Early in the morning, the footsteps of passersby seem to be more hurried when in the children's school, there is a buzz of excitement "Tet, Tet, Tet, Tet is coming...". Somewhere, on the journey far from home, children far from home are also looking forward to returning...

Nguyen Dan means the first day of the new year. It is not only the moment of transition between the old year and the new year, but it also contains many layers of national culture. Anyone, no matter where they are, just need to hear the three words Tet Nguyen Dan and thoughts of their homeland, ancestors, grandparents, parents, and relatives will arise in their hearts. And then, in the thousands of busy days at the end of the year, they will have to break away to return to their birthplace. Or if they cannot return, they will still pack many gifts to send back to burn incense for their ancestors, to wish the elderly and children a happy new year...

Tet is an occasion for children far from home to return home to reunite with their families.

That's why my uncle, despite living far away, despite having visited his hometown several times each year, always returned during the days leading up to Tet. Returning to burn incense in memory of his ancestors and parents, to wander absent-mindedly along the alley leading to his childhood home, reminiscing about old times. He was always accompanied by his children and grandchildren. That was how he instilled in the thoughts and feelings of the young generation the so-called love of homeland, love of blood, of relatives...

But it's not just my uncle, it's always like that, during the last days of December, my village cemetery is filled with people returning. Many generations of villagers who have gone far away meet each other, together remember their parents, together tell stories of their childhood... There are tears, and laughter... The last days of December, therefore, become very peaceful, all the chaos of life is temporarily put aside, in the heart there are only stories full of love for the homeland, imbued with warm family love...

Returning to visit the old village is one of the things many people prioritize during Tet. Photo: Internet

Life has so many changes, neighborhoods and areas will welcome this person, send that person away... That's why many places become old neighborhoods for many people. Some people are gone forever, but there are also people who return to visit their old places every year during the traditional New Year, even though their houses have been sold and their parents have gone to faraway lands. My mountain village has such a person! A few times, on my return trip, I met her.

She said that her family has now settled in Hanoi, but every year she returns to this Nam hamlet during the traditional Tet holiday. This is an opportunity for her to meet as many people as possible, to hear many stories about her parents, relatives and her own childhood. During these trips, she will visit each house, burn incense to commemorate the deceased, give lucky money to the elderly and children, and make a date with old friends for a cozy meal... For her, these trips not only enrich the meaning of the Lunar New Year reunion but also help her to open up the most beautiful things in her spiritual life, which make up the culture of her life...

These days, in the countryside, every family has erected a pole to celebrate Tet. My brothers and sisters who work in different places have also returned home, preparing for Tet with their parents. In every village, in every market, people are as crowded as a loom. Rich and poor people are busy buying and selling to fulfill the Tet rituals. Mixed in with the buying and selling are greetings, appointments and meetings between the locals and those returning from far away. It is hurried but still very leisurely. In every word, in every exchange, it is gentler than usual.

No one gives up the important rituals during the 3 days of Tet, in which, many families still keep the tradition of wrapping Chung cake... Photo Internet

I suddenly remembered the proverb that my grandmother used to recite when she was alive: "Even if you are angry to the point of death on New Year's Day, you will still be full on New Year's Day" or "Even if you are hungry to the point of death, you will still be full on New Year's Day". That is what Tet is, it is an occasion for people to wrap up the hardships, frustrations, and anger of the old year, so that on New Year's Day, they can open up new feelings and new hopes together.

During the last days of the twelfth lunar month with light rain, I suddenly thought about the increasingly diverse entertainment options during Tet. Some people choose to return to their hometowns to celebrate Tet, others choose to travel far and near, but absolutely no one gives up the important rituals during the 3 days of Tet.

Lunar New Year still retains all its profound humanistic meanings, the rituals practiced express people's sacred desire and belief in the harmony of heaven - earth - human; express the relationship between people and nature in the spirit of agricultural culture, with the clan and village in the spirit of national community...

Phong Linh