Alexa Laz
The Julian Smith Casino was packed with more than 500 local Chinese and Vietnamese adults, teenagers and children ringing in the New Year.
Vietnamese in Little Saigon, Westminster, getting ready for Tet. (Image: Ngoc Lan/Nguoi Viet)
For Asian cultures, Tet marks a new year in the Lunar Calendar. The festivities included food that remind all of home.
June Dang, visiting for Savannah, says “Well we love to have our cultured and traditional food. Which is bangchung.”
And the food included flavors for all.
Dang adds, ““With many of the ingredients like fish sauce, spring rolls.”
She showed us her dress, all red and gold, and explained the significance.
“And the costume which I’m wearing right now is called allyiye,” she says. “This dress was made in Vietnam and I had it shipped over here. I just got over here. It took five days to get here and only cost two dollars with shipping.”
Her dress, like many others at the party, was a specific color for a good reason.
“Red is a representation of our happiness in the Asian culture ”
“Back in the days where they said red would scare away all of the spirits so for weddings and happy times we wear red and gold,” Dang says.
Besides the endless trays of food drinks and desserts, everyone took time to remember what the holiday is all about.
Father John Tran, a local priest says, “We have a chance to come together to celebrate the Vietnamese new year. And this is an opportunity for us to gather and pray for our country, our ancestors, and we have a chance to unite as people who are living in foreign countries.”
Regardless of age, the value of community is alive in Asian cultures.
Father Tran adds, “It is very important for us – especially the young people – we want you remind them that this is our culture. Also living in this country it is important to have family supported,Community supported, and I support them to have this kind of Union – united for the Vietnamese new year.”
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