In 2022, Tet (known more commonly as Lunar New Year) falls on Tuesday, February 1. And it’s the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals. People born in the year of the tiger are thought to be competitive, self-confident, and brave.
As a spirit animal, the meaning for the tiger is willpower, courage, and personal strength. People born in the 1974 year of the tiger are strong, brave, and independent. The tiger is a holy animal of Vietnam, where it is considered the king of the forest.
Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar (also called Spring Festival) is the festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The Vietnamese name, Tet, is an abbreviation for Tet Nguyen Dan, which is Vietnamese for the feast of the first morning of the first day of their calendar.
Tet is the most important and widely celebrated public festival of the year in Vietnam. It is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect for their ancestors as well as welcome the lunar new year with family members. Families will get together to have big meals to welcome the new year. Tet celebrates the beginning of a new year as well as the coming of spring. Vietnamese hold exuberant festivities that include traditional food, music, and dragon dancing performed along the streets. During this time there is a real sense of celebration in the air, making it a festive time to visit Vietnam.
Since Tet is the most important festival for Vietnamese, preparations for the celebration begin well in advance. They make offerings and pray at temples about two weeks before and immediately after Tet because visiting temples is considered auspicious. Many families visit the graves of ancestors in the week prior to Tet. They clean their homes and decorate with Hoa Mai (yellow apricot blossom), Hoa Dao (peach blossom), Kumquat tree, and many other colorful flowers. On the eve of Tet, they cook an abundance of food. On the first days of New Year, everybody, especially kids, wears new clothes and shoes to visit families and friends and enjoy traditional Tet food like Banh Chung (a sticky rice cake). Many children receive “lucky money” in red envelopes.
Events in El Paso Celebrating the Lunar New Year
Arts in the Park: Year of the Tiger Arts and Crafts | Jan 30 at 10am | Franklin Mountains State Park
Lunar New Year Celebration | Jan 27-29 from noon-6pm | El Paso Museum of History
Lunar New Year Celebration | Jan 22 at 10am | El Paso Zoo
What to Eat during Tet Festival?
You can take part in the Tet festival by trying traditional Vietnamese food! Tet is a time of indulgence with an array of delicacies served in every family, from pork, chicken, and sticky rice to candied fruit. The following two delicious dishes are the most popular ones eaten by Vietnamese people during Tet as part of their celebration.
Banh Tet / Banh Chung
Only eaten in Vietnam during Tet, this tasty treat is made of tightly-packed sticky rice, which may include either a meat filling or a bean spread. This sticky rice is then traditionally wrapped in banana leaves and boiled for at least 12 hours, to keep the inside fresh for the duration of the festival.
Gio
This Vietnamese ham or sausage is often served with sticky rice during Tet. You can order this festival food in two different ways. Gio means the meat is boiled and if you ask for cha you will receive meat that has been fried.
Tet Festival Greetings — How to say Happy New Year in Vietnamese
Vietnamese is a tonal language and can be a challenge to learn. However, during the Tet season, locals will understand you as soon as you start with a big smile and say “chúc mừng năm mới.” This means Happy New Year in Vietnamese and sounds like “chook moong nahm moi.”
Visit 5 of the best Vietnamese Restaurants in El Paso, TX
Saigon Taste
Saigon Taste is conveniently located near Country Club and Resler. Saigon Taste has been proudly serving the El Paso area and beyond since 2000. Since then, their mission has been to provide high-quality Vietnamese food for all those that wish to combine fun and enjoyable ambiance with skillful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience. Their sweet broth is notable.
Pho So Restaurant
Pho So Restaurant creates the most exquisite and traditional fresh pho in El Paso.
Pho So Restaurant is considered a hidden gem by most who discover it. Pho So Restaurant has an impressive menu of Vietnamese food options that will have customers wanting more. These food options are made from the freshest ingredients and are served hot.
Pho Tre Bien
Pho Tre Bien is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant and cafe in El Paso. Pho Tre Bien is the destination for fresh and savory Asian bites in El Paso. This Vietnamese restaurant boasts an amazing aesthetic and a koi pond that promotes the vibrant color and culture that Vietnam has, alongside delicious food. Pho Tre Bien is known for their ever so popular pho and other Vietnamese options.
Wicked Pho
Wicked Pho provides classic Vietnamese eats from pho to spring rolls served in a laid-back space with a tropical mural. Wicked Pho is one of the newer Vietnamese restaurants in El Paso that offers some of the best pho. This Vietnamese restaurant opened in 2017 and is steadily growing into one of the premier spots to experience Vietnamese food. Wicked Pho offers tasty and healthy food made from the freshest ingredients and authentic herbs and spices. The restaurant prides itself not just on its amazing food, but the atmosphere it has.
Pho Hoa
Pho Hoa is a branch of a casual chain offering a wide variety of pho & other Vietnamese specialties. This spot is a well-known chain Vietnamese restaurant that has amazing food options near Ft. Bliss. This Vietnamese chain restaurant offers amazing customer service alongside its delicious menu. Pho Hoa has an amazing staff. From servers to the kitchen team, all are hardworking and will make sure the food you eat is delicious.
Source: Wikipedia
Source: https://www.indochinaodysseytours.com/knows/vietnam-tet-festival.html
Source: https://www.asiahighlights.com/vietnam/cuisine
Source: https://wanderingchopsticks.blogspot.com/
Source: https://www.vietnamonline.com/culture/vietnamese-zodiac.html
Source: https://kevsbest.com/best-vietnamese-restaurants-in-el-paso-tx/
