This is a conversation with my friend, identified as C, about Vietnamese New Year. I am identified as IC in this transcription. IC: When is vietnamese new year? What is it called—is there a vietnamese name for it? C: It’s called Tết and takes place on the first day of the first month of the… Continue Reading »
In China, there is a superstition where you cannot start a [Chinese] new year without new clothes and a clean house. Whatever you do on the first day of the year will be an indication of how your fortunes would be for the rest of the year. So people would try to look their best… Continue Reading »
Every year on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the nian monster (年獸; nián shòu) comes out from hiding and eats people. I was told as a child to behave, or the nian monster would catch you and eat you. It has the head of a lion but the body of an ox. After all… Continue Reading »
On Lunar New Year, the family can not spend money to buy anything or sweep and clean the house. My informant grew up with this belief as a child. She first heard when she was five years old. She was helping her mother set up for Lunar New Year. The night before Lunar New Year,… Continue Reading »