Vietnam’s bánh chưng is a rice cake wrapped and twined in banana leaf that is traditionally prepared together as a family. Similarly, oranges are also a holiday staple because the Cantonese word for tangerine ( gam) sounds like the word for ‘gold’ ( gam).Īcross many cultures, sticky rice items are considered auspicious and some are emblematic of togetherness. For example, fish is a requirement at the Lunar New Year dinner table because in Mandarin Chinese, the word for fish ( yú), sounds like the word for “surplus” ( yú). Several Chinese dishes are served because of how they sound-thanks to the country’s homophonic languages. Food plays a special role during the Lunar New Yearĭuring the Lunar New Year, many food items are symbolic for luck and prosperity. So this year, when people in Vietnam celebrate the New Year or Tết Nguyên Đán, they will be ushering in the Year of the Cat, not the Rabbit. No one is sure how the cat appeared in Vietnam’s zodiac, but there is speculation that ancient local words for rabbit and cat sounded similar. Based on the original tale, the cat isn’t part of the Chinese zodiac because the rat had failed to inform the cat about the race after promising to do so. The zodiac animals are a little different, however, in Vietnam: the ox is replaced with the water buffalo, and the rabbit with the cat. Traditional practices like feng shui, the Chinese philosophy of managing the flow of energy in the home, are also often aligned with the Zodiac year. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are generally thought to be gentle, quick-witted, and easygoing, though they also are said to be hesitant and timid. Different personality traits and annual fortunes are ascribed to people born in each Zodiac year. Those born in 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, and so on (every 12 years) were also born in Years of the Rabbit. This year represents the Year of the Rabbit. According to the legend, the animals crossed a rapidly-flowing river to get to the finish line in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The order of the rotation is based on the tale of a “Great Race” of animals staged by the Jade Emperor-a revered god in Chinese mythology. There are 12 zodiac animals, each assigned a year, on a rotating basis. 22 this year ushers in the Year of the Rabbit.
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