What Is Tết?
What Is Tết?
Owlo, my friend Linh brought these beautiful red envelopes to school today. She said they were from Tết. What is Tết?
Oh, what a wonderful thing to ask about, Koko. Tết is the most important holiday in Vietnam. It celebrates the Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year? What does lunar mean?
Lunar means it follows the moon's calendar, not the sun's calendar. So the date changes every year. It usually falls in late January or February.
That's so different from the New Year we celebrate in January. I didn't know there was another kind.
Many countries around the world celebrate a Lunar New Year. Vietnam calls theirs Tết. It is one of the most joyful and colorful celebrations I have ever read about.
So what do people actually do during Tết? Is it like a big party?
It is much more than a party, Koko. It lasts for several days. Families clean their homes from top to bottom before it begins.
Wait, they clean their houses? That doesn't sound very fun.
The cleaning has a special meaning. People believe it sweeps away bad luck from the old year. That way, the new year starts fresh and full of good things.
Oh, that actually makes sense. It's like making room for good luck to come in.
Exactly right. You know, I think we should look this up properly. The school library has a wonderful book about world celebrations. Shall we go take a look?
Yes, let's go!
Here we are. This book has a whole chapter on Tết. Look at these photographs, Koko. The streets are decorated with peach blossoms and yellow apricot flowers.
Those flowers are so pretty. Everything looks so bright and happy. And there are lanterns everywhere too.
Flowers are a very important part of Tết. They represent new life and hope for the coming year. Families also decorate with kumquat trees covered in little orange fruits.
What about the red envelopes Linh gave me? The book shows them here too.
Those are called lì xì. Elders give them to children as a gift. Inside is money, but it represents good wishes and blessings for the new year.
So it's not really about the money. It's about the good wishes inside. That is really lovely.
That is a beautiful way to see it, Koko. Food is also a huge part of Tết. Families prepare special dishes together that take hours to make.
What kind of food do they eat?
One of the most important foods is called bánh chưng. It is a sticky rice cake filled with pork and beans, wrapped in banana leaves. It takes a very long time to cook.
Banana leaves? That sounds so interesting. I have never seen food wrapped in leaves before.
It is a very old tradition. Families often cook it together overnight, taking turns watching the fire. It becomes a time for storytelling and being together.
Cooking all night with your family and telling stories sounds like the best thing ever. Better than any party.
And on the first day of Tết, families visit their oldest relatives first. It is a way of showing deep respect and love for the elders in the family.
So the whole holiday is really about family, and being together, and wishing each other good things.
You have understood it perfectly, Koko. There are also fireworks, music, and dragon dances in the streets. But the heart of Tết is family and gratitude.
I want to tell Linh that I learned about her holiday. I think she will be really happy.
That is a wonderful idea. Learning about someone's traditions is one of the kindest things you can do. It shows them that you care about who they are.
Owlo, can you ask me to say everything I learned today? I want to try.
Okay. Tết is Vietnam's Lunar New Year celebration, and lunar means it follows the moon. Families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck. They decorate with flowers and give red envelopes called lì xì with good wishes inside. They cook special food like sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, and they visit their elders to show respect. The whole holiday is really about family and fresh starts. Next I want to learn about other Lunar New Year celebrations around the world, like in China and Korea.
That was a perfect summary, Koko. And I love that you are already thinking about what to explore next. The world is full of beautiful traditions waiting to be discovered.
What Is Tết?
Ages 6–8 · ~5 min
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore Tết, Vietnam's vibrant Lunar New Year, learning about its traditions and celebrations.
What you'll learn
- Understand the significance of Tết.
- Learn about the Lunar calendar.
- Explore cultural traditions of Vietnam.
What Is Tết?
Ages 6–8 · ~5 min
