Fear of Tet

A garment manufacturing company in Hai Duong City recently conducted a fun survey about whether they like Tet or fear it. The results surprised many people, with more than 70% of the people surveyed ticking the box for fear of Tet.

Tet is a beautiful cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, preserved and maintained for generations. Tet is an occasion for everyone to gather and meet each other after a year of hard work. Tet is the moment when we welcome the sacred transition between the old year and the new year...

So why are more and more people afraid of Tet? Many workers who tick the box for fear of Tet boldly explain that they feel sorry for the situation every time they return home, having to jostle and bustle in the crowded crowd at the train and bus stations. Tet is supposed to be a time to rest, but instead, it is "added" with a lot of work to do. That is, cleaning the house, shopping... For many women, especially those with the eldest child, the 3 days of Tet are spent busy, worrying about the feasts, the dishes piled up every time guests come to visit...

I also just read a student's essay on the topic "Express your feelings about Tet" shared on social networks. The essay was only one page long but made many mothers cry, because she expressed the psychology and feelings of many women when Tet comes. The student talked about the Tet days lacking laughter because her mother was too busy with Tet. Her mother was busy from evening to night... Tet made her tired so she hated Tet and did not look forward to Tet coming. Children usually like Tet, but if Tet makes her mother unhappy and tired, then it is understandable that she does not like Tet.

There are still more than 20 days until Tet Giap Thin, but in recent days, many stories related to fear of Tet have been shared on social networks. One worker's family had to save 30 million VND, equivalent to 3 months' salary, to buy a round-trip plane ticket to return home for Tet. Although not financially burdened, young people today share about social anxiety disorder when facing judgments every Tet holiday. Many people share the status on social networks as "everything is fine, Tet is coming".

What about those who have checked the box to like Tet? Perhaps most of them are people who have adjusted to have a simple but meaningful and happy Tet.

My friend lives in a 3-generation family, and her husband is the eldest son, so choosing a simple Tet is really difficult. But my friend did it. She shared that before, from the 29th of Tet, she had to prepare a continuous feast until the 3rd day of Tet. Every day, she had to prepare at least 2 trays of food to welcome guests. When there were no guests, she had to visit each family member's house to wish them a happy new year. However, in the past 2 years, my friend's family has changed. They made plans to enjoy a real Tet holiday. The family spent time resting and being together, putting aside all work worries. Everything that was resolved before Tet has been neatly handled. Instead of inviting guests to their house for a year-end meal, now they only prepare a warm meal with family members. During Tet, they do not have to go to each house like before, but go to the temple, drink tea, watch movies together... Children can be close to and play with grandparents and parents. My friend is no longer afraid of Tet.

Buddhism has a saying "Everything is created by the mind", everything comes from the mind. Therefore, when the mind is at peace and we are ready to overcome the rules, abandon the procedures to choose a peaceful, leisurely spring holiday in the true sense, then we will not fear Tet.