The sign over the door said it all: "Tet."
That's "Happy New Year" in the Vietnamese language.
And it was a happy time Saturday night as 350 to 400 Vietnamese immigrants, their children, grandchildren and guests packed the Moorhead National Guard Armory to celebrate.
The actual date of the Vietnamese New Year is Feb. 2, according to the lunar calendar. But a party must be held when a venue is available so the North Dakota Vietnamese Mutual Assistance Association, sponsors of the event, selected Jan. 25.
"This is a time to enjoy, to begin a new chapter in your life and to forgive -- both between people and for things that have happened in society," said Tri Phan, a leader in the Fargo-Moorhead Vietnamese community, explaining the cultural significance of the celebration.
ADVERTISEMENT
Like most holidays, this one was especially exciting for children. The vivid colors, pulsating music, bountiful food and the dragon dance -- a tradition on New Year's Day -- captivated the children and entertained the adults.
When it came time for the dragon dance elementary school-age boys lined the perimeter of the stage, possibly hoping they'd someday be athletic and graceful enough to be chosen for the physically demanding dance. Eight teen-age and college-age young men donned elaborately decorated costume pieces, designed to depict the head and tail of a dragon. The dragon dance calls for more than dancing. The dancers crouch, crawl, leap, gyrate and even carry one another on their shoulders to depict two dragons rearing up on their hind legs and dueling over a gift dangling in front of their teeth.
Equally enthralling for children was the "lucky money" giveaway. It's akin to the American Christmas party tradition of Santa Claus bestowing candy and trinkets on the kids in attendance. In the Vietnamese tradition, Phan said, children awaken on New Year's Day and dress in their best new clothing. They wish their parents a happy new year and the parents reciprocate by giving them a red envelope containing "lucky money."
At the community party Saturday, the youngest children were the first to receive "lucky money."
Connie Nguyen, 9, and her sister, Amy, 15, were among the last in line because they're "older kids," they said. But there were enough red envelopes for every child, big or small. The Nguyen sisters said their family would exchange New Year's presents on Feb. 2.
New Year's Day is the biggest holiday of the year in many parts of Asia, said Phan, emcee of the opening ceremonies.
Phan said about 700 people of Vietnamese heritage live in the Fargo-Moorhead region, including Wahpeton, Pelican Rapids and Detroit Lakes. The number was higher -- more than 1,000 -- until the Federal Beef processing plant closed in 1999. Some Vietnamese immigrants who worked in the meat industry moved to other meat-processing cities to find work, he said.
For the most part, the event was much like an American wedding dance. It began with speeches and a bit of ceremony. Then the women filled plates with roast pork and chicken, cookies, cakes, cream puffs and relishes. Finally, everyone danced until it was time to go home.
ADVERTISEMENT
Readers can reach Forum reporter Deneen Gilmour at (701) 241-5538
