Happy New Year
Tết Nguyên Đán in Vietnam is deeply imbued with national identity, featuring many unique customs and practices. From preparing the tray of five fruits, cleaning the house, to visiting and giving lucky money during New Year greetings, all these activities reflect a deep appreciation for the traditional values of the nation.
Vietnamese New Year "Tết Nguyên đán"
Tết Nguyên Đán is the biggest traditional festival of the year for Vietnamese people. It is an occasion for Vietnamese to gather with their families, show their respect to ancestors and deities, and pray for a peaceful and lucky new year. Tết Nguyên Đán begins on the first day of the lunar year and is affectionately called "Tết Ta" to differentiate it from "Tết Tây" (the solar New Year).
About a month before Tết Nguyên Đán, the atmosphere of welcoming spring is bustling everywhere. Flower markets and Tết markets are crowded and lively, with people busily shopping for the New Year. Families start cleaning and decorating their homes, preparing trays of five fruits, bánh chưng (square glutinous rice cake), and bánh tét (cylindrical glutinous rice cake). Everyone begins to arrange their work to return to their hometowns for Tết. All of this creates a festive, vibrant atmosphere that embodies the traditional essence found only in Vietnamese New Year.
No obligation binds them, yet they return year after year. For some reason, they must always return to visit their ancestral altar, their family graves, and the areca nut trees. They must pay their respects to their ancestors and visit their relatives and neighbors. And that time can only be during Tet. Returning home for Tet, for all Vietnamese people, means returning to their roots to connect with their ancestors, siblings, and fellow villagers. It's a time to spread optimism, express love and openness, and revive cherished memories that have faded over time.
Vu Bang, Thuong Nho Muoi Hai
Flowers and 5-fruit tray
When it comes to Tết, one must talk about flowers. Tết Nguyên Đán is a time to put aside everyday worries and return to peaceful moments with refined pleasures, among which enjoying and displaying flowers are pivotal. Prominent flowers typical of Tết include peach blossoms in the North and apricot blossoms in the South, along with many other flowers like chrysanthemums, fortune flowers, and orchids. Each type of flower carries its own meaning but all are intended to bring a new vitality, embedding hopes and prosperity for the early days of the New Year.
Accompanying the flowers is the 'Mâm Ngũ Quả' or Tray of Five Fruits. As Tết arrives, each family, whether from the North, Central, or South, strives to prepare a complete and exquisite tray of five fruits to offer to their ancestors. This tray typically includes five types of fruits, arranged ingeniously and elaborately, with a harmonious and vibrant mix of colors. This tradition reflects filial piety, the cherished Vietnamese adage of 'drinking water, remembering the source,' and carries wishes for a prosperous and abundant new year.
Five-fruit tray. @Shutterstock
Like many cultures around the world, Japan celebrates the arrival of the New Year with hopes for joy, good fortune, and prosperity. While not adhering to the lunar calendar like some other Asian nations, the traditional Japanese New Year retains distinct Eastern cultural nuances.
Japanese New Year “Oshogatsu”
The traditional Japanese New Year, known as "Oshogatsu" (meaning "First Moon"), marks the beginning of the new year. The name itself reflects the custom of welcoming Toshigamisama, the deity of the New Year, who brings blessings of health, luck, and prosperity. Celebrated from January 1st to 3rd on the Gregorian calendar, Oshogatsu is one of Japan's most significant annual festivals.
Shimekazari, decorative ornaments often found adorning doorways or family altars.
A distinctive feature of Japanese New Year celebrations is the hanging of Shimekazari, decorative ornaments often found adorning doorways or family altars. Traditionally crafted from natural materials like hemp or rice and wheat straw, Shimekazari come in various forms, though the circular shape is most common.
For the Japanese, Shimekazari are believed to invite the gods of good fortune into their homes, bringing blessings of luck, peace, and good health in the new year. Beyond their cultural significance, these ornaments also possess artistic merit. The harmonious color combinations achieved through the use of natural materials create a visually stunning effect, reflecting the deep appreciation for aesthetics that characterizes Japanese culture.
Kadomatsu
Arriving in Japan during the first days of the year, you'll undoubtedly notice Kadomatsu standing proudly in front of many homes. This traditional Japanese New Year decoration is crafted from natural materials such as bamboo, pine, and other leaves, resulting in unique and visually striking forms that hold deep symbolic meaning.
For the Japanese, Kadomatsu are more than mere ornaments. They are considered sacred symbols. It is believed that on New Year's Eve, the gods descend to earth to bless each household, and these Kadomatsu serve as their welcoming points, bringing good fortune and prosperity.
The New Year "Lucky bag"
A unique aspect of Japanese New Year celebrations is the tradition of 'Fukubukuro' (福袋), literally translating to 'lucky bag.' In Japanese culture, the New Year symbolizes a fresh start, and 'Fukubukuro' embodies the spirit of good fortune and blessings.
On January 1st, and often throughout the first week of the year, retailers unveil these mystery bags filled with a random assortment of products. The allure of Fukubukuro lies in the unexpected value they offer – the total worth of the items inside typically far exceeds the bag's purchase price.
The excitement of opening a Fukubukuro is akin to unwrapping a gift, brimming with anticipation and the promise of delightful surprises. This tradition perfectly captures the spirit of the New Year, welcoming luck and prosperity for the year to come
From us to you
As 2024 comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our incredible customers, partners for your continued support throughout the year. Your support, trust, and belief in what we do have made all the difference, and we couldn’t have come this far without you.
Thank you for being with us, and we look forward to growing and achieving more together in the year ahead.
areme team
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Discover our special Gift Sets for the New Year, featuring areme's signature and most unique scents.
