Lunar New Year 2019 (Vietnam)

Today is the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, a major holiday celebrated throughout most of Asia. Also referred to as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, this holiday celebrates ancient traditions and ancestors as well as good times ahead. Different nations will mark the transition from the Year of the Dog to the Year of the Pig in their own unique way.

This year celebrates the Pig, the last animal in the cycle of 12 that represent each year in the shēngxiào, or Chinese zodiac. Pigs are considered a sign of prosperity in Asian culture, and those born in the year of the Pig are said to be sincere, good-natured, and honest.

Today’s Doodle also celebrates the ancient tradition of shadow puppetry, which also has a special place in the festivities. This year, people all over the world can Celebrate Lunar New Year and the ancient storytelling art of shadow puppetry with Shadow Art. Users can form one of the twelve zodiac animal hand gestures in front of their camera and the AI system, built with Tensorflow, will play a short clip matching the shadow puppet that’s been made.

Preparations for the Lunar New Year begin well in advance of the new moon as families clean and decorate their homes, sweeping out last year’s bad luck. All cleaning stops as soon as the new year begins, for fear of driving the good luck out. Many purchase new clothes and shoes so as to make a fresh start.

The color red can be seen everywhere. A symbol of good luck, red is believed to ward off bad luck and beasts. Families come together to share special meals and exchange gifts. Children often receive “lucky money,” usually in red envelopes given by their elders.

In Vietnam, the holiday is named Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tết for short. It is a time to gather with relatives and loved ones, and enjoy traditional delicacies like banh chung, a square-shaped sticky rice cake filled with mung beans and pork and wrapped in banana leaves. Not only enjoyed by the living, banh chung is also placed on household altars paying tribute to each family’s ancestors. Households also welcome visits from people outside the family. The first visitor in the new year is said to determine the family’s fortune for that year.

Happy Lunar New Year!​