V1. VIỆT NAM NÊN BỎ HAY GIỮ TẾT TRUYỀN THỐNG (THEO ÂM LỊCH)? TẠI SAO?

TL;DR

Key insights

The debate over keeping or abolishing the traditional Lunar New Year (Tết) in Vietnam is complex, with valid arguments on both sides.

• Proponents of abolishing Tết, like Professor Võ Tòng Xuân, argue it causes economic and social disruption by creating two major holidays close together.
• Opponents emphasize Tết's deep cultural significance, its role in national identity, and the importance of preserving traditions passed down through generations.
• A third group suggests merging or adapting the holidays rather than outright abolishing one.

The timing of New Year celebrations across cultures is rooted in astronomical cycles and agricultural needs, not arbitrary choices.

• The concept of 'Jieqi' (tiết khí), based on solar movements and dividing the year into 24 segments, is fundamental to agricultural societies and is inherently solar-based, contrary to the common misconception that lunar calendars are solely for agriculture.
• Western New Year (Gregorian calendar) is linked to the Winter Solstice, symbolizing the rebirth of light and aligning with the solar cycle.
• Many Southeast Asian cultures, like Thailand and Cambodia, celebrate around mid-April, coinciding with the transition from dry to rainy seasons and the Buddhist tradition of monks entering their retreat period (Vassa).

Vietnam's Tết Nguyên Đán, like other East Asian New Year celebrations, is a hybrid system attempting to align a lunar calendar with solar-based agricultural markers (Jieqi).

• The lunar calendar, easier to observe due to the moon's phases, was historically used for timekeeping, but agricultural practices necessitated aligning with solar cycles (Jieqi).
• The date of Tết is determined by finding the first day of the lunar month that falls closest to Lập Xuân (Start of Spring), a solar term.
• This alignment explains why Tết's date varies annually on the Gregorian calendar, typically falling in early February.

The decision to adopt or retain traditional calendars is often tied to national identity and historical context, not just practical convenience.

• Japan's Meiji Restoration saw a deliberate shift to the Gregorian calendar to distance itself from Chinese influence and embrace Westernization.
• China, conversely, actively promotes its Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) to assert its cultural identity against Western influence.
• South Korea, despite modernization and Western ties, maintains its traditional Lunar New Year, demonstrating that cultural identity can coexist with global integration.

Maintaining Vietnam's traditional Tết is crucial for preserving cultural identity and offers unique benefits beyond mere tradition.

• The traditional Tết is a strong marker of Vietnamese cultural identity, resisting assimilation into Western norms, a sentiment evident even during French colonial rule.
• Living by both lunar and solar calendars allows people to connect with two natural cycles (moon and sun), enriching human experience beyond the daily cycle.
• The lunar calendar provides specific markers like the full moon (Rằm) and new moon (Mùng 1) for spiritual practices and personal reflection, adding depth to life.

Key moments

• 00:00:04Introduction to the debate on whether to keep or abolish the traditional Lunar New Year (Tết) in Vietnam, citing arguments about economic and social disruption.
• 00:01:21Discussion of Professor Võ Tòng Xuân's long-standing proposal to abolish Tết Nguyên Đán and adopt only the Gregorian New Year.
• 00:03:11Mention of other intellectuals who supported Professor Xuân's view, contrasted with the general public's sentiment to preserve tradition.
• 00:05:53The speaker emphasizes the importance of analyzing the debate based on the nature and meaning of festivals, rather than focusing on who is right or wrong.
• 00:07:26Explanation of the concept of 'Jieqi' (tiết khí) and its basis in solar cycles, crucial for understanding agricultural calendars.
• 00:11:59Clarification that agricultural calendars, including Jieqi, are fundamentally solar-based, debunking the myth that lunar calendars are solely for agriculture.
• 00:13:07Discussion on why lunar calendars were historically used (easier observation) and the challenges of aligning them with solar cycles for practical purposes like agriculture.
• 00:18:08Analysis of Western New Year, linking it to Christmas and the Winter Solstice, symbolizing the rebirth of light.
• 00:23:31Explanation of how other cultures, like Thailand and Cambodia, choose their New Year dates based on seasonal transitions and religious events (Buddha's birthday).
• 00:27:15Exploration of the East Asian tradition of aligning Lunar New Year with Lập Xuân (Start of Spring), a solar term, and how this creates the variable date of Tết.
• 00:35:57Case study of Japan's Meiji Restoration, where the shift to the Gregorian calendar was a deliberate act to assert a new national identity separate from Chinese influence.
• 00:38:37Comparison with China and South Korea, who maintain their Lunar New Year traditions, highlighting the role of cultural identity in calendar choices.
• 00:41:23Argument that Vietnam's decision to maintain Tết is a choice of national identity and cultural resistance, not mere adherence to tradition.
• 00:42:23The speaker suggests that living by both lunar and solar calendars enriches human experience by connecting with natural cycles and provides opportunities for spiritual practices.
• 00:49:20Conclusion: The speaker advocates for retaining traditional Tết, emphasizing that effective societal organization, rather than the calendar itself, is key to overcoming challenges.