Amongst many taboos and rituals connected with the Lunar New Year inVietnam is xong dat, or “first-footing” as the Scots call it.
Tuoitre News reported that it is a deep-rooted belief that the firstperson to enter a house at the beginning of a lunar year will have abearing on the family’s fortune throughout that year. Thus, the rich andpopular are usually invited to get into a home at that time.
Traditionally,the first visitor hands out li xi, or lucky money, and New Year giftsto the hosts and seldom stays longer than a few minutes. This is toensure that things do not get “stuck” in the new year.
But likemany other traditions, xong dat too has evolved into a personal beliefwithout a strict interpretation. It is altered to suit each family andvaries according to each region.
What has remained unchanged is the fact that a person who can bring luck should be the first-foot.
Theflip side is that Vietnamese are chary of visiting anyone’s house earlyon New Year’s Day for fear they may be held responsible for anypossible misfortune.
“I still remember the year when my husbandsuffered from a serious illness and passed away,” an elderly woman inTan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, said.
“An unwanted guest visited us in the early morning of the first day and I cannot help recalling that experience.”
Thereare several important qualities a family will look for to find theirfirst-foot: The person’s zodiac sign is the most common, especially inthe northern and central parts.
According to the Vietnamesezodiac, each year – and a person born in that year – is represented byan animal in a cycle of 12 signs. The hosts ask a fortuneteller toidentify the animal – among rat, water buffalo, tiger, cat, dragon,snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig – that is luckiest fora particular year and themselves.
But in other families, sign compatibility is not a big deal.
“Idon’t look at the person’s sign. As long as the person is good,healthy, and cheerful, I am fine,” the elderly woman in Tan BinhDistrict said.
“I would even prefer a family member who I cantrust and know well rather than some distant relative, even if he or shehas the right zodiac sign. I want to make sure of my family’s luck.”
First-footersalso need to have a bright and cheerful disposition, good health,career success, and a happy family, things people normally aspire for inthe new year.
In Scottish folklore, first-footing is thepractice of visiting the house of a friend or neighbor soon aftermidnight on New Year’s Eve with gifts.
The first-foot is traditionally a tall, dark-haired male. In some places, females and fair-haired males are regarded unlucky.
Heor she usually brings a coin, bread, salt, coal, or a drink (usuallywhisky), which respectively stand for prosperity, food, flavor, warmth,and good cheer.-VNA
Tuoitre News reported that it is a deep-rooted belief that the firstperson to enter a house at the beginning of a lunar year will have abearing on the family’s fortune throughout that year. Thus, the rich andpopular are usually invited to get into a home at that time.
Traditionally,the first visitor hands out li xi, or lucky money, and New Year giftsto the hosts and seldom stays longer than a few minutes. This is toensure that things do not get “stuck” in the new year.
But likemany other traditions, xong dat too has evolved into a personal beliefwithout a strict interpretation. It is altered to suit each family andvaries according to each region.
What has remained unchanged is the fact that a person who can bring luck should be the first-foot.
Theflip side is that Vietnamese are chary of visiting anyone’s house earlyon New Year’s Day for fear they may be held responsible for anypossible misfortune.
“I still remember the year when my husbandsuffered from a serious illness and passed away,” an elderly woman inTan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, said.
“An unwanted guest visited us in the early morning of the first day and I cannot help recalling that experience.”
Thereare several important qualities a family will look for to find theirfirst-foot: The person’s zodiac sign is the most common, especially inthe northern and central parts.
According to the Vietnamesezodiac, each year – and a person born in that year – is represented byan animal in a cycle of 12 signs. The hosts ask a fortuneteller toidentify the animal – among rat, water buffalo, tiger, cat, dragon,snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig – that is luckiest fora particular year and themselves.
But in other families, sign compatibility is not a big deal.
“Idon’t look at the person’s sign. As long as the person is good,healthy, and cheerful, I am fine,” the elderly woman in Tan BinhDistrict said.
“I would even prefer a family member who I cantrust and know well rather than some distant relative, even if he or shehas the right zodiac sign. I want to make sure of my family’s luck.”
First-footersalso need to have a bright and cheerful disposition, good health,career success, and a happy family, things people normally aspire for inthe new year.
In Scottish folklore, first-footing is thepractice of visiting the house of a friend or neighbor soon aftermidnight on New Year’s Eve with gifts.
The first-foot is traditionally a tall, dark-haired male. In some places, females and fair-haired males are regarded unlucky.
Heor she usually brings a coin, bread, salt, coal, or a drink (usuallywhisky), which respectively stand for prosperity, food, flavor, warmth,and good cheer.-VNA
