The Garden City Telegram
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Tet brings promise of happiness, prosperity
Published 2/4/2008 in News : Area coverage
By GWEN TIETGEN
gtietgen@gctelegram.com
In Vietnam, Tet is more than just the start of the new year.
"It's a combination of our birthday, New Year's and Thanksgiving," said Mitch Young, with Garden City's Vietnamese Association, noting Vietnamese don't traditionally celebrate birthdays. "We give thanks for the people in our lives and remember our ancestors."
The celebration lasts several days and is based on the lunar calendar. This year, the New Year starts Feb. 7 and marks the Year of the Rat.
The celebration in Vietnam might be compared to Christmas when it comes to preparation.
"Everything stops," Young said.
He said he hasn't taken time off for the celebration, but at Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., where he works, "I've signed a lot of vacation for my team members."
Here, the celebration may not be as big as it is in Vietnam, but it's a chance for the Vietnamese community and their friends to gather and celebrate their culture and tradition. About 400 attended Sunday's celebration at St. Dominic's Parish Center, 615 J.C. St., taking in the traditional dragon dance -- said to bring peace and happiness -- Tet songs, wishing prosperity and good luck in the New Year, and Asian fare of sticky rice, egg rolls, beef and more.
Many children and adults wore traditional Vietnamese costumes or formal attire. The celebration started with the playing of the American and Vietnamese national anthems and the burning of incense, which is an invitation of sorts to ancestors.
"We bring fruit and foods to worship and burn fake money so our ancestors can spend the money and enjoy the food," Young said.
Vietnamese mark separate days during Tet for spending time with and honoring grandparents, relatives and friends, said Dan Le, Vietnamese translator for USD 457.
"We visit and eat a lot," Le said.
Tradition says they aren't supposed to cook with an open flame during the celebration, so they must prepare food ahead of time, he said.
Jessica and Sophia Tran were two of at least eight children who danced as the dragon and Buddhas for the celebration.
"It's just exciting every year," Jessica Tran managed to say as they waited their turn to bob and sway to the beat of the dance's drum.
Le said Garden City's Vietnamese community organizes the annual Tet celebration to remind Vietnamese youth of their culture and tradition.
"The first generation, we want to make them understand and know their tradition," Le said.
Children attended Sunday's celebration in full force, which was made evident when they were called to the stage to receive, "li xi," or lucky money, doled out in red envelopes.
Though she's 19, Hien Nguyen of Garden City said for children, receiving money from the older generation is the highlight. It's a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
Nguyen said Tet is "one of those times that even though you're an adult, you can be a kid again."
"In Vietnam, it's like Christmas. It might be the one time of year you have a new outfit," Nguyen said.
Nguyen, who attends Garden City Community College, said her family went to the Asian market and bought a lot of candy for the celebration. Her favorite is lotus seeds, which have sugar and starch, she said.
Garden City Mayor Reynaldo Mesa was one of the honored guests at the celebration. He said it's celebrations like Sunday's that highlight what makes Garden City great -- diversity.
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