Special cuisines and features during Vietnamese Tet festival

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Bánh chưng (Vietnamese square sticky rice cake); bánh giầy (Vietnamese rice cake); and dưa hấu (watermelon).

Bánh chưng is the Vietnamese traditional food especially seen during Tet. For many families, the small Bánh chưng is not just a dish but also the symbol of festive joy and family reunion during the new year holiday.

There is a folktale about King Hung (the first King of Vietnam). In the spring, the King held a new year celebrationand told his sons that he would pass his crown to any one among the sons who would prepare the most delicious and meaningful dishes. The 18^th son of the King Hung's Lang Lieu, who was the most gentle and peace-loving son, presented Bánh chưng and Bánh giầy that symbolized heaven and earth respectively.As a result, Lang Lieu was chosen to inherit his father’s throne.After that, during Lunar New Year festivals, Vietnamese people offeredBánh chưng and Bánh giầy to ancestors.

Watermelon is the symbol of happiness and fulfilmentdisplayed on Vietnamese dining tables.

The Vietnamese legend of watermelon: During the reign of the17th King Hung, there was a boy named Mai An Tiem.Mai An Tiem was a traded slave and bought by the King. The King found that the boy was intelligent, talented and skillful so he gave his daughter into marriage with Mai An Tiem. Many of the King’s courtiers got jealous with the favors that the King showed An Tiem. When An Tiem said at a banquet that his blessings were the result of his good deeds in his previous life, the courtiers reported to the King that An Tiem forgot about the King’s favors upon him and that An Tiem’s wealth was his due to his own efforts. Believing that An Tiem did not have any respect and appreciation for him, the King got angry with An Tiem and forced him into exile at Nga Son island.There he found some strange seeds. An Tiem was able to grow seeds into the fruits that had green skin and red flesh. He called it watermelon. He sold a lot of watermelon and became rich. The King heard about An Tiem and regretted what he did. The King welcomed An Tiem back and An Tiem also forgave the King. The King then encouraged Vietnamese people to eat watermelon. Since then, watermelons spread throughout Vietnam.

Lion dance

Lion Dance is a traditional activity in Vietnam during Tet. Lion is the second among the four supreme animals according to Vietnam Folk Legend with Dragon being the first, Lion second, Tortoise third and Phoenix fourth. Lion has a fierce appearance but cheerful and gentle character. Lion only eats vegetables and appears only in peaceful places. Where the Lion is, there the peace and prosperity will be. People live in harmony, soil becomes fertile and all diseases driven out. The Lion Dance is a way to wish for a prosperous year.

Cherry blossom and apricot blossom