Have a Happy New Year again this Saturday --Vietnamese style.
The Vietnamese Student Association is kicking off the real new millennium with a Vietnamese New Year's celebration on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m. in The University Center Ballroom.
"The celebration last year had an attendance of about 400 people," said Clara Nunis, the event coordinator and international student adviser. "The event last year was really nice."
Nunis said the celebration will include singing, dancing and traditional Vietnamese food.
Terese Vu, a customer at The Vietnam Market on Cleveland St., said food is a major element of the holiday.
"The holiday is celebrated with a type of cake that has Swiss rice,
dried meat wrapped in banana leaves and green beans," Vu said. "The cake is green in color and is an important dish for the celebration."
Vu said boiled pork is another dish served for the occasion.
"A entire pig is boiled," Vu said. "It is eaten with a variety of noodles and can also be prepared with a fish sauce."
The event is free to all students, and they can bring a partner or friend, according to the International students office.
The celebration will include individuals wearing the country's national dress, known as the Ao Dai. The term means "long dress."
For women the dress is contoured, full-length and is worn over black or white loose-fitting trousers. The dress splits into a front and back panel from the waist down. There are many variations in color and collar design.
A similar costume is worn by the men and is also called Ao Dai. However, the male dresses are shorter -- knee- length -- and loose fitting.
Nunis said the event is close to the date of the Chinese New Year, which is Wednesday, Jan. 24 for Taiwan and Thursday, Jan. 25 for Hong Kong.
"The event will also have a live band and lots of entertainment," Nunis said.
The Vietnamese New Year is known as "Tet Nguyen Dan," a lunar New Year Festival that begins spring as well as the new year. It is a time for family reunions, exchanging gifts and other events.
The transition hour between the old year and the new year occurs at midnight on Saturday.
Tet Nguyen Dan is the first morning of the first day of the new period. According to Vietnamese tradition, care should be taken so that the year will start out right.
Traditionally, the first day and the first week of the new year will determine the fortunes or misfortunes for the rest of the year. One of the traditions of starting the year is painting and cleaning of the home.
Tet Nguyen Dan lasts for seven days.
Other traditions include wearing new clothes on the first day, paying old debts and avoiding arguments.
Nunis said the holiday also has a religious aspect.
"Last year, a religious service was conducted along with the celebration," Nunis said. "The celebration is really organized and the entire Vietnamese community joins in, including individuals from local stores and businesses."
To find out more about the Vietnamese New Year, contact the holiday website at www.saigon.com/~nguyent/tet.html.
