Excited to welcome spring

The earth still quietly rotates the wheel of time, the country transforms into a new year. Despite the differences in regions, customs and practices of each locality, we all clearly feel that the traditional Tet holiday of the nation is approaching. In the house, on the street, everyone is busy and bustling with joy. The colorful flowers are competing to show off their fragrance and beauty, making the Tet atmosphere even more bustling and exciting, the northeast monsoon winds are not strong enough to block the way of spring. In that moment of changing seasons, the earth and sky seem to change and put on a new shirt full of vitality. Let the children far from home be filled with indescribable joy, hastening their steps following the call of love to return to reunite with their families!

How can we forget the traditional Tet atmosphere of the nation in the past, we "celebrated Tet" with "Fatty meat, pickled onions, red parallel sentences, green Chung cakes". Tet and the bustling festivals lasted until the end of January. Although the economy at that time was poor, the spiritual life of Vietnamese people was always rich and full of emotions. So whether poor or rich, every family prepared everything for themselves with the wish that the 3 days of Tet would be the fullest, happiest, and best, to pray for a new year full of happiness and a peaceful country. Therefore, no matter how poor the family was, "on the 30th of Tet, there would still be meat hanging in the house" and of course, there would be a tray of food to worship grandparents and ancestors in the New Year's Eve meal! A family reunion meal after a year of hard work, everyone was far away! That was also the time when people "reviewed the past to learn the new", recalled the past and looked forward to a new year with new hopes!

I still remember the atmosphere of Tet in the past, those were the days before Tet about half a month, my mother was often busy, urging us sisters to go find sticks, find dry banana leaves to burn for ashes, filter water to make banh gio. During Tet markets, my mother searched for all kinds of things: dried bamboo shoots, onions, vegetables, potatoes, cabbage, fish sauce, pepper, noodles, vermicelli, although not much, just a little of each, because the economy at that time was difficult. But the happiest was probably the day my whole family woke up at 3am to boil water and ask someone to butcher the pork. The pig back then wasn't big, only about 30-40 kg, but my sisters and I were extremely happy...

I still remember the feeling of the last afternoon of the year when my mother took my sisters and me to visit the graves of my father and grandparents, burning incense in front of my father and grandparents' graves, in the quiet space of the cemetery, our hearts were filled with so many emotions, suddenly my eyes filled with tears, my heart drifted when I saw my mother burning incense and respectfully mumbling prayers inviting my father and grandparents to come home to celebrate Tet. On the night of the 30th, the whole family gathered around the pot of banh chung, listening to the sound of boiling water in the pot, the fragrant aroma of sticky rice wafting in the air, the crackling embers of firecrackers drifting away with the warm smoke. Tet has brought all family members together.

Tet today has also changed a lot. With the pace of modern life, preparing for Tet is much simpler and quicker. If you need something, you can just go to the market or supermarket and get it right away, without having to prepare for months like before. From cakes, jams, pickled onions, ham, sausages... even banh chung, all are available, perhaps that is why Tet today has less of the bustling, excited atmosphere of the past!? Perhaps only children can fully enjoy the joyful atmosphere of Tet. They eagerly wait for Tet to go out, eat delicious food and wear new clothes, especially to receive lucky money from relatives!

Over time, each of us gradually loses the excitement of waiting for Tet to come because we are no longer young? But Tet will certainly still be the days of happy reunion for each family. It is the day when children and grandchildren gather with grandparents and parents to celebrate longevity, give blessings, and worship ancestors, demonstrating the fine traditions of the Vietnamese people. Tet and spring are always the meeting place for us to connect our souls and share love. So that everyone can love the value of life more and know how to cherish and appreciate what we have. Tet is coming, the pace of life is becoming unusually hurried and exciting! Welcome the new spring with many good things waiting for us ahead!