Definition

1. Noun:
   • Tet pole, Lunar New Year pole: A tall bamboo pole traditionally erected in the courtyard of a house during the Lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations in Vietnam. It is a ritual object symbolizing the demarcation of territory to ward off evil spirits and welcome good fortune for the new year.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Gia đình tôi dựng cây nêu vào ngày 23 tháng Chạp. (My family erects the Tet pole on the 23rd day of the last lunar month.)
  • Cây nêu là một biểu tượng quan trọng của Tết Nguyên Đán. (The Tet pole is an important symbol of the Lunar New Year.)
  • Trên đỉnh cây nêu thường treo một vòng tròn nhỏ và các vật phẩm khác. (A small ring and other items are usually hung at the top of the pole.)

Advanced Usage

• "dựng cây nêu": to erect/set up the Tet pole.

  • Lễ dựng cây nêu đánh dấu sự bắt đầu của dịp Tết. (The ceremony of erecting the Tet pole marks the beginning of the Tet holiday.)

• "hạ cây nêu": to take down the Tet pole.

  • Sau Tết, mọi người thường hạ cây nêu xuống. (After Tet, people usually take down the Tet pole.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cây: (noun) tree, plant, pole. The general word for a plant or a long, slender object like a pole.
• Nêu: (verb) to state, to announce. As a standalone verb, it means to declare or state something. In the compound "cây nêu", it takes on a specific cultural meaning.

Synonyms

• Cột lễ Tết: Tet ritual pole. (A more descriptive synonym)
• Cây tre ngày Tết: Tet bamboo pole. (A literal description)

Related Cultural Notes

• Symbolism: The "cây nêu" is deeply rooted in Vietnamese folk beliefs. It is considered a sacred boundary marker that prevents evil spirits from entering the home during Tet. The items hung on it (like a bamboo brush, a piece of yellow cloth, or a small clay bell) are apotropaic, meant to scare away malevolent forces.
• Timing: It is traditionally erected on the 23rd day of the last lunar month (the day to see the Kitchen Gods off) and taken down on the 7th day of the first lunar month.

1. Tet pole, lunar New Year pole (set up in the courtyard of every house in the country)