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1. What Does a Traditional Year-End Feast Ritual Include?
The composition of a traditional year-end feast ritual varies depending on the economic circumstances of each family and the cultural customs of different regions.
Below illustrates the year-end feast ritual in three regions:
Year-End Feast Ritual in Northern Region
A typical year-end feast ritual in the Northern Region usually comprises 4 bowls and 4 plates. Larger rituals may incorporate 6 or 8 bowls and plates, with some arrangements reaching two or three tiers. Specifically, the traditional year-end feast ritual in the Northern Region often encompasses the following dishes:
- Variety of Traditional Dishes
Families may also include additional dishes according to taste preferences, such as preserved meat, salads, and braised chicken.
Year-End Feast Offering in the Central Region
Year-end feast offerings in the Central Region are relatively simple, not requiring the standard 4 bowls and 4 plates like in the Northern Region, but they typically include the following signature dishes:
- Year-End Feast Offering in the Southern Region
Year-end feast offerings in the Southern Region typically feature the following dishes:
- Traditional Vietnamese sticky rice cake (bánh tét) awaits, a delicacy wrapped in banana leaves.
2. Time for Year-End Rituals
It varies among households, but typically, year-end rituals take place on the last day of the lunar year, which falls on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month or the 29th in a leap year. In 2023, this auspicious event could be observed on Saturday, January 21st in the Gregorian calendar.
Some families opt for earlier celebrations, possibly on the 25th, 26th, 27th, or 28th of the twelfth lunar month. Nevertheless, the two final days of the year remain ideal for these rituals.
The timing of the ritual need not be overly strict. Typically, families perform the rituals in the afternoon of the 30th, followed by a sumptuous dinner. However, some may choose to conduct it at noon or in the late evening, depending on circumstances.
3. Significance of the Year-End Feast
The year-end feast is meticulously prepared, marking one of the most significant meals of the year. It's a time for reflection, to look back on the successes and failures of the past year, to bid farewell to worries, and to welcome the new year with optimism and blessings.
The last dinner of the year is a moment for family reunion and gathering. After a year of hard work and study in distant places, it's a time for people to return to their families, sharing a meal rich with the flavors of Tet. It's also an occasion for descendants to invite their grandparents and ancestors to join the feast.
Above are the complete traditions of the year-end feast as Mytour wishes to share with you. Hopefully, this information will help you prepare for the ritual meticulously, welcoming the new year with good fortune and blessings.
