to relax and enjoy oneself. That’s why “thang gieng la thang an choi” (the 1st month is the month of fun).
Do I have a month of fun to celebrate Tet now? Hehe, certainly not. I did have over a month of fun and total laziness for Christmas break, however, thanks to Texas A&M’s generosity. But school started last Tuesday; and this Monday, in all splendor of the first day of the new lunar year, the most important day of Tet, I will haul my backpack on the shoulder and go to class from 10 till 5:30. Good start. I will be hardworking and learn a lot the whole year. The Vietnamese living overseas have at most a Tet party on the weekend or the night before. A Vietnamese physics hermit spends giao thua alone with research and movies. But above all reasons Tet is the time to be with family. My family is here, so my Tet is here. 🙂
*The blog title is inspired by Lê Phố’s painting under the same name.
**The painting is Fleurs by Lê Phố, 1960, oil on canvas. Since I couldn’t find a free image of L’approche du Tet online, I thought Fleurs would be an appropriate substitution.
I relish, cause I discovered exactly what I was having a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
1cool crypto swap
2This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
3swap stablecoin tool works
4I’ve learn a few excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you put to create this type of magnificent informative web site.
5Just what I was searching for, thanks for putting up.
6Someone essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish amazing. Fantastic job!
7Good day very cool site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds alsoKI am satisfied to search out so many useful info right here in the put up, we want work out extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
8Appreciating the time and energy you put into your site and in depth information you provide. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
9Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
10Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would certainly benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Regards!
11I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
12I have read several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a magnificent informative website.
13Hello, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, great blog!
14This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
15I like looking at and I conceive this website got some genuinely useful stuff on it! .
16I went over this website and I conceive you have a lot of fantastic info , saved to favorites (:.
17I’d always want to be update on new articles on this web site, saved to fav! .
18Hi there, I found your site by way of Google while searching for a comparable topic, your site got here up, it seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
19I see something really special in this web site.
20Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for inexperienced blog writers? I’d really appreciate it.
21Hello there, I found your site by the use of Google at the same time as looking for a similar topic, your site got here up, it seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
22I like this site very much, Its a real nice situation to read and find info .
23I’ve recently started a blog, the info you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
24I conceive you have remarked some very interesting details, regards for the post.
25Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
26GELATIN TRICK FOR WEIGHT LOSS
27I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
28I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were very useful extremely helpful
29This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
30Terrific post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!
31Gelatin Horse Trick
32The core of your writing whilst appearing reasonable at first, did not really settle well with me after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you managed to make me a believer unfortunately only for a short while. I still have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and one might do nicely to fill in those gaps. In the event you actually can accomplish that, I will definitely end up being amazed.
33Rattling excellent visual appeal on this website , I’d value it 10 10.
34Hello there, You have done an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
35I adore meeting useful info, this post has got me even more info! .
36GELATIN HORSE
37I got good info from your blog
38I got what you mean , regards for posting.Woh I am delighted to find this website through google. “Money is the most egalitarian force in society. It confers power on whoever holds it.” by Roger Starr.
39Some truly interesting information, well written and loosely user friendly.
40Whats Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different customers like its helped me. Good job.
41Very interesting points you have remarked, regards for putting up.
42I’ll right away grab your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
43You can definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
44Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
45Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. Nevertheless imagine if you added some great photos or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this website could definitely be one of the very best in its field. Amazing blog!
46Great write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s web site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
47jellyfil supplement
48Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
49I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂
50