Lunar New Year, or Tet, is Vietnam's main holiday. It is the most important occasion in the year which falls sometimes between 19^th january and 20^th February on the Western calendar. Tet marks the beginning of spring and the start of a new year.

Tet’s preparations and celebrations nowadays are shorter than those in the past. Streets are decorated with coloured lights and red banners. Shops are full of goods. People are busy buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses and cooking traditional foods.

Houses are often decorated with plants and flowers at this time. Peach blossom is traditional at Tet in the North while apricot blossom is traditional in the South. The kumquat tree with its ripe deep orange fruits is popular throughout the country. One of Tet’s most special foods is Banh Chung, which is made from sticky rice, green beans and fatty pork. Mut, which is candied fruits such as sugared apples, plums or tomatoes, is also popular.

* Một số từ mới:

- mark (v): đánh dấu

- preparation (n): sự chuẩn bị

- ripe deep orange fruits: quả chín vàng rộm

- plum (n): quả mận

What is another name of Tet?

Before Tet all houses are white washed and (3)____ with yellow apricot flowers and colorful lanterns.

What do Vietnamese people often do before Tet?  

Christmas is in December. It is a season with many traditions. People think about family, friends, and giving. Most families put up a tree, hang decorations, and give gifts. Christmas Eve is December 24th. It is the night before Christmas. It is a great time to sing carols. Will you remember to put out milk and cookies for Santa?

Christmas Day is December 25th. Wake up early. Then you can run to open the presents under the tree. There is going to be a lot of food to eat today! It is a time to spend with family and people you love.

When do people celebrate Christmas?

Tet is the ___________ festival in Vietnam.

Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase.

Tet is a national and (1) ______ festival in Viet Nam. It is occasion for every Vietnamese to be reunited to think (2) _____ their past activities and hope for good luck in the year to come. Before Tet all houses are white washed and (3)____ with yellow apricot flowers and colorful lanterns. Everybody is looking forward to a more favorable life. On the New Year's Eve, children are smartly dressed. They are hoping to (4) _____ money put in small red envelopes as they are wishing longevity (5) ______ their grandparents and parents.

Tet is a national and (1) ______ festival in Viet Nam.

Which songs do people sing at Christmas?

It is occasion for every Vietnamese to be reunited to think (2) _____ their past activities and hope for good luck in the year to come.

as they are wishing longevity (5) ______ their grandparents and parents.

What do people decorate streets with?

They are hoping to (4) _____ money put in small red envelopes

The first people who comes to someones house on the first day are called _______.

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer.

Every country has its own tradition when New Year comes. In Japan, at midnight on December 31, all temples in the country ring their bell 108 times. They believe that the ringing bells can remove their bad actions from the previous year.

In Thai Lan, the New Year is in April. It’s the hottest time of the year. People often throw water over the people. They believe that this activity will bring a lot of rain and wash away the bad things.

In Viet Nam, people clean and decorate their houses before Tet. They would like their houses to look more beautiful. The first footer is very important. They believe that the first footer on the first New Year Day decides the family’s luck for the whole year.

Một số từ vựng:

- tradition (n): truyền thống

- ring the bell: rung chuông

- wash away: rửa sạch, cuốn trôi

- luck (n): điều may mắn

People in Japan believe that 108 times of ringing bell can remove their _______ from the previous year.

What do people do in Tet?

People in Thai Lan believe that throwing water over other people will _____ and  wash away the bad things.

When does Tet sometimes take place on Western calendar?