Vietnamese Tết
Today is Tết, the first day of the Lunar calendar.
We all gain one year in age, no matter the date we were born.
Every old Tet we eat sugary lotus seeds and glutinous rice cakes, in the shape of a square made of pork, glutinous rice, and mung beans, wrapped in banana leaves.
We wear all new clothes even underneath.
Mother warns how we act today foretells the whole year.
Everyone must smile no matter how we felt.
No one can sweep, for why sweep away hope?
No one can splash water, for why splash away joy?
A Tết long ago
My grandmother insisted my uncle to rise first in the morning to bless our house because only male feet can bring luck.
An old angry knot expanded in my throat.
I decided to wake before dawn and tap my big toe to the tile floor first.
Not even Mother sleeping beside me, knew.
We all gain one year in age, no matter the date we were born.
Every old Tet we eat sugary lotus seeds and glutinous rice cakes, in the shape of a square made of pork, glutinous rice, and mung beans, wrapped in banana leaves.
We wear all new clothes even underneath.
Mother warns how we act today foretells the whole year.
Everyone must smile no matter how we felt.
No one can sweep, for why sweep away hope?
No one can splash water, for why splash away joy?
A Tết long ago
My grandmother insisted my uncle to rise first in the morning to bless our house because only male feet can bring luck.
An old angry knot expanded in my throat.
I decided to wake before dawn and tap my big toe to the tile floor first.
Not even Mother sleeping beside me, knew.
Bánh chưng - bánh tét
Rice cake in the shape of a square called bánh chưng or a cylinder called bánh tét, made of pork, glutinous rice, and mung beans, wrapped in banana leaves then boil for 12 hours.
cook rice cake over night
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