lễ tết

Người dân đi lễ tết nhà họ hàng vào mùng một.

Definition

Noun:
- Tet visits: The act of visiting relatives, friends, superiors, or respected individuals during the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday to offer greetings and good wishes for the new year.
- Tet gifts / New Year's presents: The gifts, often food, money, or other items, presented to hosts, teachers, or benefactors as a gesture of respect and gratitude during these Tet visits.

Usage Examples

Noun:
- Sáng mùng Một, cả nhà đi lễ tết họ hàng. (On the first morning of Tet, the whole family goes to pay Tet visits to relatives.)
- Chuẩn bị lễ tết cho sếp là phong tục của nhiều công ty. (Preparing Tet gifts for the boss is a custom in many companies.)

Advanced Usage

The concept of "lễ tết" combines two elements: "lễ" (ritual, ceremony, gift showing respect) and "Tết" (the Lunar New Year festival). It embodies the important cultural practices of maintaining social bonds and showing respect during the most significant holiday in Vietnam.

Variants and Related Words

Đi lễ tết (verb phrase): to go to pay a Tet visit, to go gift-giving for Tet.
- Tết nào chúng tôi cũng đi lễ tết ông bà. (Every Tet, we go to pay a visit and give gifts to our grandparents.)
Quà Tết (n): Tet gift. This is a more general term for gifts exchanged during the Tet season, while lễ tết often implies a gift given in a context of respect or formality.
- Công ty phát quà Tết cho nhân viên. (The company distributes Tet gifts to employees.)

Synonyms

Related Cultural Concepts

Mừng tuổi (verb/noun): To give lucky money (in a red envelope), specifically a Tet custom. This is often a part of the lễ tết ritual when visiting.
- Ông bà mừng tuổi cho các cháu. (The grandparents give lucky money to the grandchildren.)
Chúc Tết (verb phrase): To offer Tet greetings. This is the verbal component often accompanying the act of lễ tết.
- Chúng tôi đến chúc Tết ông chủ tịch. (We came to offer New Year's greetings to the chairman.)