What is Han Thuc Tet? Origin, meaning of the Han Thuc festival

Han Thuc Tet is a traditional festival that takes place annually in March, popular in Northern Vietnam. However, not everyone knows the significance, the legend of Han Thuc Tet? What day is it in 2023? Let's explore the related information about this important festival with Mytour.

What is Han Thuc Tet? Han Thuc Tet in 2023 on which day?

Han Thuc Tet (Sticky Rice Cake Tet) is a traditional festival that occurs on the 3rd of March lunar calendar, widely celebrated in some provinces of China, Northern Vietnam, and the global Chinese community. On this day, families prepare dishes like sticky rice cakes, vegetarian cakes, sweet soup, make floating cakes (in China), and commemorate ancestors through ancestral offerings. It's a sentimental and end-of-spring memorial tradition.

This year, Han Thuc Tet in 2023 falls on April 22, 2023, in the Gregorian calendar, which is a Saturday.

Origin of the Han Thuc Tet

According to legend, the Vietnamese Han Thuc Tet originates from a Chinese myth that has been passed down to this day. During the reign of Tan Van Cong in the Tan kingdom, facing rebellion, he sought refuge in the Te kingdom and later settled in the So kingdom.

At that time, a person named Gioi Tu Thoi followed the king, offering numerous strategic solutions. One day, facing food shortage, Gioi Tu Thoi had to cut a piece of meat from his thigh to cook for the king. After eating, the king was deeply grateful.

For 19 years, Gioi Tu Thoi accompanied King Tan Van Cong for training. After Tan Van Cong regained the throne, he rewarded those who aided him in the uprising. However, he forgot the past kindness of Gioi Tu Thoi. Gioi Tu Thoi did not harbor resentment; he believed following the king was a noble duty, not open to discussion.

As a result, he took his mother to Dien Son mountain. When King Tan Van Cong remembered, he sent someone to find Gioi Tu Thoi. However, not seeking fame and fortune, Gioi Tu Thoi steadfastly refused the reward. The king ordered the forest to be set ablaze (capturing Thoi). But Gioi Tu Thoi remained resolute, and both mother and son perished in the fire.

The king, filled with sorrow and regret, ordered the construction of a temple and issued a decree. In memory of Gioi Tu Thoi's death by fire, people refrained from lighting fires on that day. Consequently, every year on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, it became the day of Han Thuc Tet.

Meaning of Han Thuc Tet in 2023

Han Thuc Tet holds profound significance and beautiful traditions of the nation, still passed down to this day. Each year on this Tet, every family sets up ancestral altars to remember their roots.

Remembrance of the Departed 

In China, Han Thuc Tet is considered a day to commemorate the deceased, especially the virtuous Gioi Tu Thoi. In Vietnam, the Han Thuc festival has its unique character as people prepare sticky rice cakes and offer them to ancestors to express gratitude for their nurturing and the gift of life.

Carrying the essence of national traditions 

Rice grains carry the quintessence of Vietnamese people through millennia, also the main ingredient of the distinctive Tet cake. 'Banh troi' and 'banh chay' are two traditional cakes in Vietnam made from glutinous rice flour. Banh troi has a red sugar filling, while banh chay has none. Both cakes symbolize the appreciation for the origin and the agricultural tradition of farmers.

Recalling beautiful memories

On this significant day, family members gather again, making the most delicious banh troi and banh chay to enjoy together. Among our famous folk tales, recalling the legend of 'Lac Long Quan - Au Co,' the images of banh chay and banh troi evoke the image of 'encasing a hundred eggs' of Au Co. It's an essential tradition of the Vietnamese people, preserving cultural values and creating a bond between generations.

What is included in the Han Thuc Tet offering tray in 2023?

Offering Tray for Han Thuc Tet includes banh troi, banh chay, a tray of five fruits, incense, flowers, betel leaves, and purified water. Odd numbers are considered auspicious, so banh troi and banh chay are often arranged in sets of 3 or 5. Fresh fruits and flowers are indispensable, so choose 5 types of fruits representing the five elements.

Fresh chrysanthemums are the most favored in the Han Thuc Tet offering tray, symbolizing solemnity and seeking good luck. Homeowners can add other types of fresh flowers depending on family conditions. Lastly, prepare a glass of clean water symbolizing purity and the host's sincere heart.

Meaning of banh troi banh chay on Han Thuc Tet

Banh troi banh chay is one of the symbolic cakes for Han Thuc festival, becoming a cultural aspect preserved through generations. So, what is their significance on this Tet day, and why are they indispensable?

Gratitude and reverence for ancestors 

Banh troi and banh chay are distinctive specialties of the Han Thuc festival. By preparing and offering them to ancestors, we express gratitude and family traditions passed down from generation to generation.

Praying for Favorable Weather

The Han Thuc festival is known for the desire for cooler weather in the summer. White glutinous rice cakes symbolize positivity and sweetness, while the yellow mung bean filling represents positivity. Eating glutinous rice cakes and mung bean cakes during Han Thuc Tet signifies the wish for a pleasant, not scorching, summer.

Han Thuc Tet is an opportunity for us to enjoy peace and tranquility, appreciating life values such as family, love, honor, and respect. This article has shared information about the origin, significance of Han Thuc Tet. Mytour wishes everyone a beautiful and joyful festival with their families.