Tet Quiz

What does Tết (節) mean?

• Reunion

• Celebration

• Festival

• New Year

Answer explanation

"Tết" itself only means festival, but Tết is short for 'Tết Nguyên Đán' (節元旦 - Festival of the first day), which marks the beginning of a new year cycle.

'Bánh chưng' and 'Bánh giầy' are traditional Vietnamese rice cakes which are made from glutinous rice, they take the shape of square and round, why is that?

• To represent light and shadow

• To represent sun and moon

• To represent order and perfection

• To represent earth and heaven

Answer explanation

The shape of square and round symbolize the earth and heaven in traditional culture, this shows the harmony in nature and pays respect for ancestors.

Which of the following flowers/trees is NOT commonly used to celebrate Tết?

• Peach Blossom (桃花)

• Orchids (兰花)

• Yellow Apricot Blossom (黄梅花)

• Kumquat Tree (金橘)

What traditional clothing do people commonly wear at Tết?

• Ao Dai (奧黛/長袍）

• Square-collared garb/Nhat Binh (日平衣）

• Four-part dress/Ao Tu Than（四身襖）

• Viet Phuc (越服)

Which of these Sovereigns (三皇) is the ancestor of Vietnamese people?

• Suiren/Tuỳ Nhân (燧人)

• Divine Farmer/Thần Nông (神農）

• Fuxi/Phục Hy (伏羲)

• Nuuwa/Nữ Oa (女媧)

Answer explanation

The Annals of DaiViet（Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư）states that "The Divine Farmer is the earliest ancestor of DaiViet"

《大越史記全書》紀：“神農氏即大越之始祖”

According to the legends, what animal does the Kitchen God (灶神) ride to get back to heaven?

• The Blue Dragon (青龍)

• The White Tiger (白虎)

• The Phoenix (鳳凰)

• The Carp Fish (鯉魚)

Answer explanation

“Carp leaping over Dragon Gate” -

Cá chép hóa rồng/鯉躍龍門

What do adults give children as gifts at Tet?

• Lucky Money

• Indoor Plant

• Handmade Candle

• Flower

Why do people clean their houses before Tết?

• To welcome the Gods

• To make space to decorate the house

• Sweep away bad luck and problems to welcome new joyness next year

• To organize family activities

Different from the Chinese zodiac, Vietnamese zodiac replace the fourth animal, Rabbit, with...

• Sheep

• Deer

• Cat

• Panther

Answer explanation

The Vietnamese zodiac is originated from the Chinese zodiac in its usage and arrangement of animals, but replaces the ox with the water buffalo and the rabbit with the cat.

Ðông Hồ Painting (東湖畫) is a type of Vietnamese folk painting commonly hanged at Tết. What are the primary colors of this type of painting?

• White, Yellow, Green, Red, Gray

• White, Yellow, Blue, Red, Black

• Pink, Yellow, Green, Red, Black

• White, Yellow, Green, Red, Black