Tet is not only the transition point between the old year and the new year according to the lunar calendar, but also a reflection of cultural values, customs, and traditions preserved through thousands of years of history.
Let FAHASA accompany you in exploring the meaning and origins of tet Nguyen Dan, the most important and long-standing festival of the Vietnamese people.
When Is Tet 2026?
1. Gregorian date of Tet 2026
- Tet Nguyen Dan 2026 (the first day of the Year of the Horse – Binh Ngo) falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- Therefore, New Year’s Eve takes place on the night of Monday, February 16, 2026.
2. New Year’s Day 2026
New Year’s Day (Gregorian calendar) in 2026 falls on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
3. Key dates before and after Tet 2026
- 27th day of the 12th Lunar Month, 2026 (27th day of the month of Chap, year At Ty) → Saturday, February 14, 2026
- 4th day of the Lunar New Year (4th day of the 1st Lunar Month, year Binh Ngo) → Friday, February 20, 2026
Origins of Tet Nguyen Dan
Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as Tet Ca, Tet Lunar, or the Traditional New Year, is the largest and most important festival of the Vietnamese people. It marks the end of a four-season cycle and the beginning of a new one, symbolizing hopes for peace, prosperity, and joy in the coming year.
Historical studies show that Tet originated from how ancient Eastern civilizations observed and calculated the cycles of the moon and the sun. The lunar calendar-used to determine Tet-begins each month on the new moon, and the new year begins when the sun passes the Tropic of Capricorn, signaling the end of winter. From this concept, Tet became “Tiet Nguyen Dan,” meaning the dawn of a new year, month, and season.
Many scholars explain that the word “Tet” originates from the Sino-Vietnamese word “Tiet,” meaning a seasonal marker. However, Vietnamese culture developed it into a uniquely Vietnamese concept. Tet is not merely a seasonal shift; it is a grand festival involving worship, ancestral remembrance, and strengthening family and community bonds. Among Vietnam’s traditional seasonal celebrations, Nguyen Dan is considered the most important.
Although influenced by broader East Asian civilizations, Tet in Vietnam evolved into a distinctly Vietnamese celebration. With the cultural roots of wet-rice agriculture and ancestral worship, Vietnamese people shaped Tet into a festival rich with national identity.
The Meaning of Tet
Tet Nguyen Dan is not simply the beginning of a new year; it is a moment for people to pause after a long year, reflect on what has passed, and prepare for a fresh, hopeful beginning.
For Vietnamese people, Tet symbolizes returning home. No matter where they are, everyone hopes to come home for the year-end meal, offer incense to ancestors, and reunite with loved ones. These moments create a warmth found at no other time of year.
Tet is also a time of hope and renewal. Vietnamese people believe that good fortune in the new year begins with small gestures: a clean house, fresh flowers at the door, new clothes, or heartfelt New Year’s greetings. All preparations share a common purpose: welcoming the new year with joy and positive energy.
Duration of Tet Nguyen Dan
Lunar Calendar
Tet is traditionally celebrated from the 30th day of the 12th Lunar Month (or the 29th if the month is short) → until the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year.
Tet usually falls between late January and early February. Due to leap-month rules in the lunar calendar, the Tet season often spans from the 23rd day of the 12th Lunar Month to the 7th day of the 1st Lunar Month.
Important Dates in the Tet Season
- 23rd day of the 12th Lunar Month: Ong Cong – Ong Tao (Kitchen Gods Day), marking the start of the Tet atmosphere.
- 29th/30th day of the 12th Lunar Month: Year-end celebration and New Year’s Eve.
- 1st-3rd day of the Lunar New Year: Main days of Tet.
- 7th day of the 1st Lunar Month: “Khai ha,” symbolically ending the Tet season.
Common Tet Traditions
Tet involves reunion, sharing, and preservation of tradition. Preparations include cleaning and decorating the home, buying new household items, and bringing spring indoors with apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, or kumquat trees. Many families still gather to make banh chung and banh tet, symbols of familial warmth and togetherness.
On New Year’s Eve, families reunite for the year-end meal and ancestral rites. After midnight comes xong dat, a custom where the first visitor brings luck for the year.
Each day of Tet has a symbolic purpose:
- Day 1: Greetings to parents and grandparents; family reunion.
- Day 2: Visiting relatives and extended family.
- Day 3: Visiting teachers and friends.
Through each New Year’s greeting, people express wishes for luck, peace, and gratitude.
Symbols Associated with Tet Nguyen Dan
- Banh chung and banh tet: Symbols of abundance and gratitude.
- Apricot and peach blossoms: Yellow apricot for luck in the South; pink peach blossoms for peace in the North.
- Five-fruit tray (mam ngu qua): Symbolizes wishes for blessings and prosperity.
- Red couplets (cau doi): Hung to invite good fortune.
- Red envelopes (li xi): Symbolize lucky money and auspicious beginnings.
- House cleaning and decorating: Welcoming the new year with freshness.
- Tet sweets and roasted seeds: Treats symbolizing sweetness and connection.
- Incense offerings: Honor ancestors and maintain spiritual bonds.
Where to Buy Tet Calendars and Red Envelopes for 2026?
If you are looking for Tet calendars, red envelopes, calligraphy prints, or spring decorations with a wide range of designs and reliable quality, FAHASA is an excellent choice.
At FAHASA stores and on Fahasa.com, you can find:
- Tet 2026 calendars: Bloc calendars, wall calendars, and desk calendars in many styles-elegant, modern, cute, and festive.
- Red envelopes (li xi): Various traditional, folk, modern, minimalist, or playful designs.
- Tet decorations: Stickers, greeting cards, and accessories to brighten your home or workplace.
- Tet gift sets: Convenient options for partners, clients, or home display.
- FAHASA Shopping Benefits
- Nationwide delivery
- Flexible payment methods
- Authentic, quality-assured products
- Seasonal promotions
Conclusion
Tet Nguyen Dan is not just a holiday, it is a defining cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people. Despite changes over time, the values of reunion, gratitude, and hope continue through generations.
Let FAHASA help you celebrate and spread these beautiful traditions every spring.
FAHASA CORPORATION
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