“Tet Han thuc” is known as an important Tet holiday of Vietnamese people. So let's learn about the real Tet Han thuc with Huongmai Cafe and its meaning in Vietnamese culture.

What is Tet Han thuc?

In folklore, Tet Han thuc, also known as the Floating Cake Festival - vegetarian cake (Han thuc means "cold food"), is held on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. Tet Han thuc appears mainly in China and Vietnam.

Tet Han thuc is known as a regular Vietnamese holiday. Every time coming to Tet Han thuc, everyone molds floating cakes and vegetarian cakes to worship their ancestors on the 3rd day of March every year.

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This Tet holiday in Vietnam originates from a Chinese custom that has been handed down to this day. The origin of this custom is related to the story in the Spring and Autumn period between the king of Qin, Tan Van Cong, and the sage Gioi Tu Thoi.

The meaning of Tet Han thuc

In Vietnam, Tet Han thuc was merged with the Tet holiday of floating cake, vegetarian cake and when it was introduced to Vietnam. Tet in March in Vietnam, clearly shows the cultural characteristics and unique lifestyle of Vietnamese people. Tet Han thuc of the Vietnamese people has the meaning towards the roots, ancestors, remembering the merits of the deceased.

Every time this New Year comes, each member will sit together at the family reunion dinner tray. On this day, Vietnamese families will prepare floating cakes, vegetarian cakes to worship Buddha, worship ancestors, even many places worship gods, express their sincerity.

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The actual Tet Han thuc offerings include incense, flowers, fresh fruit, betel nut and areca. Avoid using fruits with many thorns to display five fruits. There must also be a glass of clean water on the altar to represent the pure and pure mind of the owner when performing the ceremony.

At the same time, the traditional Tet Han thuc offering tray is indispensable for floating cakes and vegetarian cakes. There must always be 5 or 3 plates of floating cakes and 3 bowls of vegetarian cakes offered to the altar.

Tet Han thuc custom in Vietnam: The custom of eating floating cakes, vegetarian cakes

Drift cake, vegetarian cake is a typical dish of our Vietnamese people on every Tet Han thuc, also since then it is also known as "Tet Han thuc".

The meaning of floating cake - vegetarian cake in Tet Han thuc

Drift cake, vegetarian cake are all made from glutinous rice flour bearing the meaning of Vietnam's wet rice culture similar to banh chung and banh day.

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The image of floating cake and vegetarian cake is molded into a circle, representing the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source". Drift cake represents 50 children who followed Au Co mother to go to the sea, vegetarian cake represents 50 people who followed father Lac Long Quan to the forest to build a happy and prosperous life for the world.

The article Huongmai Cafe hopes to have provided useful information to you, helping you better understand the customs and culture of the Vietnamese people.