Vietnamese ring in Lunar New Year at Tet Festival
As a Vietnamese-American, Hannah Nguyen rings in the new year twice — once during the “western New Year” on Jan. 1 and again for the Lunar New Year. Nguyen was among thousands who marked this occasion over the weekend at the annual Tet Festival.
For many, it’s a time to recharge alongside loved ones — and to celebrate an important aspect of Vietnamese culture.
“We’re used to American customs and celebrate more of
the American holidays,” said Nguyen, 32. “So when there’s an Asian holiday, we all get really excited. It’s once a year, we don’t get to do it often. To see the kids running around with their red envelopes is really fun.”
Considered the largest and most significant festival in Vietnam, Tet is celebrated on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar. The celebration is often marked with lion and dragon dances, fireworks, family gatherings over special holiday feasts, visits with friends and relatives and worshiping ancestors. It’s particularly significant in San Jose, home to one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the nation.
The fest at the Eastridge mall in San Jose featured an array of food booths, offering everything from green tea waffles to chicken kabob, Vietnamese coffee and pho. There were carnival rides and games; live entertainment; fashion and magic shows; contests and lion dancers, among other activities.
Pink and yellow blossoms decorated the entire grounds, symbolizing the start of spring. Many people wore bright Áo dài, a traditional Vietnamese outfit in which a long, form-fitting silk tunic is worn over matching pants.
Duc Tien, 39, traveled from Orange County to emcee the event. At the center of the celebration, he said, is the importance of family.
“The Lunar New
Year is a time to be home, it’s a time to share your love with your family, to say thank you and give gifts,” he said. Aside from wishing loved ones good health and success, it’s common for people to give “lucky money,” or red envelopes filled with $1 or $2, Tien said.
Amy Bowers, of Vacaville, drove the 86 miles to San Jose so that her daughter, 15-year-old Sierra, could join the festivities. Bowers adopted Sierra, who’s Chinese, as a toddler and wanted her daughter to experience the Lunar New Year among other Asian Americans.
“I think it’s important she experience her heritage,” said Bowers. “We adopted her when she was 20 months and she hasn’t really gotten an opportunity to experience what her culture is like. So it’s nice that she’s of an age now where she’s interested.”
The festival will run through 11 p.m. today.