Last night, starting at midnight, there was a fireworks show that lasted for 15 minutes to celebrate the beginning of the year. After that there were dragons in the streets preceded and followed by folks with drums and cymbals.
There were still a few dragons around this morning. As I left the hotel this is the sight that greeted me at the door way.
Everywhere I walked people wished me "Happy New Year" and were really delighted when I gave my reply as "Chúc Mừng Năm Mới". Got quite a few people to stop, smile and shake my hand at that.
Things I've seen the last few days... The new year is a time of renewal and everybody has been preparing by cleaning house. The activity has been visible from the street for the last week with everyone brooming out the house, hosing down the floors (the water is in the street and since the doorways are about full with of the home, 5 meters, what's being done inside is visible from the street), washing motorbikes and painting. I'm told the tradition is to have everything done by the end of new year's eve because no cleanup work is supposed to happen new year's day. That's because everything is supposed to be fresh and ready for the new year.
Most businesses are closed. Some began closing two days ago and will stay closed as long as a week.
Visiting family and friends happens new year's eve and day. The visits are short, 1/2 hour to an hour. It's meant as a time to give best wishes for the new year, give "lucky money" in colorful envelopes and head to the next stop on the visit list.
Nice custom. It doesn't emphasize the gift but rather the idea behind it, wishing health and prosperity for the new year.
What you mentioned ( behind the Earth man) is not the dragon, it's unicorn. It represents for the loyalty, happiness, and charity....
ReplyDeleteHuong
Thanks for your correction em bé (hope I haven't just embarrassed you). I still don't recognize Vietnamese unicorns even after our trip to the Hue temples. :-(
ReplyDelete...but I continue to learn