30th Day of December on the Lunar Calendar
The day before Tet Nguyen Dan or Tất Niên (the same celebration with two names), is New Year's Eve on the Lunar Calendar. There is a tradition, when as soon as possible into the new year, a guest who has a zodiac animal, which is compatible with the zodiac animal of the year, is the first person to visit and enter the house, bringing along with then good luck for the rest of the year.
1st Day of December on the Lunar Calendar
Tet Nguyen Dan, the first day of the year, when people go to visit their family and relatives, usually the elderlies first. There is a tradition of elderlies giving their children, and grandchildren lucky money. This money is put inside a red envelope, usually decorated with little children, Vietnamese/ Chinese symbols or animals of the zodiac. By giving this money, luck is wished upon and given to the receiver, along with the hopes of getting good grades (for kids) and success in all endeavours.
2nd Day of December on the Lunar Calendar
Tet Nguyen Dan is usually celebrated in three or four days, which are the 30th, 1st, 2nd and/ or 3rd. On the second day, people visit their friends and more relatives who they didn't have time for earlier on. Food such as fruit jellies, pumpkin seeds, pistachios and chocolates are usually held insid e little, decorated containers. Nowadays, people tend to put out sweets, candy bars and lollies for the kids who come visit their houses.
15th of January (Cúng rằm tháng giêng)
This is the day for the first worship of the year, to pray to the full moon and hope for a year full of good luck and prosperity.
3rd of March (Tết thanh minh)
Visit and tidy up relatives and ancestor's graves. It's a day where everyone has a day off and goes to visit their family in the countryside and also visit their family members who have passed away.
5th of May (Ngày giết sâu bọ)
Get rid of bugs day usually starts with a confusing taste and smell. As soon as you wake, before you brush your teeth, you have to lick a lime and rub it onto your neck, as a sort of protection. Every time you pray and put a fruit on the altar, its as if you are killing off another bug, harmful ones which destroy crops and cause people to get sick. You also eat a rice dish called rieu nep, which is rice in half a bowl of thick liquid.
15th of July (Tết Vu Lan)
On Tet Vu Lan day, you worship your ancestors and pray as a thanks to your parents, grandparents and relatives for everything they have done for you.
15th of August (Tết Trung Thu)
Praying to the moon on the day it is fullest and most beautiful. Families sit together and eat fruits and snacks, while watching the moon. Kids would have lanterns and decorations such as fish and stars on a stick as they run around and play with one another.
23rd of December (Cúng ông công ông táo lên chầu trời)
We worship to send luck to the messengers of God on their trip to heaven. Burning fake clothing made of paper and setting a fish free are believed to supply the messengers with new clothes and a fish to fly on to get to heaven. These messengers report to God as the year ends to explain to him how the year end and hopefully they will bring good luck back to the families when they return.
Memorial Days
When someone passes there are certain dates after their passing when the family meets up, eats a meal which is shared onto the altar as a worshiping so they too can enjoy the meal with us. Fake clothes and money are also burned because it is believed that when you burn the clothes they will be received by the dead as a gift since where they are probably doesn't supply extra clothing or a lot of food. This is the reason behind this tradition.