This year we celebrate the Year of the Water Buffalo.
Sisters, associates, friends, family, and ministry colleagues gathered to celebrate Tet together. It was a day of celebration, prayer, gratefulness and fun. As people entered they had the opportunity to look at and admire beautiful artifacts representing the Vietnamese people. These included beautiful hand work, statues, and paintings ect.. As we entered the dining room we entered a room that was alive with color ... especially the the traditional colors of red and yellow. After spending time just relaxing together we dined on a wonderful meal prepared by the Motherhouse Food Service Department. We then reconvened in St. Catharine Hall for prayer and more celebration.
According to the lunar year for the people of
Vietnam, it is the Year of the Water Buffalo.
The BUFFALO symbolizes
industriousness and patience. The year is one of slow, steady progress and
patient strength; traits suitable for a scientist. He is the traditional symbol
of spring and agriculture because of his association with the plow and his
pleasure in wallowing in mud. People of that year are thought to possess the
characteristics of that animal: steady, placid, but stubborn when crossed. The
buffalo hours are from 1 am to 3 am when buffalo are feeding and the day's farm
work begins.
DRAGON DANCE
Vietnamese dragons are symbolic
creatures in the folklore and mythology of Vietnam. They were strongly
influenced by Chinese dragon myths, comparable with other Oriental dragons.
According to an ancient creation myth, the Vietnamese people are descended from
a dragon and a fairy.
To Vietnamese people, the dragon brings rain, essential for agriculture. It represents the emperor, the prosperity and power of the nation. Like the Chinese dragon, the Vietnamese dragon is the symbol of yang, representing the universe, life, existence, and growth. The youth group from St. John Vianney Parish, (Louisville) performed the music and the dance. It was a very hungry dragon.
BANH CHUNG
The table or altar was adorned
with the symbols of tet... including a picture of children riding the water
buffalo, candles, Banh Chung and a candy tray. One of the most traditional
special foods for New Years (Tet) of Vietnamese is Banh Chung or sticky rice
cake. Banh Chung is made of sticky rice, pork meat and green bean, every
ingredient is wrapper inside a special leaf which calls Dong. Making the Banh
Chung requires care and precision in every step. The rice and green bean has to
be soaked in water for a day to make it stickier. The pork meat is usually
soaked with pepper for several hours. Squaring off and tying the cakes with
bamboo strings require skillful hands to make it a perfect square.
Banh Chung is a must among other foods to be placed on the ancestors’ altars during Tet holiday. In the old time, one or two days before Tet, every family prepares and cooks the Banh Chung around the warm fire. It is also the time for parents to tell their children folklore stories. Nowadays, families which live in villages still maintain making Banh Chung before New Years but the people in the city does not. They don't have time and prefer to go to the shop to buy it.
CANDY TRAY
Everyone likes to have sweets for Tet. Candied or sugared coconut and ginger,
sweet potatoes and winter melon are served bite-sized and displayed on colorful
trays. And like most culinary choices, the candy tray has a cultural meaning.
“They are candied and sugared to make the new year sweet.”
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
A basket contained envelopes that would be given to each person. Inside you would find a scripture quote and a spiritual practice for the coming year.
It was a wonderful day and we thank the committee who spent so much time preparing it for everyone to enjoy.