Customs, meanings and notes

Children and grandchildren come to wish their parents and grandparents a Happy New Year. Photo: Vietnam+

Xong dat (also known as stepping on the ground) is a long-standing custom of the Vietnamese people. The ancients believed that after the moment of New Year's Eve, if the first person to come to wish a happy new year is compatible with the homeowner's age, then the homeowner will have a lot of luck and prosperity throughout the year.

On the contrary, if the person who comes to enter the house is not in the right age or has many difficulties in life, the homeowner will have bad luck all year. Therefore, in the first period of the new year, many Vietnamese families take the custom of entering the house very seriously.

What is the meaning of the custom of entering the house first?

According to Vietnamese beliefs, Lunar New Year is an occasion for family members to reunite, gods and ancestors also return to celebrate Tet, and bless their descendants. After the New Year's Eve, the first person to enter the house with good wishes is a decisive factor in determining the luck of the homeowner throughout the year.

The act of entering a new house essentially brings new biological energy not only to people but also to the land. When this energy comes at the moment of New Year's Eve, the response and reception will be more complete and effective.

The custom of entering the house on the first day of the new year may differ in style and form in each place, but in essence it is the same. The time for entering the house is calculated from the moment the clock strikes the new day. Depending on each family, the process of entering the house can take place naturally or with preparation. In the case of the person who is arranged to enter the house, they are the first guests to arrive on the morning of the first day of the New Year, must have an age compatible with the homeowner and the animal representing that year.

The homeowner will welcome them happily and enthusiastically and receive good wishes for their family. In the past, people who come to visit first often bring meaningful gifts for the homeowner, representing luck such as candy, cakes, parallel sentences... However, adapting to the development of society, nowadays people who come to visit first will bring red envelopes to wish the homeowner and family members a happy new year.

Nowadays, the first person to enter the house on New Year's Day will bring red envelopes of lucky money to the homeowner and family members. Photo: Vietnam+

The value of the lucky money envelope does not need to be high. When giving lucky money, the guest will include their best wishes. If the family has elderly parents, they should wish them “a long life,” “longevity,” and “happiness.” If the homeowner is a businessman, they should wish them “good luck in business,” and “prosperity.”

Meeting children, congratulating them on “eating well and growing quickly,” “studying well”… After that, the host also gives lucky money, wishes the first visitor good luck, then invites guests to enjoy tea, raise a glass of wine at the beginning of the New Year and chats about good things in the new year.

The person asked by the homeowner to be the first to enter the house is usually generous, carefree, honest, good-looking, especially if the family has no deaths and has both boys and girls. When coming to visit the homeowner, you should only talk about happy stories and lucky things. Avoid sad stories of the old year and do not mention the past.

Overall, the number of families who actively ask someone to come to their house to start the year is lower than the number of families who let this custom happen naturally. In the case of natural first visit, the homeowner will not be too strict, anyone who accidentally comes to start the year will be warmly welcomed and wished good luck and peace. However, in reality, if the whole year is "smooth sailing", it is okay, but if the homeowner's business fails, encounters many misfortunes, and is not favorable in life and work, some families will blame the first visitor of the year.

Taboos to keep in mind when entering the house

Many elders say that entering a house on the first day of the new year is a custom to pray for luck and fortune for the family. Therefore, entering a house on the first day of the new year must pay attention to some taboos to make the meaning of entering a house on the first day of the new year complete.

- When coming to visit someone on New Year's Day, do not wear black or dark clothes, but wear bright colors like red, pink, yellow, blue... with the meaning of starting a new year bright and brilliant in every aspect.

Wear bright colored clothes to start a New Year that is brilliant in many ways. Photo: iStock

- A family that has had a funeral or had an illness or misfortune in the past year should avoid visiting someone else's house early, as this will make the homeowner unhappy. People who are incompatible with or have an age that is not in line with the homeowner's age should not visit. Nowadays, as society develops, many customs have changed to suit.

- When you come to visit someone on New Year's Day, don't tell them old stories or sad stories.

- Women and children should not enter another person's house unless directly invited by the homeowner. When coming to wish New Year's greetings, the men should enter the house first, followed by women and children.

- The homeowner and guests should pay attention to avoid incompatible ages:

The ages to avoid conflict include Dan-Than, Ty-Ngo, Thin-Tuat, Mao-Dau, Suu-Mui, Ty-Hoi.

Avoid the three shapes, including the first shape: Dan-Ty-Than; the second shape: Suu-Tuat-Mui; the third shape: Mao-Ty.

The custom of entering the house on New Year's Day in many rural areas has become more relaxed, no longer placing importance on the age and gender of the person entering the house as before. Nowadays, families consider entering the house as a blessing from heaven, so they just follow the natural course and do not prepare a person to enter the house on New Year's Day. Anyone who comes to the house on New Year's Day is considered to bring luck to the homeowner and everyone is happy. In fact, the homeowner or a family member can completely enter the house on their own.

To have a lucky and successful New Year depends largely on the will, personal belief and efforts of the homeowner and family members in implementing their plans and goals. A smooth start will bring good results, as long as we keep trying and never give up.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/xong-dat-ngay-tet-co-truyen-phong-tuc-y-nghia-va-nhung-luu-y-241538.html