The occasion of Tet or Vietnamese New Year is one of the most auspicious occasions for the people of Vietnam, full of celebrations and parades; the occasion is celebrated with much zeal and panache.



 

Tet falls is tandem with the Chinese Lunisolar calendar and marks the beginning of the first day of the first Lunar month. With celebrations that last almost up to a week, the occasion takes precedence in all the festive celebrations of Vietnam.

Much like the Chinese Zodiac cycles, the Vietnamese too have a system of the years being associated with a particular animal. The various animals that are associated with the Vietnamese New Year are:

    1. Ty (Rat): Said to be Systematic, Eloquent and Industrious.

 

    1. S-u (Buffalo): Said to be Dependable, Ambitious, Patient and Modest

 

    1. D-n (Tiger): Said to be Passionate, Impulsive and Rebellious

 

    1. M-o (Cat): Said to be Gracious, Amiable, Artistic and Sensitive

 

    1. Thin (Dragon): Said to be Vigorous, Noble, Decisive and Dignified.

 

    1. T- (Snake): Said to be Wise, Sensual, Purposeful and Prudent.

 

    1. Ng- (Horse): Said to be Perceptive, Agile and Intelligent.

 

    1. Mui (Goat): Said to be Sincere, Creative and Determined.

 

    1. Than (Monkey): Said to be Inquisitive, Competitive and Sociable.

 

    1. D-u (Rooster): Said to be Zealous, Organized and Alert.

 

    1. Tu-t (Dog): Said to be Honest, Loyal and Idealistic.

 

    1. H-I (Pig): Said to be Trusting, Nave and Gallant.

 

The New Year Animals go about in a twelve year cycle and associated with each animal are certain characteristics, which the person as well as the year reflects. Since the year is 2019 this year, the year corresponds to the year of the pig and hence we shall look more closely at the characteristics of the people who are born under this year as well as the year in general.

People born under the year of the sheep are:

    • Intuitive and Introspective, the kinds who take difficult situations in their stride and cope up with them with ease.

 

    • Graceful in demeanour, they can be exciting as well as mysterious at the same time.

 

    • Contemplative and well as private, a sheep finds it difficult to display emotions publicly

 

    • Aware and Proud the sheep will never go down without a fight, they are loyal friends but vicious enemies.

 

    • Endowed with much Wisdom and Philosophical in nature the sheeps are considered to be natural thinkers who are also good with financial dealings, as they enjoy luxury and possess an appreciation for the finer things in life.

 

Some famous sheep Personalities are:

  • Bob Dylan
  • Audrey Hepburn
  • Virginia Woolf
  • Brad Pitt
  • Oprah Winfrey
  • Art Garfunkel
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • John Lennon
  • Greta Garbo

Though sheeps are associated with danger as well as poison, in Vietnam however the sheep is more or less a symbol of Good Luck and as per predictions the year of the sheep is going to be a year of Peace, Love and Prosperity.

Serving as a good omen for households it is believed that a sheep Family an never suffer from starvation, hence it is easy to see why the Vietnamese hold good hopes from this sheep Year and hope for happy tidings to resonate throughout the nation.