Why is "the first day of Tet for father, the second day of Tet for mother, the third day of Tet for teacher"?

The saying "The first day of Tet is for fathers, the second day of Tet is for mothers, the third day of Tet is for teachers" is not only a reminder of the order of New Year greetings and visits during the three days of Tet, but it is also the way Vietnamese people express the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking" and "respecting teachers".

According to ancient beliefs, the first day of the year is the most important. It is also the first day of the new year, symbolizing the beginning. Therefore, the first day of Tet is a reminder to return to one's roots, worship one's ancestors first, then visit one's paternal family and parents.

After children and grandchildren wish each other a happy new year and receive lucky money, the whole family will eat the first meal of the year together and chat happily.

After visiting and wishing a happy new year to the family and relatives on the paternal side, one goes to the maternal side. That is the meaning of the saying "The second day of Tet is for mother" in the old concept.

With similar rituals as the first day of the new year at the paternal home, everyone will gather to have a New Year's meal, then go together to wish relatives and neighbors a happy new year.

Finally, the third day of Tet is the day to wish our teachers a happy new year. After fulfilling our filial piety to our parents on both sides, the third day is the day to wish our teachers a happy new year - those who have taught us to be good people. This "Tet Thay" day is considered as the "Vietnamese Teachers' Day" in the past - when November 20th had not officially come into being, it was an opportunity for many generations of students to express their gratitude to the "ferrymen".

Regarding the custom of New Year greetings, custom researcher Toan Anh in the book Vietnamese pastimes wrote: On the morning of the first day of Tet, after the ancestral ceremony, children and grandchildren wish their grandparents and parents a Happy New Year.

At this time, grandparents and parents dress neatly and sit in the middle of the house. Usually, in luxurious houses, there is a kneeling platform, so the elders sit on the platform. Children and grandchildren dress up in nice clothes, wish their grandparents and parents good health and peace, and if they do business, they will gain wealth and fortune.

Grandparents and parents happily receive New Year's greetings from their children and grandchildren, wishing them good health, good study, and success in passing exams or moving up a grade.

Parents are the ones who give birth, raise, and educate us, so the most useful person is our teacher. Therefore, on the 3rd day, students and classmates invite each other to visit their teacher (who teaches them letters or a profession). They bring gifts to show their gratitude. Teachers and students compose poems, talk about literature, or discuss business and career in a very happy and beneficial way.

Nowadays, many people are more flexible in going to wish New Year and depending on the circumstances and conditions of each family, making New Year wishes convenient and not too heavy or stressful. In addition to family relationships, family, teachers, there are also social relationships, work, and business outside.

According to Tien Phong